Volume & Issue

Volume 14 Issue 6

Keywords

Surgical anaesthesia of the arm, can be achieved by injection of local anaesthetic around the brachial plexus. The ultrasound (US)-guided technique gives the best quality of regional block, irrespective of the approach. Present study was aimed to compare ultrasound guided infra-clavicular brachial plexus block versus ultrasound guided axillary block for upper extremity surgeries. Material and Methods: Present study was comparative study, conducted in patients of age 18-65 years, either gender, Body mass index (BMI) between 18-25, belonging to ASA grade I and II, posted for elective and emergency upper extremity surgeries. 40 patients were randomized into two groups as Group I (ultrasound guided axillary block) and Group II (ultrasound guided infra-clavicular block). Results: The mean age was for Group 1 was 33.45±7.95 years and Group 2 was 32.15±7.29 years. Distribution of age, gender, and ASA status in both the groups was comparable (P>0.05). Block procedure duration in Group 1 (16.7 ± 1.69 min) was more than Group 2 (13.6 ± 2.26 min). There is statistically significant difference in block procedure duration (P<0.0001). Onset time of anaesthesia was 10 minutes in majority patients of group 1 (70 %) and Group 2 (55 %). The two groups had comparable onset time of anaesthesia and difference was not statistically significant. (P value - 0.471). Conclusion: Ultrasound guided infra-clavicular block can be performed in any arm position and it has a shorter procedure duration, it has the potential to be the technique of choice for upper extremity surgeries.