RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intermediate cervical plexus block (CPB) is a new procedure whose analgesic efficacy compared to superficial cervical plexus block is yet to be established. We compared the analgesic efficacy of superficial vs intermediate CPB for post-operative analgesia after thyroid surgery. METHODS: Forty-five patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists' physical status 1 or 2 undergoing total thyroidectomy were recruited. Forty-four patients in superficial/subcutaneous CPB group (n = 22) and intermediate CPB (n = 22) received 20 mL 0.25% bupivacaine with adrenaline 100 µg bilaterally in ultrasound-guided superficial and intermediate cervical plexus block before induction of general anaesthesia., respectively. The primary outcome measure was the postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24. Secondary outcome measures included the total dose of rescue analgesic required, duration of postoperative analgesia and patient's satisfaction score. Statistical analysis was with the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test. RESULTS: The post-operative VAS scores were lower in intermediate CPB group compared to superficial CPB group at 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h [P < 0.05]. Time tofirst rescue analgesic demand was prolonged 10.06 ± 3.62 h in intermediate group compared to 7.94 ± 3.62 h in superficial group [P = 0.017] and total analgesic consumption were lower in intermediate group (71.25 ± 16.70 µg) than the superficial group (101.25 ± 50.31 µg) [P = 0.011]. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided intermediate CPB reduces post-operative pain scores, prolongs duration of analgesia and decreases demands for rescue analgesia compared to superficial CPB.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Paravertebral block, pectoral nerve (Pecs) block and wound infiltration are three modalities for post-operative analgesia following breast surgery. This study compares the analgesic efficacy of these techniques for post-operative analgesia. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists' physical status 1 or 2 undergoing modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection were recruited for the study. All patients received 21 mL 0.5% bupivacaine with adrenaline in the technique which was performed at the end of the surgery prior to extubation. Patients in Group 1 (local anaesthetic [LA], n = 22) received infiltration at the incision site after surgery, Group 2 patients (paravertebral block [PVB], n = 22) received ultrasound-guided ipsilateral paravertebral block while Group 3 patients [PECT] (n = 21) received ultrasound-guided ipsilateral Pecs blocks I and II. Patients were evaluated for pain scores at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h, duration of post-operative analgesia and rescue analgesic doses required. Non-normally distributed data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Analysis of variance for normal distribution. RESULTS: The post-operative visual analogue scale scores were lower in PVB group compared with others at 0, 2, 4, 12 and 24 h (P < 0.05). Mean duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in PVB group (P < 0.001) with lesser rescue analgesic consumption up to 24 h. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided paravertebral block reduces post-operative pain scores, prolongs the duration of analgesia and decreases demands for rescue analgesics in the first 24 h of post-operative period compared to ultrasound-guided Pecs block and local infiltration block.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has proven to be an effective component of multimodal analgesic regimens for a variety of abdominal procedures. Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist has the potential to be an ideal adjuvant in TAP block. We studied the efficacy of MgSO4 as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in TAP block in patients scheduled for total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) under subarachnoid block (SAB). METHODS: Sixty-five women belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 or 2, aged between 35 and 70 years, scheduled for TAH under SAB were recruited. Patients in Group B (n = 32) received 18 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (45 mg) with 2 mL normal saline (NS), whereas those in Group BM (n = 33) received 18 mL 0.25% bupivacaine (45 mg) with 1.5 mL (150 mg) MgSO4 and 0.5 mL NS in the ultrasound (USG)-guided TAP block performed on each side after the completion of the surgery under SAB. They were evaluated for pain at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h, time to first rescue analgesic and duration of postoperative analgesia were noted. RESULTS: The post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were lower in Group BM at 4, 6 and 12 h (P < 0.05). Mean duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group BM with lesser requirement of rescue analgesic (P < 0.05) up to 12 h. CONCLUSION: MgSO4 (150 mg) as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in USG-guided TAP block reduces post-operative pain scores, prolongs the duration of analgesia and decreases demands for rescue analgesics.