Estudo Comparativo da Eficácia Analgésica Pós-Operatória de 20, 30 ou 40 mL de Ropivacaína no Bloqueio de Plexo Braquial pela Via Posterior* A Comparative Study on the Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of 20, 30, or 40 mL of Ropivacaine in Posterior Brachial Plexus Block

SUMMARY Cruvinel MGC, Castro CHV, Silva YP, Bicalho GP, Franca FO, Lago F– A Comparative Study on the Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of20, 30, or 40 mL of Ropivacaine in Posterior Brachial Plexus Block. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Arthroscopic surgeries of theshoulder are accompanied by severe postoperative pain. Among theanalgesic techniques, brachial plexus block offers the best results.The objective of this study was to determine which volume of localanesthetic in the posterior brachial plexus block offers more ade-quate analgesia for those procedures. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing posterior brachial plexusblock were randomly divided in three groups of 30 patients: Group1 – volume of 20 mL; Groups 2 – volume of 30 mL; Group 3 – volu-me of 40 mL. In all groups 0.375% ropivacaine was the anestheticused. The blockade was evaluated by testing thermal sensitivityusing a cotton ball embedded in alcohol, while postoperative painwas evaluated according to a verbal numeric scale (VNS) in thefirst 24 hours.