Comparison of analgesic properties of perineural and systemic dexamethasone in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular block

Introduction: Pain in the postoperative period is the distressing period after any surgeries particularly in the first 24 hours. Postoperative pain is associated with an increase in sympathetic activity leading to increases in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and even delirium and myocardial insults. Opioids and NSAIDS are very commonly used in the postoperative period in spite of their known adverse effects. So there is a need for a study to find a drug which prolongs the duration of analgesia in the postoperative period without many side effects so that usage of opioids and NSAIDS drugs in the first 24 hours can be decreased. The aim of the study: To compare during supraclavicular brachial plexus block, the single perioperative dose of intravenous Dexamethasone and perineural Dexamethasone effects on onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade ; quality of analgesia and reduction in the dose of opioids in first 24 hour. Materials and methods: A Randomized, Triple-Arm, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Totally 90 patients were recruited in the study patients undergoing upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular block at govt. Kilpauk medical college hospital and govt. Royapettah Hospital from December 2015 to May 2016 were included in the study. After obtaining written informed consent patients were divided into three groups of 30 in each group. Group A local anesthetics and perineural dexamethasone Group B local anesthetics & intravenous dexamethasone, Group C local anesthetics only. Results: The Sensory and Motor block onset time between the intervention groups group A VS group B and group A VS group C were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05) and the association between group B VS group c was found to be not statistically significant (p>0.05) as per unpaired t-test. The sensory & motor block duration time showed statistical significance in group A VS group C, group B VS group C (p < 0.05) but group A VS group B had no statistical significance( p > 0.05) as per unpaired t-test. The association of Visual Analog Scale between the intervention groups (group A Vs group C and group B VS group C) and VAS scores at 6, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively were found to be statistically significant since p < 0.05 as per unpaired t-test. The number of doses of opioid required in 24 hours was considered to be statistically significant since p < 0.05 as per unpaired t-test between the intervention groups (group A VS group C and group B VS group C). Conclusion: Systemic Dexamethasone is equally effective as perineural Dexamethasone in providing the significant duration of sensory, motor blockade and quality of analgesia. We come to a conclusion that Dexamethasone consistently decreases the postoperative pain scores and decrease the early & number of doses of opioid consumption (48 hours).