The efficacy of pediatric ultrasound guided brachial plexus block anesthesia and determination of optimal anesthetic drug dosage.

BACKGROUND

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of pediatric ultrasound guided brachial plexus block anesthesia and to determine the optimal anesthetic drug dosage.

METHODS

Ninety-seven children who required elective upper limb surgery were randomly divided into three groups: group A with 32 cases, group B with 35 cases and group C with 30 cases. All three groups of patients underwent ultrasound guided brachial plexus block anesthesia. To compare differences of anesthetic effect, group A received 0.30% ropivacaine, group B received 0.40% ropivacaine, and group C received 0.50% ropivacaine.

RESULTS

The total volume was 24 mL in each group. The onset time of ulnar nerve block in Group A was significantly longer than in Group B and Group C (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in onset time of nerve block of the other nerves among the three groups (P>0.05). Block maintenance time in Group A was significantly less than in Group B and Group C (P<0.05). The effective rate of anesthesia of Group A was lower than in Group B and Group C and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of anesthetic complications among the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric ultrasound guided brachial plexus block anesthesia is safe and reliable. Ropivacaine used at 0.40% is the optimal lower-concentration anesthetic dosage.