Preemptive analgosedation with ketamine-dexmedetomidine versus ketamine-propofol in upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block: A randomized controlled trial

Background and Aims: Analgosedation before and during regional anesthesia provides analgesia, anxiolysis, and amnesia. This study has been conducted to compare ketamine-dexmedetomidine (KD) versus ketamine-propofol (KP) for sedation, pain on needle prick while giving block, hemodynamics, and their side effects under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Materials and Methods: After obtaining ethics committee approval, CTRI registration and patient consent, 75 patients were recruited who satisfy inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into two groups. Group KP received a loading dose of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, propofol 1 mg/kg over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of ketamine 0.3 mg/kg/h and propofol 10 μg/kg/min. Group KD received loading dose of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg, dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg over 10 min, followed by maintenance dose of ketamine 0.3 mg/kg/h and dexmedetomidine 0.3 μg/kg/h. Patients were monitored for sedation, pain on needle prick while performing block, side effects of study drugs, hemodynamic and respiratory parameters. An independent sample t-test was used to compare continuous outcomes, descriptive statistics were used to depict the baseline profile of the study participants, Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical outcomes. A value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Pain on needle prick was experienced in 5.7% and 42.9% in Group KD and Group KP, respectively. In Group KD, 28.6% and Group KP 5.7% of patients experienced nausea. Conclusion: In this study, group KD has adequate sedation as compared to group KP with less pain on needle prick while performing supraclavicular block. Group KD has higher incidence of nausea than gruop KP.