Tramadol as an adjuvant to lidocaine for axillary brachial plexus block.
BACKGROUND
In this prospective randomized study, we evaluated the effect of tramadol as an adjuvant to axillary block.


METHODS
We studied 102 patients scheduled for hand surgery under axillary block with lidocaine 1.5% (epinephrine 1/200,000) and the addition of either 4 mL saline (control group), 100 mg tramadol and 2 mL saline (TL group), or 200 mg tramadol (TH group).


RESULTS
Onset time was longer in the TH group, 16 +/- 7 min (9 +/- 3 min in control group; P = 0.01). Sensory block and time for first rescue analgesia were significantly prolonged in the TH group compared with both TL and control groups (265 +/- 119 min vs 190 +/- 87 min vs 126 +/- 48 min; P = 0.018); (734 +/- 434 min vs 573 +/- 516 min vs 375 +/- 316 min; P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The benefit of block prolongation associated with the addition of 200 mg tramadol to lidocaine during axillary block is limited by the slow onset of the block.
Kaabachi
Olfa
O
Service d'anesthésie réanimation, Institut Kassab d'Orthopédie, Ksar said, Tunis, Tunisia. olfa.kaabachi@gnet.t
Ouezini
Rami
R
Koubaa
Walid
W
Ghrab
Badii
B
Zargouni
Amin
A
Ben Abdelaziz
Ahmed
A
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001365:Axilla / Q000294:innervation*; D001917:Brachial Plexus; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D009294:Narcotics; D014147:Tramadol; D008012:Lidocaine