A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED, COMPARITIVE STUDY BETWEEN DEXMEDETOMEDINE AND BUPRENORPHINE AS AN ADJUVANT TO ROPIVACAINE 0.5% IN ULTRASOUND GUIDED SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK FOR UPPER LIMB ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES

.Supraclavicular block is a regional anaesthetic technique used as an alternative or adjunct to general anesthesia or used for postoperative pain control for upper extremity surgeries (mid-humerus through the hand).

Various adjuvants have been added to local anesthetics to increase the efficacy and duration of blocks,minimizing systemic adverse effects along with a reduction in the total dose of local anesthetic used.

Dexmedetomidine, a potent α2 adrenocepter agonist ,has been reported to improve the quality of intrathecal and epidural anesthesia.(1,2,3) Its use in peripheral nerve blocks has recently been described.

Buprenorphine is lipophilic opioid with high molecular weight and having high affinity for μ receptors, has a longer duration of action,and is easily available, cost-effective and hence selected for this study

Ropivacaine has a long duration of action, with similar pharmacology to bupivacaine but a wider safety margin

In this study, we will investigate whether adding dexmedetomidine  or buprenorphine to 0.5%ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block would affect the sensory and motor blocks and duration of analgesia