Low-dose dexamethasone with levobupivacaine improves analgesia after supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

70 patients receiving an ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade for upper-extremity surgery were randomized to receive 25 mL 0.5% levobupivacaine alone or with low-dose dexamethasone (4 mg). Outcome measures were analgesia duration, postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. The results indicated that patients who received the addition of dexamethasone experienced significantly prolonged analgesia compared to levobupivacaine alone. Additionally, postoperative pain and analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery were lower among patients who received the addition of dexamethasone. Future studies will need to examine long-term impact.