Safety and efficacy of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in bilateral transversus abdominis plane block in children undergoing major abdominal surgery

Background This prospective randomized controlled double-blind clinical study was conducted on 52 patients of both genders divided into two groups (26 patients each). Local anaesthetic solution of isobaric bupivacaine 0.25% (0.3 ml/kg) was prepared. Group A received bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with bupivacaine and dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg) while group B received bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine and volume of saline equal to the amount of dexamethasone given in group A. Patients were observed for FLACC pain scale at the time of discharge from the post-anaesthesia care unit and then every 2 h for 36 h after the operation. This study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of adding dexamethasone to bupivacaine on the quality of bilateral US-guided transversus abdminis plane (TAP) block in children undergoing major abdominal surgery Results Dexamethasone added to local anaesthetic in ultrasound-guided TAP block significantly decreased FLACC score at 8, 10, and 12 up to 24 h postoperatively, The time to the first requested analgesia was prolonged in the dexamethasone group (P=0.000). The total dose of acetaminophen consumption over 36 h after surgery was also reduced (P=0.000), but no difference was found regarding the total dose of rectal diclofenac (P=0.068). Conclusion Adding dexamethasone to isobaric bupivacaine TAP block reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements compared to isobaric bupivacaine TAP block alone in children undergoing major abdominal surgery.