Addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine prolongs anesthesia and analgesia in axillary brachial plexus block.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

To evaluate the analgesic and anesthetic effects of 40 mL bupivacaine 0.25%, 40 mL bupivacaine 0.25% plus fentanyl 2.5 microg/mL, and 40 mL bupivacaine 0.125% plus fentanyl 2.5 microg/mL for axillary brachial plexus block.

METHODS:

Sixty patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups and received axillary brachial plexus block with 40 mL bupivacaine 0.25% (group B), 40 mL bupivacaine 0.25% with fentanyl 2.5 microg/mL (group BF), or 40 mL bupivacaine 0.125% with fentanyl 2.5 microg/mL (group DBF). The onset times and the duration of sensory and motor blocks, duration of analgesia, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse events were noted.

RESULTS:

The mean duration of sensory block and analgesia were longer in group BF (10.1 hours and 20.9 hours) than group B (6.9 hours and 11.6 hours) and DBF (5.9 hours and 12.0 hours) (P < .01, P < .001, respectively). The mean duration of motor block was also longer in group BF (10.7 hours) than group B (4.9 hours) (P < .01). Only 2 patients experienced motor block in group DBF. The frequency of successful block was 35% in group DBF (P < .01). Hemodynamic parameters were similar in all groups. In group B, only 1 patient experienced dizziness. Nausea was observed in 1 patient in each fentanyl group.

CONCLUSION:

The addition of 100 microg/mL fentanyl to 0.25% bupivacaine almost doubles the duration of analgesia following axillary brachial plexus block when compared with 0.25% bupivacaine alone.

• Authors: D Karakaya, F Büyükgöz, S Bariş, F Güldoğuş, A Tür
• Journal: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine (Reg Anesth Pain Med) 2001 Sep-Oct Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 434-8 ISSN: 1098-7339 [Print] England
• PMID: 11561263 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Analgesics, Opioid
• Anesthetics, Local
• Fentanyl
• Bupivacaine

Topics

• Adult
• Analgesia
• Analgesics, Opioid (pharmacology)
• Anesthesia
• Anesthetics, Local (pharmacology)
• Axilla
• Brachial Plexus
• Bupivacaine (pharmacology)
• Female
• Fentanyl (pharmacology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Block
• Time Factors