Background: Different adjuvant drugs are currently added to lidocaine for intravenous regional
anesthesia (IVRA) to decrease tourniquet and postoperative pain.
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of nalbuphine when added to
IVRA.
Study Design: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
Setting: Assiut University Hospitals.
Methods: One hundred-six adult patients scheduled for unilateral hand surgery under IVRA were
randomized into 2 equal groups. The lidocaine-nalbuphine (LN) group received nalbuphine plus
lidocaine and the lidocaine (L) group received lidocaine. A tourniquet and postoperative pain were
assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The following parameters were measured: onset and
recovery time for both sensory and motor blocks, intra- and postoperative analgesic consumption,
time to first analgesic request, postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV), hemodynamics, and
cortisol levels.
Results: Early tourniquet and postoperative pain were significantly lower in the LN group. The
onset time for both sensory and motor blocks was significantly shorter in the LN group. In addition,
the recovery time for both sensory and motor blocks was longer in the LN group. Intra- and
postoperative fentanyl consumption was significantly lower in the LN group with no significance in
postoperative diclofenac consumption. The patient first analgesic request was significantly delayed
in the LN group (P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in PONV,
hemodynamic parameters abnormalities, medications adverse events or cortisol levels.
Limitations: The inclusion of a study group in which the nalbuphine administered systemically
could determine whether its beneficial effects were due to its local or systemic action.
Conclusions: Nalbuphine decreases early tourniquet and postoperative pain after IVRA and
delays the need for analgesic rescue. In addition, nalbuphine accelerates the onset and prolongs
the recovery time for both sensory and motor blocks with no significant adverse events. However,
it has no effect on postoperative cortisol levels.