Effect of 0.5% Bupivacaine Versus 0.75% Ropivacaine - Onset, Duration and Quality of Brachial Plexus Block through Supraclavicular Approach

Introduction: The brachial block can be employed in upper limb surgery such as soft tissue surgery, bone surgery, and in plastic surgery. Local anesthetics are drugs that block reversibly the conduction of impulses in the peripheral nervous system. The aim of the present study is to compare the efficacy of 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine - the onset, duration and quality of the brachial plexus block through supraclavicular approach. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients belonging to ASA Grades 1 and 2 between 20 and 60 years age of either sex were included in this study. The onset of sensory and motor block were tested every 1 min interval for a maximum of 35 min after injection of local anesthetics through supraclavicular plexus block. All patients were kept under observation for 24 h. All the observed characteristics were analyzed. Results: The actual difference between mean duration of the onset of sensory and motor blockade in Group A and in Group B was 1.6 and 2.7 min, respectively. Duration of analgesia of Groups A and B were 678.75 +/- 187 and 648.17 +/- 180.91, respectively. The most number of cases attained Grade IV that means complete block of sensory and motor functions among both Groups A and B. Complete blockade was more in Group B when compared to Group A about 66.67% and 58.62%, respectively. Conclusion: There were no much clinical differences in onset, duration and analgesia among 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine when injected in equal volumes for brachial plexus block by the supraclavicular approach. Ropivacaine has potentially improved safety profile compared with bupivacaine.