Analgesic Effect of Preoperative Dexamethasone in Gynecological Laparotomies - a Dose-ranging Study

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must be non-lactating * 18-65 years of age * ASA groups I-III for elective total abdominal hysterectomy (with or without salpingo-oophorectomy or minor bladder repair)or myomectomy through a lower transverse or low midline incision under general anesthesia. Incidental appendectomy and /or abdominal lipectomy were allowed as collateral surgical procedures if the same incision was used Exclusion Criteria: * Emergent procedures * Diagnosed malignancy * History of allergy to dexamethasone * Allergy or contraindication to drugs used in study and anesthesia * Patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, recent history of gastrointestinal bleeding or ulceration within 30 days before the study) * Patients who have taken drugs in the 12 hours preceding the surgery that could confound the analgesic response (specifically analgesics, neuroleptics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs) * Patients who have been on long term oral steroid therapy * Patients with BMI\>40 * Serious organ disease/ dysfunction * Chronic pain patients requiring \>30mg morphine per day or equivalent * Severe psychiatric disease * Drug Addiction * Pregnancy * Language barrier * Inability to cooperate with the use of the intravenous PCA morphine pump