European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: Since the introduction of technology such as ultrasonography and Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS), Peripheral Nerve Blockade (PNB) has become an appropriate outpatient anaesthetic. When compared to central neuraxial blockade, it has the advantage of providing surgical anaesthetic with superior cardiorespiratory stability. PNBs reduce the need for postoperative analgesics, reduce the incidence of nausea, shorten the time spent in the post anesthesia care unit, and boost patient and surgeon satisfaction. Materials and Methods: 120 patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic procedure were allocated randomly into two groups. The study was single-blinded, randomised clinical trial. Group A (n=60) received spinal anaesthesia and Group B (n=60) received sciatic-femoral nerve block (Anterior approach). Both Genders (Male/Female), Age- 65 yrs.-75 yrs, Body weight- 40 kg -70 kg, ASA Physical status- II, III, Patients with controlled co-morbid conditions were included in the study. Results: Study result showed no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters and duration of operation in between the groups (Table 1). Mean time of onset of sensory block was later in Group - B (Mean 11.40 mins.) than in Group A (Mean 4.65 mins.) and this was statistically significant (P <0.005, Table 2). Mean time of onset of motor block was later in Group B (Mean 16.30) than in Group A and this was statistically significant (P < 0.005, Table 2). Mean time of duration of sensory block was greater in Group B (518.5) than in Group A (165.24) and this was statistically significant (P < 0.005, Table 2). Conclusion: we observed that duration of sensory block, motor block and post-operative analgesia were more prolonged in case of sciatic-femoral nerve block than spinal anaesthesia. Sciatic-femoral block (Anterior approach) was associated with stable haemodynamic, lesser complications and is better tolerated by patient with good satisfaction scale compared to spinal anaesthesia. So, we can conclude that sciatic-femoral nerve block (Anterior approach) is a better alternative than spinal anaesthesia in case of high risk geriatric patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic procedure.