Analgesic Efficacy of Dexamethasone as an Adjunct to Levobupivacaine for Transverse Abdominal Plane (Tap) Block After Cesarean Section
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Abstract
Background: When performing various nerve block procedures, several adjuvants have been utilized to enhance the effectiveness and lengthen the duration of local anesthetics. The purpose of the current study was to determine how adding dexamethasone to levobupivacaine affected the effectiveness and duration of the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.
Material & Methods: A randomized trial was done in 60 patients undergoing
gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. All patients were randomized to two groups of 30 each.
Group 1 received Levobupivacaine with Normal saline and group 2 received Levobupivacaine with Dexamethasone 8mg.
Result: The maximum numbers of patients were between 20-30 years. Weight and height shows significant differences. Both the two groups experienced a gradual reduction in pain after the TAP block, as evidenced by VAS and the need of analgesics. The requirement for the first rescue analgesia was delayed in group II than group I, which was statistically significant with p–value <0.001.
Conclusion: In women scheduled for elective cesarean section, dexamethasone as an addition to levobupivacaine in the TAP block increases the duration until the first rescue analgesic request and decreases the overall amount of analgesic administered in the postoperative period.
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References
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