Background and objectives: Supraclavicular plexus block provides good alternative to General anaesthesia for upper limb surgeries with good postoperative analgesia. Various drugs have been tried as adjuncts to local anaesthetics for brachial plexus block to enhance the quality and duration of analgesia. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of Tramadol added to brachial plexus block by supraclavicular approach for onset and duration of block and postoperative analgesia.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double blinded study was conducted on 100 ASA I or II adult patients undergoing upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in Group A (n= 50) were administered 28mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine + 2ml Normal saline and Group B (n = 50) were given 28mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine + 2ml Tramadol (2mg/kg). The onset time and duration of sensory and motor blockade were recorded. Haemodynamic variables (i.e., heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation) and rescue analgesic requirements were recorded for 24 hrs postoperatively.

Results: The onset of sensory and motor block was significantly faster in Group B compared to Group A (p<0.05). Rescue analgesic requirements were significantly less in Group B compared to Group A (p < 0.05). Haemodynamic variables did not differ between groups in the post-operative period.

Conclusion: Thus Tramadol (2mg/kg) in combination with 28mL of Bupivacaine (0.25%) was found to be good agent for hastening the onset of sensory and motor block and improved postoperative analgesia when used in brachial plexus block without producing any adverse events.