Low-dose dexamethasone with levobupivacaine improves analgesia after supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade.

ABSTRACT: We conducted ultrasound-guided single-shot supraclavicular blockade and investigated the analgesic effect of dexamethasone added to levobupivacaine. The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of low-dose dexamethasone to levobupivacaine would prolong the duration of analgesia sufficiently to avoid additional intravenous analgesic use for the first 24 hours postoperatively.This randomised controlled study assessed 70 patients undergoing upper-extremity surgery. Patients were eligible if there 18 years or over with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I, II or III. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 25 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine plus four milligrams dexamethasone (group 1) or 25 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine plus one millilitre saline (group 2). Pain scores, analgesic consumption and time estimation at which they perceived that sensory and motor blockade started and resolved were recorded.Duration of sensory (1,260 min. in group 1 vs 600 min. in group 2) and motor (1,200 min. in group 1 vs 700 min. in group 2) blockade were significantly longer in group 1 (P?

SUBMITTER: Persec J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3890127 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature