Laminectomy is a routine procedure for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, offering significant benefits such as reduced low back pain, alleviation of radiculopathy, and improved motor strength 1 23. Despite these advantages, postoperative pain remains a challenge for anesthesiologists. According to Davin et al., approximately 80% of patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy experience postoperative discomfort, with 20% developing persistent postsurgical pain (PPSP). The application of erector spinae plane (ESP) block in lumbar laminectomy surgery significantly reduces postoperative pain and hospital length of stay. However, ESP block without adjuvants has limitations in duration. Adjuvants are thus required to optimize the effects of ESP block 4. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid that is widely used in the perioperative setting. Interfascial administration of dexamethasone has been shown to prolong the duration of analgesia provided by the peripheral nerve blocks. Pehora et al (2017) reported that perineural dexamethasone with local anesthetics prolongs sensory blockade, effectively reducing postoperative pain intensity and opioid consumption. Its analgesic effects likely stem from anti-inflammatory mechanisms, including supression of proinflammatory cytokines, induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines, reduced prostaglandin synthesis, and decreased neuronal excitability 5 6. Adjuvant dexamethasone provides additional benefits, including prolonged analgesia, reduced pain scores, lower postoperative opioid requirements, and decreased inflammation in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy. Prior literature has not examined the benefits of dexamethasone as an adjuvant for lumbar ESP block, nor measured and compared inflammatory biomarkers with its use. Therefore, this study investigates the efficacy of dexamethasone adjuant in ESP block for lumbar laminectomy surgery by assessing postoperative prostaglandin E2 levels, analgesia duration, pain scores (VAS) at 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours postoperatively, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) fentanyl requirements at the same intervals.
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
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Duration of Analgesia
Timeframe: From the completion of the ESP block until the first request for rescue analgesia (assessed up to 24 hours post-surgery)
Postoperative increase in PGE2 levels
Timeframe: PGE2 Levels Preoperatively (baseline) and 24 hours after surgery
Postoperative VAS pain scores at 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours
Timeframe: 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours after the surgery done
Postoperative PCA Fentanyl requirements
Timeframe: 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours after surgery