European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the quicker onset of sensory and motor blockade, increased duration of postoperative analgesia and lesser incidence of tourniquet pain following addition of dexmedetomidine to lignocaine compared to lignocaine alone in IVRA for upper limb surgeries. Methods: A randomized prospective study conducted in 60 ASA grade I and II patients, of either sex, between 20-60 years, scheduled for either elective or emergency surgeries of upper limb were included in the study. All patients were divided into two groups by computer generated randomization of 30 each, into group A and group B. Group A received 3mg/kg lignocaine diluted with saline to a total volume of 40ml with dexmedetomidine 0.5 microgram/kg added as an adjunct. Group B received 3mg/kg lignocaine diluted with saline to a total volume of 40 ml.  Pain score was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) of 0 to 10. Sensory and motor block onset and recovery times, onset of tourniquet pain, time to first analgesic requirement was noted. Result: Both groups are comparable with demographic details ie age, gender are weight. type and duration of surgery are insignificant  in between groups. Sensory, motor  blockade onset time are significantly less in lignocaine and Dexmedetomidine added groups. Sensory blockade recovery time and motor recovery time after the release of tourniquet was significantly longer Group A than for Group B (2.53 ± 0.51 minutes) which is statistically significant with a ‘p’ value of 0.0001. VAS reached a score of 3 at 416.2 ± 45.73 minutes in Group A and at 33 ±  0.96 minutes in Group B. This difference was statistically significant with a ‘p’ value of 0.0001. In group A, 7 cases had a sedation score of 1 and 23 had a score of  2. In group B, 30 cases had sedation score of 1.  Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine 0.5micrograms/kg   is   added   to   lignocaine   for Intravenous regional anesthesia, it provided   quicker onset of sensory and motor blockade, lesser   incidence of tourniquet pain, increased   duration of post operative analgesia and better haemodynamic stability.