Comparison of Alkalinized and
Non-Alkalinized Lignocaine in
the Brachial Plexus Block
1610-1613
Correspondence
Ramesh Koppal,
Associate Professor, Dept of Anaesthesiology,
S N Medical College.Navnagar, Bagalkot- 587102.
Karnataka, India.
E-mail: rameshkoppaldr@rediffmail.com
Introduction: Interruption of pain is central to the anaesthetic practice. Regional anaesthesia is one of the widely practiced ways for mitigating surgical pain. Many long acting local anaesthetics have been tried, viz.. bupivacaine, ropivacaine … but they are limited by the drawbacks of delayed onset, the varying quality of the blockades and their unpredictable duration of action. The alkalinization of lignocaine has been shown to fasten the onset, potency and the duration of the block.
Type of study: Randomized single blind clinical trial.
Materials and Methods: After obtaining the institutional ethical committee clearance and their written informed consent, fifty patients who were aged between 25-50 yrs, of either sex, who belonged to ASA grade 1 and 2, who were posted for elective/ emergency surgery of the upper limb were enrolled for the study. Group 1 received 30ml of 1.5% lignocaine with adrenaline and Group 2 received 30 ml of 1.5% alkalinized lignocaine with adrenaline. A supra-clavicular block by a classical approach was made and the degree of the blockade was graded. The results were tabulated and analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests.
Conclusion: Alkalinization of lignocaine offers an earlier onset and it provides a good intensity and adequate depth and a satisfactory distribution of the regional block.