The efficacy of dexamethasone added as an adjuvant to ropivacaine (0.5%) for brachial plexus block

BACKGROUND: The aims of the study was to evaluate the effect of dxamethasone added to ropivacine on blockade characteristics, postoperative analgesia and complications if any. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective randomised study was conducted in 60 ASA I &II patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. They were divided into two groups of 30 each, Group (R) received ropivacaine (0.5%) 30 ml+ Inj. Normal Saline 2ml and Group(RD) received ropivacaine (0.5%) 30 ml+ Inj. Dexamethasone 2ml (8mg). RESULTS: Both the groups were demographically comparable. Onset and peak effects of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic parameters were statistically not significant. Duration of sensory block in RD (10.17±1.13 hours) was prolonged compared to group R (6.5± 0.65 hours) (p<0.001). Duration of motor block in RD (8.35± 0.18 hours) was also prolonged compared to group R (7.42 ±0.89 hours) (p<0.001) duration of post operative analgesia was significantly prolonged in RD (21.2 ± 3.2 hours) compared to (10.24±1.57 hours) group R (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine (0.5%) with dexamethasone can be safely used in supraclavicular brachial plexus block and it has prolonged duration of anaesthesia as well as prolonged post-operative pain relief in comparison with Ropivacaine alone without any side effects.