A Randomized Observational Study to determine the minimum effective volume of Local Anesthetic Needed for Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

For upper limb surgery, supraclavicular block offers excellent anesthetic [1,2]. Additionally, the use of ultrasound guiding during supraclavicular block has been developed and is growing in acceptance [3]. Numerous benefits of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block include higher success rates, quicker onset times, and less problems [4-6]. The possibility of using less local anesthetic was shown in earlier investigations on ultrasound-guided axillary blocks and interscalene blocks [7–10]. However, there is significant debate regarding the ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block’s use of a lower anesthetic amount [11,12].

The Dixon and Massey up and down method (DUDM) and biased coin design up and down method (BUDM) were used to calculate the minimum effective volumes (MEV) 50, MEV90, and MEV95, respectively, in previous studies on the minimum effective volume for the ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block [11,12]. Statistics was used to estimate these effective amounts. The comparison of the various anesthetic volumes in the clinical practice for the ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block has not been explored, and Orebaugh et al. [13] noted that the results from the DUDM may differ from those of the actual practice.

This study’s objective is to analyse clinical data in relation to different local anesthetic dosages used during an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block.