Tramadol Versus Dexamethasone as Adjuvant to Levobupivacaine Supraclavicular Block

Strategies to prolong brachial plexus nerve blocks analgesia beyond the pharmacological duration of the local anaesthetic used include placement of indwelling perineural catheters to allow prolonged infusion or the co-administration of adjuvants such as epinephrine, alpha 2 agonists (as clonidine and dexmedetomidine), midazolam, or the corticosteroid dexamethasone .

Dexamethasone improves the quality and duration of peripheral nerve block over local anaesthetic alone. This is thought to be mediated by attenuating the release of inflammatory mediators, reducing ectopic neuronal discharge, and inhibiting potassium channel-mediated discharge of nociceptive C-fibres .

Tramadol is a unique opioid with two modes of action for inhibition of pain, an opioid action mediated by the μ receptor and a non-opioid action mediated by α-2-adrenergic and serotoninergic activity .The monoaminergic activity of tramadol inhibits the descending pain pathways, resulting in suppression of nociceptive transmission at the spinal level . Tramadol also exhibits local anaesthetic properties by blocking K+ channels .Many studies have characterized the effects of tramadol as an adjuvant to local anaesthetic in brachial plexus block .