The Efficacy of 20 mg Parecoxib as an Adjunct to 0.75% Ropivacaine in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block for Upper Limb Surgery

This clinical trial aims to investigate the efficacy of 20 mg Parecoxib when it is given as an addition to 20 ml 0.75% ropivacaine in patients receiving ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block prior to the upper limb surgeries. It is hypothesised that the addition of parecoxib to ropivacaine will provide superior sensory and motor blockades to those who only received 0.75% ropivacaine. Eighty six (n=86) patients were randomised in one-to-one ratio to either receiving 20 mg parecoxib and 20 ml 0.75% ropivacaine (n=43) or 20 ml 0.75% ropivacaine and 1 ml 0.9% saline (n=43). The primary efficacy outcomes of interest are a) The time to onsets of sensory and motor blockades (measured in minutes); b) The time to recovery from sensory and motor blockades (measured in hours). The secondary efficacy outcomes of interest are a) The presence of complete sensory blockade at 30 minutes post intervention (recorded as a binary yes-no categorical variable); b) The presence of complete motor blockade at 30 minutes post intervention (recorded as a binary yes-no categorical variable).