الفهرس 
Introduction and Aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This prospective, randomized and double blinded study was conducted at EL-Minia University Hospital during the period from May 2015 to November 2015, the study involved 60 patients of either sex, aged 17-75 years old, and posted for elective and emergent upper limb surgery (below shoulder joint), under supraclavicular brachial plexus block guided by a nerve stimulator and informed consent from each case was obtained.
Patients were randomly divided into two equal groups; group C (control group, n=30) received 40 mL solution containing local anesthetics only. group D (dexamethasone group, n=30) received 40 mL solution containing local anesthetics plus 4mg dexamethasone.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding dexamethasone to local anesthetics in supraclavicular brachial plexus block on onset and duration of local anesthetic action and postoperative analgesia.
All patients were assessed with regards to:
Hemodynamics (heart rate, MAP) and oxygen saturation were recorded preoperatively just before the block as a baseline value, immediately after the block 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 80 minutes during the operative time and 10, 30min 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after end of operation.
Onset time of sensory block, Onset time of motor block, Duration of sensory block, and Duration of motor block was assessed in minutes.
Pain assessment using a scoring system based on the (VAS) scale consisting of (best to worst: 0 – 10 cm). VAS is measured at the following time intervals 10, 30min 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 hours postoperatively, time to first analgesic requirement (in minutes) and total analgesic consumption (in mg) were continuously monitored in the two groups for 24 hours in ward.
Patient satisfaction score was assessed.
The incidence of adverse effects whether related to the drugs used in the technique or related to the technique itself were recorded.
The results of this study found that demographic (age, sex, weight, height and ASA classification) and surgical data were statistically insignificant between the two groups of patients.
Hemodynamics (HR and MAP) and oxygen saturation were statistically insignificant between the two groups at all-time intervals (pre-, intra- and post-operative).
As regard duration of sensory and motor block in dexamethasone group was clinically and significantly longer than control group. While for the onset time of sensory and motor block, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between the two groups.
For Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while comparing the two groups, the differences were significant at 9, 12 and 18 hours after surgery for the favor of the dexamethasone group. But there were not statistically significant differences between the two groups in VAS at all other time intervals.