Background and Aims:Various additives have been evaluated for the purpose of enhancing quality of analgesia and prolonging duration of spinal anesthesia. This randomized, double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone in spinal anesthesia.Methods:A total of sixty patients scheduled for lower segment cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups, group SD and group SN, including thirty patients each. All the patients received injection bupivacaine 0.5% heavy 10 mg through spinal anesthesia. Group SD received injection dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously, and group SN received injection normal saline (NS) 2 cc immediately after spinal anesthesia. Duration of sensory block, motor block, postoperative analgesia, visual analog pain scale (VAS) score, time of rescue analgesia, total analgesic requirement in the first 24 h, intra- and post-operative hemodynamics, and side effects if any were recorded. Whenever demanded rescue analgesia was given in the form of injection tramadol 100 mg.Results:The mean duration of sensory block (min) in group SD and group SN was 162.50 and 106.17, respectively which was highly significant. Similarly, time to the requirement of first rescue analgesia was prolonged in group SD (8.67 h) as compared to group SN (4.40 h). Significant changes were also seen in VAS score in postoperative period after 1 h of surgery in group SD and group SN. Duration of motor block, intra- and post-operative hemodynamic parameters were comparable in both the groups. No side effects were recorded in both the groups.Conclusion:We concluded that administration of dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia and sensory block in patients undergoing lower segment cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.

Background:Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α2 agonist with properties of sedation, analgesia and anxiolysis, making it an ideal anesthetic adjuvant. Using an anesthetic adjuvant that decreases requirement of anesthetics and analgesics may predispose the patient to awareness. We monitored the depth of anesthesia (DOA) using entropy to avoid unwanted awareness under anesthesia.Materials and Methods:30 patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I and II, aged between 18 to 50 years of either gender undergoing laparoscopic surgeries under general anesthesia were studied. Loading dose infusion of dexmedetomidine was started 1 mcg/kg for 15 minutes and patients were premedicated. Routine induction with propofol and fentanyl was carried out, and maintenance infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.2 mcg/kg/hr was given. Patients were monitored with standard monitoring, and in addition, the DOA was monitored with entropy.Results:A 62.5% reduction (0.75 mg/kg) in the induction dose of propofol was observed, with a 30% less end-tidal concentration of isoflurane requirement for maintenance of anesthesia, while maintaining the adequate DOA.Conclusion:Dexmedetomidine is an effective anesthetic adjuvant that can be safely used in laparoscopy without the fear of awareness under anesthesia.

Background and Aims:Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a fascial plane block providing post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing surgery with infra-umbilical incisions. We evaluated analgesic efficacy of TAP block with ropivacaine for 24 h after caesarean section through a Pfannenstiel incision.Methods:Sixty patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomised to undergo TAP block with ropivacaine (n = 30) versus control group (n = 30) with normal saline, in addition to standard analgesia with intravenous paracetamol and tramadol. At the end of the surgery, ultrasound-guided TAP plane block was given bilaterally using ropivacaine or normal saline (15 ml on either side). Each patient was assessed post-operatively by a blinded investigator at regular intervals up to 24 h for visual analogue score (VAS) and requirement of analgesia. SPSS version 18.0 software was used. Demographic data were analysed using Student's t-test and the other parameters using paired t-test.Results:TAP block with ropivacaine compared with normal saline reduced post-operative VAS at 24 h (P = 0.004918). Time for rescue analgesia in the study group was prolonged from 4.1 to 9.53 h (P = 0.01631). Mean requirement of tramadol in the first 24 h was reduced in the study group.Conclusion:US guided TAP block after caesarean section reduces the analgesic requirement in the first 24 h.

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Background and Aims:Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been proven as a safe and effective analgesic technique for several lower abdominal surgeries. Various adjuvants have been used to intensify the quality and prolong the local anesthetic effect. We evaluated the analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone addition to ropivacaine in TAP block following open abdominal hysterectomy.Materials and Methods:After clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee, a double-blind, prospective, randomized study was carried out on sixty patients aged 40–60 years posted for elective open abdominal hysterectomy comparing bilateral TAP block using 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine + 1 ml of 0.9% saline (control Group R) or 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine + 4 mg dexamethasone (Group RD). The aim of our study was to observe postoperative pain score (visual analog scale [VAS]), time for first analgesic (TFA) demand, total analgesic consumption, and incidence of nausea or vomiting.Statistical Analysis:Chi-square test and Student's t-test were used, and P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results:Postoperative VAS pain scores were significantly lower at 4, 6, and 12 h in Group RD as compared to Group R (P < 0.05). Significantly longer TFA (13.2 ± 7.6 vs. 7.1 ± 4.6 h, P < 0.001) with lesser tramadol requirement in first 24 h (50.2 ± 34 vs. 94 ± 35 mg, P < 0.001) were observed in Group RD as compared to Group R. Incidence of nausea or vomiting was statistically insignificant between the groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions:Addition of dexamethasone to ropivacaine TAP block prolonged the postoperative analgesia and reduced analgesic requirement following abdominal hysterectomy.

Sixty ASA grade I/II patients scheduled for elective short laparoscopic procedures under spinal anaesthesia were divided into two groups of 30 each. The first group (group C) received 3.5 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine with 30 mcg of clonidine. The second group (group B) received plain bupivacaine 3.5 ml. Till date, the limiting factor for use of spinal anaesthesia for laparoscopy was patient’s discomfort due to shoulder tip pain. From our study it can be concluded that bupivacaine along with clonidine in low doses provides good sedation and analgesia in intraoperative and post-operative period and at the same time abolishes shoulder tip pain during laparoscopic procedures. In addition, no significant changes in haemodynamics occur with the low dose of clonidine used.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is a potent non-opioid analgesic that may enhance analgesia for cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia. This study was undertaken to assess sedation and analgesia provided by dexmedetomidine and evaluating patients' satisfaction. Secondary aims were: (1) To study the effect of dexmedetomidine in decreasing the intraocular pressure. (2) The impact on surgeons' satisfaction. (3) Hemodynamic effects. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized study on ASA I/II patients presenting for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: group D received dexmedetomidine premedication 1 mcg/kg over 10 minutes and group C received saline at the same rate. Sedation and pain score, intraocular pressure, patient and surgeon satisfaction score and hemodynamics were monitored and compared. Results: There was a significant increase in sedation assessed by the Ramsay sedation score at all times in group D after receiving dexmedetomidine (p < 0.0001). However, pain scores (numeric rating scale) were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Dexmedetomidine decreased the intraocular pressure and the difference was statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001). Group D had better patient and surgeon satisfaction score as against group C (p = 0.0001). Noticeably, the incidence of dry mouth was higher in group D. Hemodynamic parameters were well maintained in both groups with no adverse events in either group. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine can be used safely for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. Administration of dexmedetomidine was associated with better patient and surgeon satisfaction.

Background and Aims:We compared interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) using peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) and ultrasound (US) techniques. The primary outcomes were the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis (HDP) and the duration of the block. Secondary outcomes were the block success rate, time to conduct the block, onset of sensory block, and dermatomal spread, postoperative pain by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), duration of postoperative analgesia and incidence of complications.Material and Methods:We conducted a prospective, randomized, and observer-blinded study in 60 patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy under block plus general anesthesia. ISBPB was performed with 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine using either PNS (Group PNS, n = 30) or US (Group US, n = 30). Hemidiaphragmatic function, the primary outcome, was assessed by ultrasonographic evaluation of diaphragmatic movement and pulmonary function tests using a bedside spirometer (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow rate). General anesthesia was administered to all the patients for surgery. P < 0.05 test was considered to be statistically significant.Results:Twelve patients in Group PNS had HDP and none in Group US (P < 0.0001). PFTs were also significantly reduced in Group PNS (P < 0.0001). The time to conduct the block and sensory onset time both were less in Group US (P < 0.05). The groups did not differ in block success rate, duration of analgesia, and NRS. Other complications like incidence of Horner's syndrome and vascular puncture were comparable in both the groups.Conclusions:PNS guided ISBPB with 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine is associated with a higher incidence of HDP as compared to US guided ISBPB. There is no significant difference in quality or duration of analgesia in the two groups.