Comparison of the Efficacy of Intravenous and Regional Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Nerve Block

Vol 5 | Issue 2 | July-December 2024 | Page 4-9| Sushmitha K, Shripad Mahadik, Deepak Phalgune, Sandeep Mutha, Sudhir Patil

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13107/ijra.2024.v05.i02.92

Open Access License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Submitted: February 27-10-2024; Reviewed: 10-11-2024; Accepted: 18-11-2024; Published: 10-12-2024

Authors: Sushmitha K [1], Shripad Mahadik [1], Deepak Phalgune [2], Sandeep Mutha [1], Sudhir Patil [1]

[1] Department of Anaesthesiology, Poona Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
[2] Department of Research, Poona Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Address of Correspondence

Dr. Deepak Phalgune,
Department of Research, Poona Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
E-mail: dphalgune@gmail.com

Abstract

The brachial plexus nerve block (BPNB) is a widely employed regional nerve block of the upper extremity. Some trials report longer duration of analgesia with perineural compared to intravenous (IV) dexamethasone, other studies have failed to detect significant differences between the two modalities in BPNB. The present study aims to compare the efficacy of IV and perineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant in BPNB. One hundred ten patients aged between 18 and 60 years, scheduled to undergo upper limb surgery under BPNB were randomly divided into two groups by computer-generated table. Group A patients received IV dexamethasone 8 mg immediately after receiving BPNB with adrenalized lignocaine and bupivacaine. Group B patients received dexamethasone 8 mg along with adrenalized lignocaine and bupivacaine perineurally. The onset time of the sensory block (OTSB), the time for the complete sensory block (TCSB), the onset time of the motor block (OTMB), the time for the complete motor block (TCMB), and the period of sensory and motor blockade were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was noted. The mean OTSB, TCSB, OTMB, and TCMB were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B, whereas the mean duration of sensory and motor blockade was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A. The mean VAS score at 16 and 24 hours postoperatively was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B. The efficacy of dexamethasone along with local anaesthetic perineurally was higher than IV dexamethasone in BPNB.
Keywords: Dexamethasone, intravenous, Motor block, Perineural, Sensory block

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How to Cite this Article: Sushmitha K, Mahadik S, Phalgune D, Mutha S, Patil S | Comparison of the Efficacy of Intravenous and Regional Dexamethasone in Brachial Plexus Nerve Block | International Journal of Regional Anaesthesia | July-December 2024; 5(2): 4-9 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.13107/ijra.2024.v05.i02.92