Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sulfentanil combined with ropivacaine in brachial and jugular plexus nerve block. Methods Forty ASA Ⅰ, Ⅱ patients without contraindications of brachial and jugular plexus nerve block, aged 18~75, and weighing 47~98 kg, underwent elective cervical and upper limbs operations were randomly divided into two groups(n=20). 1% ropivacaine 10 mL+0.9% NS 20 mL(group A) and sufentanil 10.0 μg(1 mL) combined with 1% ropivacaine 10 mL+0.9% NS 19 mL(group B) were given separately. The efficacy of analgesia, sedation and locomotor block were evaluated by: 1Visual analogue scales(VAS)(0=no pain, 10=severe pain); 2 Ramsay sedation scales; 3 Bromage motor scores; 4 side effects such as nausea, vomiting, tickle and respiratory depression were also recorded at the points of before injection, 5 min, 10 min,15min, 20 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h after injection. Results The demographic data(age, height, bodyweight, MAP and HR before operation) and durations of operations were comparable among two groups(P>0.05). VAS of 5 min, 1 h, 2 h and 4 h after injection in group B were lower than group A(P＜0.05); and Ramsay sedation scales 10 min till 30 min after injection were higher than group A(P＜0.05). Conclusion It has been demonstrated in this study that sulfentanil combined with ropivacaine for brachial and jugular plexus nerve block is safe and more efficient for early analgesia and sedation, and longer for analgesia than to use ropivacaine alone.

Key words: sufentanil, ropivacaine, nerve block