Korean J Anesthesiol.  2012 Feb;62(2):130-134. 10.4097/kjae.2012.62.2.130.

Dexamathasone added to levobupivacaine improves postoperative analgesia in ultrasound guided interscalene brachial plexus blockade for arthroscopic shoulder surgery

• Kim YJ
• Lee GY
• Kim DY
• Kim CH
• Baik HJ
• Heo S

• KMID: 2236291
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2012.62.2.130

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of 5 mg dexamethasone to 10 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine on postoperative analgesic effects of ultrasound guided-interscalene brachial plexus block (ISBPB) in arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia.
METHODS
In 60 patients scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery that underwent general anesthesia, ISBPB was preoperatively performed with 10 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine under the guidance of ultrasound and a nerve stimulator. Patients were randomly allocated to receive the same volume of normal saline (Group I), 5 mg of dexamethasone (Group II), or 1 : 400,000 epinephrine (Group III) as an adjuvant to the mixture. A blind observer recorded total analgesic consumption, sleep quality, complication, and patient satisfaction using a verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) at 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 h after the operation.
RESULTS
All patients had successful ISBPB and excellent analgesic effects less than VNRS 4 up to discharge time. VNRS in Group II at 12 h and 48 h was statistically much lower than in Group I and III. There were no differences in total analgesic consumption, sleep quality, complications, and patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the addition of 5 mg of dexamethasone to 10 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine in ISBPB showed improvement of postoperative analgesia for arthroscopic shoulder operation without any specific complications.

Keyword

Analgesia; Brachial plexus blocks; Dexamethasone; Levobupivacaine; Ultrasound

MeSH Terms

Analgesia
Anesthesia, General
Brachial Plexus
Bupivacaine
Dexamethasone
Epinephrine
Humans
Patient Satisfaction
Shoulder
Bupivacaine
Dexamethasone
Epinephrine