Projects

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Sensory blockade of the brachial plexus with
local anaesthetics for perioperative analgesia leads to stable
haemodynamics intraoperatively, smoother emergence from
general anaesthesia and decreased need for supplemental
analgesics or suppositories in the Post-operative period.
However, increasing the duration of local anaesthetic action is
often desirable because it prolongs surgical anaesthesia and
analgesia. Various studies in adults prove that steroids increase
the duration of action of local anaesthetics when used as
adjuncts.
Aim: The study aimed at determining the efficacy of dexame-
thasone as an adjuvant to bupivacaine for Post-operative
analgesia following sensory blockade of the brachial plexus in
paediatrics.
Materials and Methods: The study was divided into two
groups of 15 each, group BD receiving dexamethasone (0.1mg/
kg) as an adjunct to bupivacaine 0.125% and group B receiving
bupivacaine alone. The duration of analgesia was taken as time
from completion of the block to the patient receiving rescue
analgesia, the haemodynamics were measured until 180
minutes after surgery, the incidence of Post-operative Nausea
and Vomiting (PONV) was measured.
Results: The duration of analgesia in the group BD was
27.1+13.4 hours and was significantly higher as compared to
the group B, in which it was 13.9+11.3 hours (p<0.05). The
pulse rate measured Post-operatively between both groups
at 20 minutes (p-value 0.634), 60 minutes (p-value 0.888),
120 minutes (p-value 0.904) and 180 minutes (p-value 0.528)
showed no statistical significance. Likewise the mean blood
pressure measured between the two groups at 20 minutes, 60
minutes, 120 minutes and 180 minutes Post-operatively showed
no significance. There was no significant difference in incidence
of PONV in both groups with p-value of 0.624.
Conclusion: Dexamethasone as an adjuvant to local anaes-
thetic in brachial plexus blocks significantly, prolongs duration
of analgesia in children undergoing upper limb surgeries.