A comparative evaluation of different doses of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia in unilateral inguinal hernioplasty

Background and Aims: The present study is designed to evaluate addition of two different doses of dexmedetomidine (0.25 mcg/kg and 0.5 mcg/kg) as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block for post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernioplasty. Material and Methods: A total of 90 patients scheduled to undergo elective unilateral open inguinal hernioplasty were divided into three groups in a randomized triple blind way. In group B (n = 30), patients received TAP block using 22 ml of solution, consisting of 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 2 ml of normal saline; in group BD1 (n = 30), patients received TAP block using 22 ml of solution, consisting of 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine 0.25 mcg/kg dissolved in 2 ml of normal saline; while in group BD2 (n = 30), patients received TAP block using 22 ml of solution, consisting of 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg/kg dissolved in 2 ml of normal saline. Results: Time to first analgesia was significantly prolonged in group BD2 (874.48 ± 118.28 minutes) as compared to BD1 (536.5 ± 60.35 minutes) and B (341.5 ± 46.22 minutes) (P Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine in a dose of 0.5 mcg/kg is better than dose of 0.25 mcg/kg as an adjuvant to 0.25% bupivacaine in transversus abdominis plane block for post-operative pain relief in unilateral inguinal hernioplasty. However, it causes mores sedation and hemodynamic changes.