Effect of Intravenous Dexamethasone on the Regression of Isobaric Bupivacaine Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of intravenous dexamethasone on the regression of sensory and motor block after isobaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia is unknown. We conducted a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial on 60 patients who received intravenously either placebo (group P) or 8-mg dexamethasone (group D) during the intrathecal injection of 12-mg isobaric bupivacaine 0.5%. Primary outcome was the time from bupivacaine injection to regression of 2 dermatomes in relation to the highest dermatome blocked by the spinal local anesthetic. Time to 2-dermatome regression was 85 minutes (74–96 minutes) in group P versus 87 minutes (76–98 minutes) in group D (P = .79). Accepted for publication June 18, 2018. Funding: Internal. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Clinical Trials identifier: NCT03078062. Protocol available at: https://ift.tt/2OsukBR NCT03078062. Reprints will not be available from the authors. Address correspondence to Stephan R. Williams, MD, PhD, Département d'anesthésiologie, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, Montréal, QC H2L 4M1, Canada. Address e-mail to stephan.williams@umontreal.ca. © 2018 International Anesthesia Research Society

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