Dexmedetomidine, an α2 adrenoceptor agonist, and dexamethasone, a potent anti-inflammatory steroid, are commonly used, effective, and safe adjuvants to peripheral nerve block (PNB). Both have been found to delay and reduce the incidence of rebound pain (RP), prolong the duration of sensory and motor block, and enhance analgesia without causing significant respiratory depression. Few studies have explored the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone as sole adjuvants to PNB for preventing or reducing RP. However, no study has directly compared the effectiveness of these two drugs in reducing RP when used as adjuvants to local anesthetic (LA) in PNB. Due to differences in their mechanism of action, their effects on RP may differ significantly. The investigators hypothesized that the combination of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of RP when used as adjuvants to LA in PNB.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
75
8 mg of dexamethasone will be added to the local anesthetic. The local anesthetic used in all cases was a mixture of 10 ml of 2% xylocaine and 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine.
1 microgram/kg of dexmedetomidine will be added to the local anesthetic. The local anesthetic used in all cases was a mixture of 10 ml of 2% xylocaine and 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine.
8 mg of dexamethasone + 1 microgram/kg dexmedetomidine will be added to the local anesthetic. The local anesthetic used in all cases was a mixture of 10 ml of 2% xylocaine and 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine.
Benha University, Faculty of Medicine
Banhā, Qalyubiyya, Egypt
The incidence of rebound pain after the end of anesthesia
The incidence of rebound pain after the end of anaesthesia will be measured. Rebound pain refers to a transient, intense increase in pain that occurs after the resolution of a peripheral nerve block. It represents the patient's perception of a sudden change from numbness to severe pain once the block wears off - often within the first 24 hours postoperatively. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to measure pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimetre horizontal line, with the left end labelled "no pain" (0) and the right end labelled "worst imaginable pain" (10).
Time frame: 24 hours
Onset of Rebound Pain
The onset of rebound pain is the time interval between the resolution of the peripheral nerve block and the patient's first report of significant pain. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to measure a patient's subjective pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimetre horizontal line, with the left end labelled "no pain" (0) and the right end labelled "worst imaginable pain" (10).
Time frame: 24 hours
Duration of Rebound Pain
The duration of rebound pain refers to the length of time the heightened pain persists after its onset until it returns to a baseline or tolerable level with analgesic management.
Time frame: 24 hours
Severity of Rebound Pain
The severity of rebound pain is the intensity of pain experienced after block resolution, typically measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to measure a patient's subjective pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimetre horizontal line, with the left end labelled "no pain" (0) and the right end labelled "worst imaginable pain" (10).
Time frame: 24 hours
Time to first analgesic request
The time to first request for analgeseia will be measured
Time frame: 24 hours
Incidence of sleep disturbances due to surgical site pain
Sleep disturbance due to surgical site pain refers to difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or poor sleep quality, directly attributed to postoperative pain from the surgical site during the recovery period (usually within the first few nights after surgery). Assessment Method Direct Patient Questioning A structured interview asking: "Did pain at your surgical site interfere with your sleep last night?" "How many times did you wake up because of pain?" "How would you rate your sleep quality (excellent, good, fair, poor)?" A "yes" or poor sleep rating indicates sleep disturbance.
Time frame: 48 hours
Pain score
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) will be used to measure a patient's subjective pain intensity. It consists of a 10-centimetre horizontal line, with the left end labelled "no pain" (0) and the right end labelled "worst imaginable pain" (10).
Time frame: 24 hours
Consumption of fentanyl
the amount of of fentanyl rescue analgesia within the first 48 hours after surgery will be documented.
Time frame: 48 hours
Patient satisfaction.
Simple, structured questions will be used postoperatively: "How satisfied are you with your anaesthesia care?" "Were you comfortable during and after surgery?" Responses are rated on a Likert scale, such as: 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neutral, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied. This allows calculation of the percentage of satisfied patients (scores 4-5).
Time frame: 24 hours
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