Brachial plexus blockade by lidocaine one percent with adrenaline 1: 200,000 for upper limb surgery "A preliminary literature review and clinical experience”

Abstract

Brachial plexus blockade anaesthesia for upper limb surgery was performed using lidocaine 1% with adrenaline 1:200,000 solution. The random study population conuisted of 40 patients. Two approaches of achieving brachial plexus blockade were studied and compared. Twenty patients were blocked by each of the two approaches. There was an overall success rate of 87.5%. The blockade success rates were 90% and 85% by the axillary and supraclavicular routes respectively. These success rates are similar to those reported by other studies. There was a 15% incidence of complications by the supraclari- cular route, while it was 5% in the axillary group. These results compare well •with other studies which also report a higher incidence of complications associated with the supraclavicular approach than the axillary approach. The mean onset of analgesia in the supraclavicular and axlllarygroupwas 13.99 ! 2.49 and 14.92 ! 2.59 minutes re'spectiy~ly. There was no significant difference in the mean duration of' analgesia in the two approaches.' These resul ts are similar to those reported from various other studies.