British journal of anaesthesia
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Br J Anaesth
2019
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Previous studies suggest that dexmedetomidine has a protective effect against local anaesthetic-induced nerve injury in regional nerve blocks. Whether this potentially protective effect exists in the context of diabetes mellitus is unknown. ⋯ Ropivacaine 0.5% causes significant sciatic nerve injury in diabetic rats that is greatly potentiated by high-dose dexmedetomidine. Although the dose of dexmedetomidine used in this study is considerably higher than that used in clinical practice, our data suggest that further studies to assess ropivacaine (alone and in combination with dexmedetomidine) use for peripheral nerve blockade in diabetic patients are warranted.