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- DOI 10.18231/j.ijca.2019.097
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Dexamethasone an adjuvant in brachial plexus block : Supraclavicular approach: An observational randomised double blind clinical study
- Author Details:
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Anupama M K *
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Rakesh Alur T
Introduction
There are many approaches to block brachial plexus and among them supraclavicular approach has a high success rate for elbow, forearm, and hand surgery.
Local anaesthetics provide analgesia for 4-6 hours only. Hence, increasing the duration of local anesthetic action is preferred for good surgical anesthesia and analgesia.
Many investigators used adjuvant drugs like clonidine,[1] opioids,[2] ketamine[3] and midazolam[4] but the search for an ideal adjuvant still continues.
Perineural steroids like dexamethasone as adjuvant to local anaesthetics give good post operative analgesia. They reduce inflammation and relieve pain by blocking transmission of nociceptive C-fibres and suppressing ectopic neural discharge[5] Corticosteroids have analgesic effect when combined with local anaesthetics.[6],[7] Dexamethasone is known to prolong the block duration in animal and human studies[8],[9],[10] but the mechanism behind the prolongation of peripheral nerve blockade is not clear.
Dexamethasone microsphereshas anti-inflammatory action which is responsible for analgesic effects[11] and can be reversed by administration of a specific glucocorticoid receptor antagonist.[11],[12] These are mediated through the classic glucocorticoid receptor and have local effects of dexamethasone.
Aims
This study was done to compare the effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to bupivacaine and lignocaine with adrenaline in supraclavicular approach for brachial plexus block.
Objectives
Primary objectives
To study the effect of addition of dexamethasone for the onset of sensory and motor block.
To study the effects of addition of dexamethasone to local anesthetics on duration of sensory and motor block.
Materials and Methods
A comparative prospective observational double blind clinical study of patients coming for upper limb elective surgeries to Apollo BGS Hospital, Mysore.
The study was undertaken after obtaining ethical committee clearance and informed consent.
60 patients, ASA 1 and 2 of age group 18 to 60 years posted for orthopedic, plastic and reconstructive upper limb surgeries lasting more than 30 minutes were included in this study. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy and known allergy to local anaesthetic drugs were excluded from the study.
Procedure
A pre-anesthetic evaluation was done and patients evaluated with complete hemogram, complete blood counts, random blood sugar, ECG and chest X-ray. Patients were kept nil per oral overnight.
Intravenous access was secured with 20 gauge cannula in the non operating limb. Patients monitored with ECG, oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
Under absolute aseptic precautions, parts painted and draped and block given by blind technique using a 20 gauge intravenous cannula and the needle fixed once the paresthesiaeli cited, and respective drug injected depending on whether the patient alloted to Group C or Group D.
Group C received 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, 15ml of 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:200,000) and 2ml of normal saline to a total volume of 32ml.
Group D received 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, 15ml of 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:200,000) and 2ml of Dexamethasone (8 milligrams) to a total volume of 32ml.
The effects of anesthetic agents on the following parameters were observed: The sensory block recorded once every 5 minutes for the first 30 minutes using pin prick
1. Onset time of sensory blockade, Sensory block (time between injection to abolition of pinprick response)
Grade I: Complete analgesia
Grade II: Parti al analgesia with dermatome sparing
Grade III: No analgesia
2. Onset time of paralysis (complete motor block): (time of injection to time of complete loss of movement)
Motor block evaluated by thumb abduction, thumb adduction, thumb opposition and flexion at the elbow.
Grades 5: Normal movement
Grade 4:movement against resistance but lesser than normal power
Grade 3: Patient can move against resistance
Grade 2: When patient can move along gravity but not against resistance
Grade 1: Slight flickering movement
Grade 0: Complete motor paralysis
3. Duration of sensory blockade (in minutes) was taken from the onset of action to the return of pinprick response
4. Duration of motor blockade (in minutes) was taken from the onset of paresis to the recurrence of motor movements.
5. Number of rescue analgesics in 24 hours
Rescue analgesia diclofenac sodium 75mg IM was given when visual analogue score[13] > 4
Post operative inc idence of side effects like hypotension, bradycardia, hypoxia etc. were monitored.
Results
| Group C | Group D | P value | |
| Age | 40.2 ± 11.4 | 36.8 ± 13.4 | 0.298 |
| Gender | 18:12 | 23:07 | 0.422 |
| Weight | 61.3±7.2 | 59.5 ±7.4 | 0.338 |
| Mean duration of surgery | 163.28+/-5.36 | 161.55+/-5.37 | 0.558 |
| Group C In minutes | Group D In minutes | p value | Inference | |
| Mean onset of sensory blockade | 9.7±1.3 | 8.5±2.5 | 0.006 | Earlier onset of sensory blockade seen in group D |
| Mean onset of motor block | 14.8±1.7 | 12.2±2.5 | 0.000 | Earlier onset of motor blockade seen in group D |
| Mean duration of sensory block | 294.3±27.9 | 822.2±78.4 | 0.00 | More in group D than group C |
| Mean duration of motor block | 226.5±24.8 | 512.4±43.3 | 0.00 | More in group D than group C |
Number of rescue analgesics were significantly less in first 24hrs in group D which was statistically significant.
Side effects like hypotension, bradycardia or post operative nerve paralysis were not observed.
Discussion
Brachial plexus block usual procedure for upper limb surgeries. Anesthetic agents like lignocaine and bupivacaine gives good analgesia and relaxation but with limited duration.
Many adjuvants like midazolam, clonidine have been tried to increase the duration and analgesia. Glucocorticoids have analgesic property which increases the onset and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor block.
15mL 0.5% bupivacaine and 15ml 2% lignocaine with adrenaline with the addition of 2 ml dexamethasone (8 mg) was given in group D and 15 mL 0.5% bupivacaine and 15ml 2% lignocaine with adrenaline with addition of 2mL 0.9% normal saline was given in group C
The drugs were calculated irrespective of the patients body weight.
Demographic parameters of both the groups were comparable.
Shrestha BR et al [14] conducted a study of 40 patients to compare analgesic efficacy of local anaesthetic with and without dexamethasone in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. A mixture of lidocaine 2% with 1:200,00 adrenaline and bupivacaine 0.5% for a total volume of 40-50 ml of local anaesthetic was used. Dexamethasone 4-8mg was added to the local anaesthetic solution in the steroid group. Onset of action was 10-30 minutes in local anaesthetic group (mean 18.15 ± 4.25) and 10-20 minutes (mean 14.5 ± 2.10) in the local anaesthetic + steroid group which was statistically significant. Regarding the duration of action the local anaesthetic group had an analgesia time of 2.30 – 4.0 hours (mean 3.16 ± 0.48) and in the steroid group 8.0 – 2 hours (mean 12.75 ± 5.33). Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p = 0.00). They concluded that, addition of dexamethasone for brachial plexus block significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia without any unwanted effects.
In our study, the mean onset time of sensory block (in minutes) was 8.3 ± 2.5 in group D and 9.9 ± 1.4 in group C (p value = 0.006) Group D had an earlier onset of sensory block.
Similar results were found in studies conducted by Shrestha BR et al,[14] Islam SM et al[15] and Dr. Siddharth M et al[16]
In 2011, Islam SM,15 et al. conducted a prospective study of 60 patients to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone added to local anaesthetics on the onset and duration of supraclavicular brachial plexusblock. In group-A patients received 35 ml of mixture of lignocaine 2%, bupivacaine 0.5% while in group-B patients received the same amount of local anaesthetics with dexamethasone (8 mg). He mean onset time of sensory block was 11.64±2.19 minutes in group A and 9.89±1.97 minutes in group B and difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Onset of motor block was 13.32±0.98 minutes in group A and 11.09±1.28 minutes in group B and difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was markedly prolonged duration of analgesia in group-B, 11.87± 0.53 hours compared to group-A, 3.43±0.49 hours. The result was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). They concluded that addition of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to local anaesthetics in brachial plexus block results in significantly early onset and markedly prolonged duration of analgesia without any unwanted effects.
In our study, mean onset of motor block in group D was 12.1± 2.6 minutes and 13.9 ±1.6 minutes in group C (p value-0.00). Group D had early onset of motor block.
Similar results were observed in studies conducted by Islam SM et al,[15] Prashant A Biradar et al[17] and Dr. Mijanur Rahaman Shaikh et al[18]
In 2013, Prashanth A Biradar et al[17] did a study on 60 patients to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone added to lidocaine on the onset and duration of supraclavicular brachial plexus block. 1.5% lidocaine (7 mg/kg) with adrenaline (1:200,000) and 2 ml of normal saline (group C, n=30) or 1.5% lidocaine (7 mg/kg) with adrenaline (1:200,000) and 2 ml of dexamethasone (8 mg) (group D, n=30). The onset of sensory and motor blockade (13.4±2.8 vs. 16.0±2.3 min and 16.0±2.7 vs. 18.7±2.8 min, respectively) were significantly more rapid in the dexamethasone group than in the control group (P=0.001). The duration of sensory and motor blockade (326±58.6 vs. 159±20.1 and 290.6±52.7 vs. 135.5±20.3 min, respectively) were significantly longer in the dexamethasone group than in the control group (P=0.001). They concluded that addition of dexamethasone to 1.5% lidocaine with adrenaline in supraclavicular brachial plexus block speeds the onset and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blockade
In our study, duration of motor block in group D and group C were 512.4±43.3 min and 226.4 ±23.6 respectively and was found to be statistically significant (p value-0.00).
Similar results were observed in by Shrestha BR et al,[14] Islam SM et. al[15] and BT Arish et al[19]
Dr. Mijanur Rahaman Shaikh et al[18] conducted a study on 60 patients to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone added to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Group A (n=30) –received 38 mL 0.25% bupivacaine and 2 mL dexamethasone (8 mg). Group B (n=30) –received 38 mL 0.25% bupivacaine and 2 mL 0.9% normal saline. They observed that onset times of sensory and motor block were similar in the two groups. Duration of sensory (1091.11± 107.42 vs 605.37 ± 58.60) and motor blockade (846.67 ± 102.09 vs 544.07 ± 55.40) were significantly longer in the group A (dexamethasone group) than in the group B (control group). They concluded that addition of 8 mg dexamethasone to bupivacaine 0.25% solution in supraclavicular brachial plexus block prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blockade, reduces the requirement of rescue analgesic in postoperative period but has no effect on the onset time of sensory and motor block.
In our study, the duration of sensory block in group D and group C were 822.2 ± 77.2 min and 294.3 ± 26.8 respectively. In study by Vieira PA et al[20] the duration of sensory block was 24.28 hours. Even Shrestha BR et al[14] and Islam SM et al[15] had similar results.
Group D required significantly less number of rescue analgesics in first 24 hours of postoperative period (p value < 0.001). Similar results were seen in studies of Dr. Mijanur Rahaman Shaikh et al[18] and Vieira PA et al[20]
Side effects like bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory depression or anaphylaxis to drugs were not seen in either of the groups.
Conclusion
5% bupivacaine and 2% lignocaine and adrenaline with dexamethasone 8 mg as an adjuvant not only has a rapid onset but also prolongs the duration of sensory and motor block in supraclaviclar brachial plexus block via paresthesia method.
Limitations
Paresthesia Technique was employed as ultrasound technique was not available.
Late follow ups were not possible
Source of Funding
None.
Conflict of Interest
None.
References
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How to Cite This Article
Vancouver
K AM, T RA. Dexamethasone an adjuvant in brachial plexus block : Supraclavicular approach: An observational randomised double blind clinical study [Internet]. Indian J Clin Anaesth. 2025 [cited 2025 Sep 08];6(4):497-501. Available from: https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijca.2019.097
APA
K, A. M., T, R. A. (2025). Dexamethasone an adjuvant in brachial plexus block : Supraclavicular approach: An observational randomised double blind clinical study. Indian J Clin Anaesth, 6(4), 497-501. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijca.2019.097
MLA
K, Anupama M, T, Rakesh Alur. "Dexamethasone an adjuvant in brachial plexus block : Supraclavicular approach: An observational randomised double blind clinical study." Indian J Clin Anaesth, vol. 6, no. 4, 2025, pp. 497-501. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijca.2019.097
Chicago
K, A. M., T, R. A.. "Dexamethasone an adjuvant in brachial plexus block : Supraclavicular approach: An observational randomised double blind clinical study." Indian J Clin Anaesth 6, no. 4 (2025): 497-501. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijca.2019.097