Dexamethasone 5 mg versus dexmedetomidine 20 μg as adjuvants to 0.5% levobupivacaine and 2% lidocaine for peribulbar block anesthesia

Abstract

Background: The addition of adjuvants to local anesthetics in the peribulbar block might be a method to elevate block quality. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of peribulbar local anesthesia adjuvants using dexmedetomidine 20 mcg and dexamethasone 5 mg. Patients and Methods: This study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial. Patients were divided into three groups who received peribulbar group: Group C (4 ml of levobupivacaine 0.5% and 4 ml of 2% lidocaine added with 1 ml of normal saline), Group D (4 ml of levobupivacaine 0.5% and 4 ml of 2% lidocaine added with 1 ml of dexamethasone 5 mg), and Group M (received 4 ml of levobupivacaine 0.5% and 4 ml of 2% lidocaine added with 1 ml of dexmedetomidine 20 mcg). Sensory and motor block onsets and durations were assessed. Results: There were 42 patients included. The sensory block onset was 70.7 s in Group M and the slowest in Group C (152.1 s). The longest sensory block duration was found in Group D (259.3 min) and the shortest in Group C (143.2 min). Conclusion: Dexamethasone 5 mg adjuvant affected sensory block onset, sensory, and motor block duration but did not affect motor block onset, while dexmedetomidine 20 mcg adjuvant affected sensory and motor block onsets as well as sensory and motor block durations.

Keywords

• dexamethasone
• dexmedetomidine
• ophthalmologic surgery
• peribulbar block