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Introduction: Upper limb surgeries frequently use the brachial plexus block for anesthetizing the limb. The conventional approach by eliciting paresthesia is a blind procedure that may have a higher failure rate and cancause damage to the nerves and nearby structures. Peripheral nerve stimulator and ultrasound techniques were introduced to aid in better localization of the nerve/plexus avoiding tissue damage. With excellent localization and increased safety margin, ultrasound has increased the success rate of supraclavicular brachial plexus block. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a Peripheral nerve stimulator with Ultrasound for giving Supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Material and Methods: After obtaining the Institutional ethical committee approval and patient consent, a total of 60 patients were enrolled in this prospective randomized study which were randomly divided into two groups in whom Supraclavicular brachial plexus block was given using either Peripheral nerve stimulator (Group PNS) or Ultrasound (Group USG). Both groups received 15 ml 0.5% Bupivacaine and 10 ml Lignocaine with Adrenaline {2%}[1;200,000]. The chiefparameters considered were time of onset of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, block failure and complications following block. Results: Demographic data was comparable in both the groups. The mean time of onset of motor block and sensory blockwas found to be more in Group PNS as compared to Group USG. The duration of sensory and motor blockade was more in group PNS ascompared to group USG. The success rate of the block was higher in ultrasound group than inPNSgroup however it wasstatisticallyinsignificant. No complications occurred in either group. Conclusion: Ultrasound guidance is a safe and effective method for giving supraclavicular brachial plexus block with faster onset and more lasting duration of motor and sensory blockade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Upper limb surgeries frequently use the brachial plexus blockade method. The conventional approach of treating paresthesia is a blind procedure that may have a higher failure rate and cause damage to the nerves and nearby structures. Peripheral nerve stimulator and ultrasound techniques were introduced to help with better localization of the nerve/plexus in order to avoid some of these issues. With excellent localization and increased safety margin, ultrasound has increased the success rate of supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks. The purpose of this study was to contrast the effectiveness of a Peripheral nerve stimulator with an ultrasound-guided technique brachial plexus block. Material and Methods: After obtaining the Institutional ethical committee approval and patient consent total of 60 patients were enrolled in this prospective randomized study and were randomly divided into two groups: Peripheral nerve stimulator (Group PNS) and ultrasound-guided technique (Group USG). Both groups received 0.5% bupivacaine. The amount of local anesthetic injected calculated according to the body weight and was not crossing the toxic dosage (injection bupivacaine 2 mg/kg). The parameters compared between the two groups were lock execution time, time of onset of sensory and motor block, quality of sensory and motor block success rates were noted. The failed blocks were supplemented with general anesthesia. Results: Demographic data were comparable in both groups. The mean time taken for the procedure to administer a block by eliciting PNS is less compared to USG, and it was statistically significant. The mean time of onset of motor block, sensory blockade, the duration of sensory and motor blockade was statistically significant. The success rate of the block is more in ultrasound group than PNSgroup which was not clinically significant. The incidence of complications was seen more in PNS group. Conclusion: Ultrasound guidance is the safe and effective method for the supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Incidence of complications are less as ultrasound provides real-time visulaization of underlying structures and the spread of local anaesthetic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]