A comparison between lumbar plexus block and subarachnoid block in orthopedic procedures for lower limb surgery: A prospective randomized study

Jayanta Chakraborty; Tapobrata Mitra

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

A comparison between lumbar plexus block and subarachnoid block in orthopedic procedures for lower limb surgery: A prospective randomized study

Jayanta Chakraborty, Tapobrata Mitra

Abstract :

Background: Peripheral nerve block is gaining popularity as it offers advantage over subarachnoid block. Aims: To demonstrate the efficacy of lumbar plexus block in view of safer anesthesia and better post-operative analgesia than subarachnoid block in lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Materials and methods: study was done among 80 American Society Of Anesthesiology Physical status (ASA- PS) I male patients, aged between 55 to 85 years undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A patients received lumbar plexus block with 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine mixed with 10 ml of sterile water (total 30ml) and Group B patients received subarachnoid block with 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. Baseline and intraoperative heart rate, mean arterial pressure oxygen saturation, onset and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia and any complication were noted. Results: There was statistically significant fall of average mean arterial pressure(p<0.001) and heart rate (p<0.0001) in the subarachnoid block group (Group B) than lumbar plexus block group(Group A).The onset of sensory and motor block was delayed but the duration of both sensory and motor block and the duration of analgesia were prolonged in lumbar plexus block group(Group A) than subarachnoid block group(Group B) which was statistically significant(p<0.0001). No major complication was found in the lumbar plexus block group(Group A). Conclusion: Lumbar plexus block provides effective anesthesia and analgesia without major complication than subarachnoid block.