Dexamethasone as an adjunct in post-operative pain management ?

Q: Dexamethasone can be used as an adjunct in post-operative pain management.

A) Yes

B) No

Answer: A (Yes)

Dexamethasone in the intravenous (IV) dose of 8-10 mg can help in post-operative pain management. It improves 

• pain relief
• prolongs local analgesic blocks
• reduces rebound pain

With the judicious use of one or two doses, surgical site infection risks, delayed wound healing, and hyperglycemia are very low.

#surgical-critical-care

References:

1. Joshi GP. Rational Multimodal Analgesia for Perioperative Pain Management. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2023; 27:227.

2. Mitchell C, Cheuk SJ, O'Donnell CM, Bampoe S, Walker D. What is the impact of dexamethasone on postoperative pain in adults undergoing general anaesthesia for elective abdominal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Perioper Med (Lond). 2022 Mar 24;11(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s13741-022-00243-6. PMID: 35321728; PMCID: PMC8942613.

3. De Oliveira GS Jr, Almeida MD, Benzon HT, McCarthy RJ. Perioperative single dose systemic dexamethasone for postoperative pain: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Anesthesiology. 2011 Sep;115(3):575-88. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31822a24c2. PMID: 21799397.