Comparison of the effects of bupivacaine and bupivacaine-tramadol combination on postoperative analgesia used in brachial plexus blockade [Brakiyal pleksus blogu uygulanan olgularda tek başina bupivakain ile bupivakain-tramadol kombinasyonunun postoperatif analjezi üzerine etkilerinin karşilaştirilmasi]

Abstract

We aimed to asses the duration and quality of postoperative analgesia in patients with tramadol HCl supplemented to bupivacaine in brachial plexus blockade. After the approval by the faculty ethic committee and a written consent from patients were taken, 30 patients undergoing upper limb surgery or arterio-venous fistula operation were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and Group I received bupivacaine 0.375 % in total volume of 40 ml as blockade, whereas Group II received the same dosage and volume of bupivacaine plus tramadol HCl 50 mg. Following the performance of the procedure, the duration to initation of the surgery, analgesia and sedation levels, hemodynamic variables were recorded. Same measurements were recorded in determined intervals in the postoperative period. Patients were inquired about pain at the postoperative second day. Side effects were also recorded. There were no differences between the patients due to demographic and hemodynamic parameters. The durations to initation of the surgery were 21.6 ± 2.4 min in Group I, and 17.3 ± 3.1 min in Group II (p<0.05). VAS, VRS and sedation values were 0 the at peroperative period for both of the groups. After the blockade, the durations to the first pain report were 8.5 ± 0.9 h in Group I, and 14.1 ± 1.0 h in Group II (p<0.05). We concluded that when the tramadol was added to bupivacaine in brachial plexus blockade, the duration to initation of the surgery was reduced, and the duration of analgesia was enhanced