Postoperative pain after modified radical mastectomy (MRM) can lead to significant morbidity. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has emerged as an effective regional anesthesia technique. This study evaluated the effect of adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia following ESPB in MRM. This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial included 60 female patients (ASA I–II, age 30–65 years, BMI 4. The median (IQR) time for request of the initial dose rescue analgesia was significantly delayed in group BD compared to group B 690 (525–795) versus 360 (300–420), respectively, P-value < 0.001. The number of patients that required nalbuphine was significantly lower in group BD compared to group B (P-value = 0.004). The median (IQR) visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at 6 h postoperative were significantly reduced in group BD compared to group B 1 (1–2) versus 4 (4–4), P-value < 0.001. Our study’s results indicated that adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in ESPB enhanced its efficacy, extended postoperative pain relief, and reduced the need for nalbuphine. The identification code in the clinicaltrials.gov database is NCT06022614, registration date: 1 September 2023, and it is also listed in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry with the ID PACTR202307885435649, registration date: 27 July 2023. The research adhered to the CONSORT 20205 framework. Randomized controlled trial registered on 1 September 2023.
Feltaoos et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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