“EFFICACY OF CLONIDINE AS AN ADJUVANT TO ROPIVACAINE IN SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK”

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of clonidine in combination with ropivacaine on peripheral nerves during brachial plexus block. This study was carried out on 60 (18-60 years) patients undergoing elective upper limb surgery. Patients
were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each .Group RN patients received 30ml of 0.5% ropivacaine mixed with 0.5ml normal saline and Group RC patients received 30ml of 0.5% of ropivacaine with 30µg of clonidine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.The
results of this study support the use of adjuvant clonidine with ropivacaine for supraclavicular block anaesthesia, as ropivacaine produces good analgesia and motor blockade in supraclavicular brachial plexus block and the addition of clonidine to ropivacaine
increases the effect of analgesia and motor blockade significantly. Addition of 75µg of clonidine to ropivacaine, for brachial plexus block, should be considered for prolonged upper limb surgery and decreasing the post-operative rescue analgesic requirement.