VERAPAMIL AS AN ADJUNCT TO LOCAL ANAESTHETIC FOR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCKS

Abstract

Upper limb surgeries are mostly performed under regional blocks; regional blocks not only provide intraoperative anesthesia but also provide a postoperative analgesia that extends for hours without any systemic side effects. Regional anesthesia such as a brachial plexus block (BPB) involves injection of local anesthetic (LA) around nerves to block the sensory and motor nerves that supply the operative site. Supraclavicular approach is one of the different approaches of brachial plexus block by different local anesthetics. The blind approach which rely on surface landmarks before needle insertion and elicitation of paresthesia or nerve-stimulated muscle contraction after needle insertion with multiple trial and error needle attempts result in procedure related pain and more risk of complications as pneumothorax.