EFFECT OF BUPRENORPHINE ON POST OPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK USING PERIPHERAL NERVE LOCATOR

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is known for its simplicity, effectiveness, safety, reliability and being economical for day care and emergency surgery, circumventing problems of full stomach. In our randomized prospective, double blind study, total 60 adult ASA class I and II patients undergoing upper limb surgeries were given supraclavicular brachial plexus block with peripheral nerve locator and studied for effect of addition of buprenorphine on post operative analgesia. 30 Patients received 0.25% bupivacaine 40 ml in group Bupivacaine (B) and added buprenorphine 3 µgm/kg in the other group Bupivacaine + Buprenorphine (BB). All the patients were monitored for onset of effect, post op analgesia, time of first analgesic drug and number of analgesic drug require in first 24 hrs. Onset and duration of motor and sensory block were same in both groups. Post operative analgesia was significantly better in BB. Consequently, number of doses of analgesic required in first 24 hours was less in buprenorphine group (BB).