Clinical efficacy of brachial plexus block with patient-controlled analgesia for postoperative analgesia and recovery in the antebrachium.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the analgesic effect of brachial plexus block using patient-controlled analgesia device after micro-surgery in the antebrachium and its impact on postoperative recovery.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients (ASA class I or II ) scheduled for micro-surgery in the antebrachium under brachial plexus block were randomly divided into PCBPA group (n=12) with patient-controlled analgesia and control group (n=12) without postoperative analgesia. In PCBPA group, postoperative patient-controlled analgesia was implemented using the mixture of 1% lidocaine and 0.25% bupivacaine and a computer- based system (Graseby 9300) with basal infusion of 2 ml/h, bolus dose of 3 ml and lockout time of 45 min. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted for the evaluation of the pain intensity in both groups within 72 h after surgery, and changes in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) observed during the peri-operation period.


CONCLUSIONS
VAS, MAP and HR in PCBPA group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05) within 24 h after surgery, suggesting the effectiveness of the analgesic modality using patient-controlled analgesia, which also inhibits postoperative stress reaction and promotes recovery following micro-surgery of the antebrachium.
Deng
Rong-jian
RJ
Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Xu
Jian-she
JS
Wei
Rong
R
Qin
Zai-sheng
ZS
D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine