Anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomised controlled trial of intravenous dexmedetomidine added to dexamethasone for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and duration of interscalene block.
Prolongation of peripheral nerve blockade by intravenous dexamethasone may be extended by intravenous dexmedetomidine. We randomly allocated 122 participants who had intravenous dexamethasone 0.15 mg.kg-1 before interscalene brachial plexus block for day-case arthroscopic rotator cuff repair to intravenous saline (62 participants) or intravenous dexmedetomidine 1 μg.kg-1 (60 participants). The primary outcome was time from block to first oral morphine intake during the first 48 postoperative hours. ⋯ Intra-operative hypotension was recorded for 27/62 and 50/60 participants after placebo vs. dexmedetomidine, respectively, p < 0.001. Other outcomes were similar, including durations of sensory and motor block. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine shortened the time to oral morphine consumption after interscalene block combined with dexamethasone and caused intra-operative hypotension.