European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: Brachial plexus block is a regional anaesthesia technique used for upper extremity surgery that is a safe alternative to GA for upper limb procedures.  Ropivacaine is a new long-acting local anaesthetic which produces less cardiac and central nervous system toxicity. Fentanyl and Tramadol, synthetic opioids are added to local anaesthetics to improve peripheral block quality in peripheral nerve blocks and to extend postoperative analgesia. Tramadol is a weak-opioid receptor agonist and has central analgesic effects and also has peripheral local anaesthetic properties that led to its use as an adjunct in peripheral nerve blocks. Tramadol is a relatively weak opioid with less respiratory depressant effects. With this background, we conducted a comparative study to study the effect of tramadol as an adjuvant to ropivacaine and ropivacaine plain in terms of quality, onset and duration of anaesthesia in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Methods: The present clinical randomized comparative prospective controlled study was conducted amongst 70 patients undergoing surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block during the period of November 2020 – June 2022 amongst the patients between the ages of 18-60 years of age of ASA I and II who were scheduled for elective upper limb orthopaedics surgery. The patients were divided into groups, Group 1 (n=35) receiving 28 ml 0.5% ropivacaine + 2 ml normal saline and Group 2 (n=35) receiving 28 ml 0.5% ropivacaine + 2 ml tramadol (50mg/ml). Results: In the present study among the Ropivacaine group, the majority were of age 51-60 years 23(65.7%) and among the Ropivacaine + Tramadol group, of age 51-60 years 18(51.4%). The onset of sensory and motor block was earlier in Ropivacaine + Tramadol group. The duration of sensory and motor block was more in Ropivacaine + Tramadol group. Among Ropivacaine + Tramadol group According to VAS Score, at recovery, the Mean was 3.25 with an SD of 0.44. Among Ropivacaine group Nausea present among 10(28.6%), Vomiting among 6(17.1%), Bradycardia among 9(25.7. Among Ropivacaine + Tramadol group Nausea present among 6(17.1%), Vomiting among 7(20%), Bradycardia among 5(14.3%). Among the Ropivacaine + Tramadol group, according to the satisfaction of analgesia, was Present among 33(94.3%) and absent among 2(5.7%). Conclusion: We concluded that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of hemodynamic changes. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block were better in Ropivacaine + Tramadol group. Post-operative pain management with Ropivacaine + Tramadol was more acceptable by patients. Therefore, its use should be promoted for routine addition to local anaesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks.