Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine with Dexamethasone versus Bupivacaine Alone for Pain Relief after Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Laparoscopic hysterectomy is a standard gynecological surgical treatment used to treat a variety of gynecological conditions. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding two different doses of intraperitoneal dexamethasone to bupivacaine versus bupivacaine alone for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods: This randomized trial included 87 females who were scheduled for elective laparoscopic hysterectomy. Patients were randomly allocated into three equal groups, group I received bupivacaine 100 ml 0.25% + 5 ml normal saline, group II received bupivacaine 100 ml 0.25% + 4 mg dexamethasone (1 ml) + saline 4 ml, and group III received bupivacaine 100 ml 0.25% + 8 mg dexamethasone (2 ml) + saline 3 ml. All patients were monitored with a 5-lead electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter, and non-invasive automated blood pressure as they arrived in the operation room.Results: Time of the 1st rescue analgesic requirement was significantly delayed in group III compared to group I and group II (P