Analgesic Sparing Effect of Dexamethasone with Levobupivacaine in Quadratus Lumborum Block in Patients Undergoing Unilateral Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

Abstract Background The QLB is an effective analgesic technique for various abdominal wall incisinos. The QLB covers T7 to L2 dermatomes. Levobupivacaine is a long-acting LA agent, commonly used for peripheral nerve block due to its better safety profile than that of bupivacaine. Dexamethasone as an adjuvant to LA has been shown to prolong the duration of pain-free period, less requirement for rescue opioids consumption, more patient satisfaction and lesser incidence of nausea and vomiting. Objective To assess the analgesic sparing effect of adding dexamethasone to levobupivacaine in quadratus lumborum block in patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair under general anesthesia. Patients and Methods After approval of the anesthesiology department and scientific and ethical committees, this prospective double blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted in Ain Shams University Hospitals. Sixty patients scheduled for elective ingunial surgeries under general anesthesia were included in this study. Results Our study did not have any complications associated with the use of dexamethasone with levobupivacaine in QLB. Type 1 QLB failed to provide postoperative analgesia in surgeries involving dissection in the retroperitoneal area as there were high chances of damaging the thoracolumbar fascia. Conclusion The addition of dexamethasone to levobupivacaine in QLB in unilateral inguinal hernia repair surgery provides a prolonged duration of postoperative analgesia, with reduced analgesic requirements, a better quality of analgesia in terms of NRS compared to levobupivacaine alone group.