ADDITION OF FENTANYL TO 1.5-PERCENT LIDOCAINE DOES NOT INCREASE THE SUCCESS OF AXILLARY PLEXUS BLOCK

Background and Objectives. This randomized, double-blind study was des igned to evaluate the effects of the addition of fentanyl (F) to lidoc aine (L) on the onset, duration, and success rate of axillary brachial plexus block. Methods. After institutional approval and informed cons ent, 53 ASA 1 and ASA 2 patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery usin g brachial plexus anesthesia were included in the study. Axillary brac hial plexus block was performed using a peripheral nerve stimulator to localize one nerve of the major plexus. The patients were randomly al located to two groups. The L + F group (n = 27) were administered 38 m L of 1.5% L with 1/200,000 epinephrine and 100 mug of F, and the L + S group (n = 26) were administered 38 mL of 1.5% L with 1:200,000 epine phrine and 2 mL of normal saline. The onset (monitored every 5 minutes ) and duration (monitored every 30 minutes) of surgical anesthesia, de fined as the total abolition of the pinprick response, were evaluated in each nerve territory. Results. The patients were similar with regar d to demographic data and the nerve trunks stimulated. In the L + F gr oup, the onset time was only reduced (P = .012) for the musculocutaneo us nerve. The duration of surgical anesthesia and the motor block were similar in both groups. The frequency of complete plexus block and th e frequency of anesthesia for each nerve trunk were similar in both gr oups. Conclusion. There is no clinical benefit resulting from the addi tion of fentanyl to the local anesthetic for axillary brachial plexus block.