The influence of dexamethasone on the duration of child’s sciatic nerve blockade with ropivacaine

Abstract

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on the duration and effectiveness of the sciatic nerve blockade with ropivacaine. The study included 45 children aged 3 to 16 years, divided into three groups. For the blockade of the sciatic nerve, in the first group, a 0.5% solution of ropivacaine was taken , in the second group, a 0.5% solution of ropivacaine and intravenous dexamethasone, in the third group, a 0.5% solution of ropivacaine with dexamethasone perineural. The duration of the painless period was 8.3 ± 1.5 hours, 10.4 ± 1.7 hours, 20 ± 5 hours accordingly. The evidence given that the application of dexamethasone provides the protection of the body against nociceptive afferentation in the postoperative period. Possible mechanisms of the analgesic effect of dexamethasone are discussed.