Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

An essential part of regional anaesthesia for upper limb surgeries is ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block, which allows for localised analgesia with the least number of systemic problems. The best local anaesthetic drug for this procedure is still up for debate, especially when it comes to safety, duration of action, and efficacy. Using a combination of 2% lignocaine and adrenaline, this randomised controlled trial compares the safety and effectiveness of 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block in adult patients undergoing elective upper limb surgeries. Sixty adult ASA I-II patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.5% bupivacaine (Group B, n = 30) or 0.75% ropivacaine (Group R, n = 30), both of which were administered with 20 millilitres of 2% lignocaine. Researchers who were blinded to group assignments carefully examined the block's features, including the onset and duration of sensory and motor block, time to peak effect, postoperative pain (measured using the VAS at the 6-hour mark), need for rescue analgesia, haemodynamic parameters, and complications. Both local anaesthetics produced prolonged analgesia and efficient anaesthesia. While bupivacaine showed a longer duration of sensory (635 ± 38 min versus 540 ± 42 min, p<0.001) and motor block (590 ± 33 min versus 470 ± 29 min, p<0.001), as well as lower VAS scores at the 6-hour interval (2.1 ± 0.7 versus 2.8 ± 0.9, p=0.02), ropivacaine showed a significantly faster onset of motor block (4.03 ± 0.96 min versus 5.50 ± 0.73 min, p=0.001) and earlier peak effects. The two groups' haemodynamic stability and complication rates were found to be similar. The findings indicate that both 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine are safe and effective when used with lignocaine and adrenaline for ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block. Bupivacaine is typically associated with a longer duration of pain relief and reduced postoperative discomfort, whereas ropivacaine is generally linked to a faster onset of action

Chickenpox occurs worldwide and is endemic in large cities. Outbreaks occur sporadically, usually in areas with large groups of susceptible children. It affects all races and both sexes equally. It can occur at any age, but it is most common among children between age group 2 to 8.

Skin diseases are common in children and about 30% of paediatric OPD attendance is accounted by these conditions. Skin disorders are associated with manifestations of many systemic and hereditary diseases.

Chickenpox is a worldwide disease and is no respecter race or class. The incidence increases in spring & winter months in the temperate zones. In the tropics, the peak incidence is during winter and early spring. The disease in fact started spreading from February itself. Lack of knowledge among common people on preventing water contamination is helping the virus to spread rapidly.