COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ANALGESIC EFFICACY OF INTERPERITONEAL BUPIVACAINE ALONE VS COMBINED BUPIVACAINE AND DEXAMETHASONE IN ABDOMINAL SURGERY

Abstract

Background: Acute discomfort has been linked to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and many techniques have been employed to reduce postoperative pain after laparoscopy.

Aim: After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the current study aimed to assess the analgesic efficacy of bupivacaine alone against bupivacaine plus dexamethasone.

Methods: For this study, 42 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assessed. Group I of the patients received 40 milliliters of 0.25% bupivacaine and 16 milligrams of dexamethasone intraperitoneally, while Group II received 40 milliliters of bupivacaine alone. The patients were divided into two groups of 21. We compared the VAS ratings of the two groups, the time taken to take the first analgesic, and the total amount of rescue analgesic.

Results: Group I needed a first rescue analgesic more quickly than Group II (417.3±276.2 min versus 219.6±226.3 min, p=0.001). Group I's total rescue analgesic intake was substantially less than Group II's, at 60.73±29.82 mg and 73.22±11.55 mg, respectively, with a p-value of less than 0.01. Additionally, until two hours after surgery, Group I's VAS ratings were lower than Group II's, with a mean difference of -1.0 and p<0.001.

Conclusion: The intraperitoneal injection of a combination of 16 mg dexamethasone and 0.25% bupivacaine significantly reduces postoperative pain and the need for rescue analgesics following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as compared to 0.25% bupivacaine alone.