COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS CONTINUOUS INFUSION OF BUTORPHANOL, MEPIVACAINE AND BUTORPHANOL-MEPIVACAINE VERSUS I.V. BUTORPHANOL IN POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA

Abstract

The axillary approach to brachial plexus is a recognized anaesthetic technique for operations of upper extremities specially when patient is nprepared or unfit for general anaesthesia.

Continuous brachial plexus block is a valuble technique for prolonged surgery of the upper extremity and also for continuous postoperative analgesia. . .

Analgesic response can be increased by addition of opioids e.g butorphanol to the local anaesthetic in the brachial plexus sheath to control post-operative pain.

In this research, we studied fourty patients undergoing elective upper extremity surgery (ASA I & II).

Axillary brachial plexus block was established by injection of30 mll.5% mepivacaine after repeated aspirations using axillary brachial plexus catheter. Surgery was started when complete analgasia was obtained, mepvacaine 10 ml 1.5 % was given via the catheter in brachial plexus sheath every 90 min. when needed.