{Reference Type}: Randomized Controlled Trial
{Title}: The effect of oral dexamethasone on duration of analgesia after upper limb surgery under infraclavicular brachial plexus block: a randomised controlled trial.
{Author}: Maagaard M;Plambech MZ;Funder KS;Schou NK;Mølgaard AK;Stormholt ER;Leth MF;Bukhari S;Mortensen A;Lunn TH;Tryggedsson I;Nørskov AK;Zamany C;Toquer P;Jaeger P;Andersen JH;Mathiesen O;
{Journal}: Anaesthesia
{Volume}: 78
{Issue}: 12
{Year}: 2023 12 21
{Factor}: 12.893
{DOI}: 10.1111/anae.16149
{Abstract}: The effects of oral dexamethasone on peripheral nerve blocks have not been investigated. We randomly allocated adults scheduled for forearm or hand surgery to oral placebo (n = 61), dexamethasone 12 mg (n = 61) or dexamethasone 24 mg (n = 57) about 45 min before lateral infraclavicular block. Mean (SD) time until first pain after block were: 841 (327) min; 1171 (318) min; and 1256 (395) min, respectively. Mean (98.3%CI) differences in time until first postoperative pain for dexamethasone 24 mg vs. placebo and vs. dexamethasone 12 mg were: 412 (248-577) min, p < 0.001; and 85 (-78 to 249) min, p = 0.21, respectively. Mean (98.3%CI) difference in time until first postoperative pain for dexamethasone 12 mg vs. placebo was 330 (186-474) min, p < 0.001. Both 24 mg and 12 mg of oral dexamethasone increased the time until first postoperative pain compared with placebo in patients having upper limb surgery under infraclavicular brachial plexus block.