Tramadol as an adjunct for levobupivacaine in axillary plexus blockade: a prospective, randomized, double-blind study
Bulent S. Yurtlu, Volkan Hanci, Selime Evrim Bostankolu, H Ayoglu, None Özkoçak, Ahmet Ege
proceeding (Uluslararası, Hakemli) | Yazar(lar): Bulent S. Yurtlu, Volkan Hanci, Selime Evrim Bostankolu, H Ayoglu, None Özkoçak, Ahmet Ege | Yıl: 2012 | Dergi/Kurum: TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES | İndeks: WOS.SCI,WOS.ISTP | DOI: 10.3906/sag-1010-1250 | Anahtar Kelimeler: Nerve blockade, levobupivacaine, tramado
Aim: To evaluate the effect of tramadol addition to levobupivacaine in axillary plexus blockade in a prospective, randomized double-blind study.
Materials and methods: A total of 60 patients scheduled to undergo hand and forearm surgery under axillary plexus blockade were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group L received 36 mL of racemic 0.5% levobupivacaine with 2 mL of saline, whereas Group LT received 2 mL (100 mg) of tramadol instead of saline. After routine monitorization, axillary block was performed with a multistimulation technique using a nerve stimulator. Motor (finger, wrist, and elbow movements) and sensory (pinprick sensation for the cutaneous supply) block characteristics for radial, median, ulnar, and musculocutaneous nerves were determined every 5 min. Postoperative motor and sensory block duration, analgesic consumption, and numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were also recorded.
Results: In each group, 2 patients had block failures. The data for the remaining 56 patients were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the study groups according to motor and sensory block characteristics of 4 nerves, block durations, analgesic consumption, and NRS scores.
Conclusion: The addition of 100 mg of tramadol to 0.5% levobupivacaine for axillary brachial plexus blockade neither improved the intraoperative block quality nor prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia.