Comparative study between the use of bupivacaine alone or with nalbuphine in ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgeries

Background Brachial plexus block is a well-studied method of providing reliable anesthesia or analgesia for the upper extremity. Many approaches for brachial plexus block are present. These approaches are classified according to the level of local anesthetic injection into interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and axillary blocks. By providing a rapid onset of dense anesthesia of the arm with a single injection, the supraclavicular block is perfect for operations involving the arm and forearm, from the distal humerus down to the hand. Ultrasound guidance has resulted in a better practice of supraclavicular approach to the brachial plexus, with decreasing the risk of complications. There has always been a search for adjuvants to local anesthetics used in regional nerve block with drugs that prolong the duration of analgesia but with lesser adverse effects. Objective To compare the effect of nalbuphine as an additive to bupivacaine versus bupivacaine alone in supraclavicular brachial plexus block with ultrasound guidance in upper limb surgeries regarding onset and duration of sensory and motor blocks, duration of analgesia, and postoperative analgesic requirements, as well as the effects on hemodynamics and possible complications with each technique. Patients and methods This study was carried out in Alexandria Main University Hospital on 50 adult patients of both sexes, American Society of Anesthesiology I and II, scheduled for surgeries of the hand and forearm under supraclavicular brachial plexus block with ultrasound guidance. Patients were randomly categorized into two equal groups (25 patients each) using the sealed envelope technique. Group I patients received bupivacaine only for the block, and group II patients received bupivacaine and nalbuphine as an adjuvant for the block. Results The results of our study showed that patients in nalbuphine group (group II) had significantly longer sensory and motor blocks duration, with longer duration of postoperative analgesia, when compared with patients in group I, who were received bupivacaine only for the block. Conclusion Coadministration of nalbuphine with bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block leads to a significant increase in the duration of sensory and motor blocks and provides prolonged postoperative analgesia without causing adverse hemodynamic instability.