THE USE OF A2 AGONISTS CLONIDINE AND DEXMEDETOMIDINE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY PROLONGED THE LOCAL ANAESTHETIC EFFECTS OF BUPIVACAINE AND LIGNOCAINE.IN OUR STUDY WE ANALYSE THE EFFECTS OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS A LOCAL ANAESTHETIC ADJUVANT FOR SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL BLEXUS BLOCK FOR UPPER LIMB SURGERIES.

IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED PROSPECTIVE DOUBLE BLIND STUDY CARRIED OUT AT OUR INSTITUTION AFTER THE ETHICAL PERMISSION,IN THE AGE GROUP OF 20 TO 40YEARS OF ASA GRADE 1 AND 2 WITH NO OTHER COMORBIDITIES , 2 GROUPS WERE DIVIDED INTO 25 EACH , GROUP A AND B . GROUP A RECEIVED 22.5 ML OF 0.375 % BUPIVACAINE WITH 7.5 ML OF 0.5 % LIGNOCAINE WITH 1 ML OF 0.9%NORMAL SALINE. GROUP B RECEIVED 22.5 ML OF 0.375% BUPIVACAINE WITH 7.5 ML OF 0.5%LIGNOCAINE WITH 1ML OF 100 MCG DEXMEDETOMIDINE. BOTH THE GROUPS WERE SELECTED FOR RANDOM UPPER LIMB SURGERIES BY SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK APPROACH.

GROUP B HAD A SHORTER ONSET OF SENSORY AND MOTOR BLOCK THAN GROUP A. DURATION OF ANALGESIA WAS SIGNIFICANTLY PROLONGED IN GROUP B. TWO PATIENTS OF GROUP B COMPLAINED OF GIDDINESS AT THE ONSET OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION. BRADYCARDIA AND HYPOTENSION WAS REPORTED IN 1 PATIENT.

DEXMEDETOMIDINE IS AN IDEAL LOCAL ANAESTHETIC ADJUVANT FOR SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK FOR UPPER LIMB SURGERIES