Abstract :
Background: Effective pain control following a cesarean section was crucial. The postoperative discomfort following a cesarean section was treated using intravenous opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Currently, postoperative pain is alleviated through the utilization of fascial plane blocks such as the quadratus lumborum block, transversus abdominis plane block (TAP), erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks, and ilioinguinal nerve block.
Aim & Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess the duration of initial pain relief and time to first rescue analgesia. Secondary objectives were total number of rescue analgesic doses and amount of rescue analgesic consumption and postoperative pain scores.
Materials and Methods: A total of 70 patients scheduled for elective lower segment cesarean sections were randomly assigned to either Group B or Group D. All cesarean sections were performed under spinal anesthesia. Participants in Group B received 0.4 ml/kg of a bupivacaine solution. In contrast, patients in Group D were administered a solution consisting of 0.4 ml/kg of 0.125% bupivacaine combined with 1 ?g/kg of dexmedetomidine.
Results: The time to initial rescue analgesia was significantly longer in Group D (16.3 hours) compared to Group B (8.3 hours), with a p-value of
Conclusion: The addition of dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine significantly prolongs the time for initial rescue analgesia, duration of analgesia and reduces the number of rescue analgesic doses and pain scores.
Keyword :
Quadratus lumborum block, Dexmedetomidine, Cesarean section, Postoperative analgesia.