BACKGROUND Regional anaesthesia is an armamentarium in the hands of the anaesthesiologist to provide swift, effective and safe condition for surgery. However, local anaesthetics are characterised by slower onset and shorter duration of action, when used in larger doses can cause systemic toxicity. Hence, adjuvants are used to better the quality of blocks. Here, I have used dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to assess duration of action, hemodynamic effects and side-effects. METHODS Our study is randomised double blinded comparative study, in which we have compared two groups, one received ropivacaine alone and another received ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant. Assessment was done for duration of action, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, analgesic drug usage, sedation scoring and incidence of side-effects and complications. This study was conducted on 94 parturients with 47 patients in each group. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine has a statistically significant prolonged action and has given excellent analgesia post-operatively. Additional analgesics were required in a lesser number than the control group. There were no hemodynamic disturbances and complications. CONCLUSIONS Dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine for ultra-sound guided TAP block is associated with prolonged and excellent analgesia with lesser requirement for additional analgesic usage, lower VAS scores, hemodynamic stability, and minimal sedation. KEYWORDS Caesarean Section, Dexmedetomidine, Analgesia, Post-Operative, Ropivacaine, Transversus Abdominis Plane Block
To compare postoperative analgesic effect of ropivacaine with or without dexamethasone in ultra sound guided transversus abdominis plane block for patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries - A prospective & randomized study