Effect of verapamil as an adjuvant to local anaesthetic solution on the efficacy and the duration of supraclavicular brachial plexus block

Background: Many drugs have been studied as adjuvant to local anaesthetic solution for peripheral nerve blocks in order to increase the quality of block and to increase the duration of analgesia. This study used verapamil, a calcium channel blocking drug as adjuvant for supraclavicular block Aim: To evaluate the effect of verapamil as an adjuvant to local anaesthetic solution in supraclavicular block.
Methodology: In this randomised prospective double blind control trial study we divided 60 ASA grade I,II patients undergoing elective upper limb surgery into two equal groups of 30 (n=30) each. Group A received brachial block with 2% lignocaine 10cc and 20 cc 0.5% bupivacaine with added NS .9% 1cc. Group B received 10 cc of 1.5% lignocaine and 20 cc of 0.5% bupivacaine with 1 cc verapamil (2.5 mg). Observations made regarding onset of sensory block and motor block, duration of sensory and motor block and duration of analgesia. Also haemodynamic parameters monitored to see any difference.
Results: Results are calculated using statcal software SPSS version 17, unpaired‘t’ test and chi square test are used to compare numerical and categorical variables respectively. There was no difference in both the groups regarding onset of sensory, motor block, duration of motor block and duration of analgesia ( p>0.05). Duration of sensory block is found to be significantly greater in group B(191+ 45 ) than in group A (163+ 4) this difference is statistically significant (p=0.01)
Conclusion: Addition of verapamil as an adjuvant to local anaesthetic for supraclavicular block results in prolonged duration of sensory block without any effect on analgesic duration.