This study aimed to ascertain the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine in comparison to morphine as adjuvants to bupivacaine during transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in postoperative pain management in adult patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery.
Postoperative pain is a significant contributor to higher morbidity, patient discomfort, and extended hospital stays. The ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has become more popular than systemic analgesics for reducing pain following abdominal surgery. A plethora of adjuvants, including but not limited to morphine, fentanyl, and dexmedetomidine, have been incorporated into various regimens of TAP block, yielding disparate outcomes. The use of alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine has been sanctioned for its application as an adjuvant in the management of pain and as a venous sedative.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
70
Patients received transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with bupivacaine 0.25% plus a dose of 1 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine.
Patients received a dose of 10 mg of morphine.
Cairo University
Cairo, Egypt
Duration of analgesia
Duration of analgesia was defined as the time interval from the end of the surgical procedure to the administration of the initial dose of morphine.
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Total opioid dose required
The total morphine consumption in the initial 24 hours following the surgical procedure was recorded.
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Degree of pain
Degree of pain was was conducted using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for each patient. The numerical value assigned to each category on the VAS scale is as follows: 0 represents "no pain," while 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." In the post-anesthesia care unit, the VAS was assessed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery.
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Incidence of adverse events
Incidence of adverse events such as bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory depression, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were recorded.
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
Degree of patient satisfaction
The degree of patient satisfaction was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (extremely dissatisfied) to 5 (extremely satisfied).
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
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