The Effects of The 0.3 mA and 0.5 mA of threshold currents on the axillary brachial plexus blockade

We aimed to investigate the effects of 0.3 mA and 0.5 mA of threshold currents on intraoperative hemodynamics, adverse effects, complications, sedative and analgesic drug requirements, the onset time and duration of blockade, the postoperative analgesic requirement, and the satisfactions of patient and surgeon during brachial plexus blockade by means of a peripheral nerve stimulator in the patients undergoing hand surgeryIn this study, double blind-randomised study 40 patients, between 18-60 years of age, and in the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I-II risk group were included. In group 1 (n=20), the threshold currents of 0.3 mA and in group 2 (n=20), the threshold currents of 0.5 mA were used by means of a peripheral nerve stimulator. 150 mg of levobupivacaine and 200 mg of lidocaine in a total of 40 mL local anesthetic mixture was injected by dividing among 4 nerves during blockade. Each patient was premedicated with IV midazolam, 0.02 mg/kg. The sensory blockade was checked using the pin-prick test, the motor blockade was checked using bromage scale and the onset time of blockades were recordedThere was no statistical significant difference between the groups in term of intraoperative hemodynamics, adverse effects, complications, sedative and analgesic drug requirements, the duration of blockades, the postoperative analgesic requirement, and the satisfactions of patient and surgeon during brachial plexus blockade. The onset of sensory and motor blockade of the musculocutaneus and the onset of motor blockade of the median nerve were significantly shorter in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p<0.05). The duration of VAS>3 was significantly longer in Group 1 than in Group 2 in the postoperative period (p<0.05In conclusion, axillary block was performed with using a nerve stimulator, when nerve stimulator was set to 0.3 mA, shorter musculocutaneous nerve sensorial and motor block initial time, shorter median nerve motor block initial time and longer postoperational block time was observed than 0.5 mA. In addition, postoperational first analgesic requirement time was longer in Group 1 than Group 2Key Words: Axillary blockade, Levobupivacaine, Lidocaine, Peripheral Nerve stimulator, Stimulus threshold (mA).