European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AXILLARY BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK & BIER BLOCK FOR UPPER LIMB SURGERIES

Talib Khan, Shaqul Qamar Wani, Wasim Mohammad Bhat*, Syed Amer Zahoor, Anisur Rehman Wani, Azka Sunain Khan, Zulfiqar Ali, Bashir Ahmad Dar

ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare axillary brachial plexus block and bier block in upper limb surgeries in terms of their onset of sensory and motor block, duration of post-operative analgesia and patient satisfaction. Subjects and Methods: After approval of the departmental review board and consent from the patients, one hundred six patients with distal upper limb surgeries in the age group of fifteen to sixty years of age of either sex with ASA physical status of 1 & 2 were included in the prospective study. The patients were divided into two groups, Group A (Axillary group, N=56, received 40ml of 1% lidocaine with adrenaline 1:200000) and Group B (Bier's group, N=50, received 40ml of 1% lidocaine). Onset of sensory and motor block, duration of sensory block, duration of analgesia, patient satisfaction were noted. Results: The mean age of patients was 28.3 years for axillary blocks and 34 years for Bier block. Both the groups were comparable in terms of gender. The mean duration of surgery was longer in Group A as compared to Group B (p<0.001). The mean onset of sensory and motor block was quick in Group B (p<0.001), Mean duration of sensory block and Mean duration of analgesia in Group A was higher than in Group B (p<0.001). Patient satisfaction as measured on the basis of Visual analogue scale(VAS) was higher in Group A as compared to Group B (p<0.001). Conclusion: Axillary brachial plexus block provides adequate anaesthesia and post-operative analgesia of prolonged duration. It is well tolerated by the patients.

Keywords: bier block, axilary plexus block, upper limb.