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Epidural dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements

[L’administration péridurale de dexaméthasone réduit la douleur et la demande d’analgésiques postopératoires]

From the Department of Anaesthesiology, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Siji Thomas, G/ 04, Chaithanya, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala - 680555, India. Phone: +91(0)-9895811263; Fax: +91(0)-4872308919; E-mail: sijithomas2k{at}yahoo.com

Purpose: Epidural steroids may have potential advantages for providing postoperative analgesia. We therefore undertook a study to evaluate the efficacy of epidurally administered dexamethasone in reducing postoperative morphine requirements, as a measure of analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind study, 94 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 (Control) patients received dexamethasone 5 mg iv with epidural injection of 0.25% bupivacaine 8 mL and normal saline 2 mL, Group 2 (D1) patients received normal saline 2 mL iv with epidural injection of 0.25% bupivacaine 8 mL and dexamethasone 5 mg in normal saline 2 mL, and Group 3 (D2) patients received normal saline 2 mL iv with epidural injection of dexamethasone 5 mg in normal saline 10 mL. After surgery, morphine 2–4 mg iv was administered as needed for analgesia. Postoperative morphine requirements, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and with effort, and time to first analgesic administration were recorded by a blinded observer.

Results: Total morphine consumption for the first 24 hr following surgery was lower in both epidural dexamethasone groups (D1, D2) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage reduction in morphine consumption in Group D1 was 53.9% and in Group D2 was 52.9% in the first 24 hr. Postoperatively at 12 hr, 18 hr and 24 hr, the VAS scores at rest and during effort were also lower in the epidural dexamethasone groups (D1, D2) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage reductions in VAS scores with effort at 12 hr, 18 hr and 24 hr in Group D1 were 50%, 52.9% and 50% respectively, and in Group D2 percentage reductions in pain scores with effort were 54.8%, 58.8% and 55.5% at corresponding sampling intervals.

Conclusion: Preoperative epidural administration of dexamethasone 5 mg, with or without bupivacaine, reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

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