Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries

Background The purpose of this study was the assessment of the analgesic and hemodynamic implications of dexmedetomidine used as an additive to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane (SAP) block for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS ) under general anesthesia. Results The hemodynamic stability was maintained perioperatively with no significant difference of MBP and HR recordings between the two study groups ( P > 0.05). The time to 1st postoperative analgesic demand was significantly longer in group BD than in group B ( P < 0.05). The postoperative total nalbuphine and rescue ketorolac requirements were significantly lower in group BD than in group B ( P 0.05). Ramsay sedation scores were significantly higher in the group BD than in group B in the initial 1st h after surgery ( P < 0.05) with no significant difference at the subsequent postoperative recordings ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Using dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg) as an additive to bupivacaine for SAP block prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia and reduces the postoperative analgesic requirements in the 1st 24 h after VATS without any significant side effects.