COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF ROPIVACAINE WITH DEXAMETHASONE VERSUS ROPIVACAINE WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK IN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR

KARTHIK KUMAR V.; PYDIMALLA VENKATA GOWTHAM; KARUNA KUMAR DAS

doi:10.22159/ijcpr.2025v17i4.7014

Authors

KARTHIK KUMAR V. Department of Anaesthesiology, Assam Medical College and hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1541-1582
PYDIMALLA VENKATA GOWTHAM Department of Anaesthesiology, Assam Medical College and hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
KARUNA KUMAR DAS Department of Anaesthesiology, Assam Medical College and hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijcpr.2025v17i4.7014

Keywords:

Ropivacaine, Dexamethasone, Dexmedetomidine, TAP block

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of addition of dexamethasone or dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine in Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block for post‑operative pain relief in inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: Seventy-two patients (18–45 y) of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade I-II undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair were randomly divided into two groups. After completion of surgery under spinal anaesthesia, patients received ultrasound‑guided (USG) TAP block with 20 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine along with 2 ml of 0.1 mg/kg dexamethasone (Group I) or 2 ml of 1μg/kg dexmedetomidine (Group II) in this study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, time to initial self‑reporting of post‑operative pain, time to first rescue analgesic demand, haemodynamic parameters and adverse effects if any were notedanda P value<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: The mean VAS score was comparable between two groups for the first four hours, but it was significantly lower at 6,12and18 h in group II. Duration of analgesia was significantly longer in group II (410.25±18.2vs. 520.52±12.3 min, P<0.001) and total opioid consumption in 24 h (150.43±32.21 vs 98.80±4.2 mg, P<0.001) was significantly lower in group II as compared to group I. Significant fall in HR was observed at 2,4 and 6 h in group II which didn’t require any medical intervention.

Conclusion: Addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine as compared with dexamethasone in USG guided TAP block following inguinal hernia repair prolongs the time to initial post‑operative pain and time to first rescue analgesic consumption with less significant side effects.

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