To compare clinical profiles of conventional local anaesthetic bupivacaine with newer levobupivacaine and ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block using nerve stimulator.

For this prospective ,clinical trial we took 90 patients posted for upper limb surgeries of both sexes aged between 18-55 years weighing >50 kg, ASA I-II,subdivided into three groups receiving 30ml of one of three different solutions viz 0.5% bupivacaine , 0.5% levobupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine. Supraclavicular brachial plexus block was carried out using nerve stimulator. The onset of sensory and motor block, their duration ,onset of surgical block and possible adverse events were recorded. Anova and t test were applied as method of analysis.

The duration of sensory block was longer in group of patients treated with levobupivacaine than in two other groups .Surgical onset was similar for levobupivacaine and ropivacaine ,but delayed in racemic bupivacaine .In group of patients who received bupivacaine ,two episodes of reduction in heart rate without significant hypotension have been observed. Data from this study reveal duration of sensory blockade similar to Cox et al and Klein et al.

In our experience levobupivacaine has been demonstrated to be a good substitute for racemic bupivacaine. Compared to ropivacaine, levobupivacaine induces longer postsurgeryanalgesia .