Post-operative Analgesic Effects of Dexamethasone Added to Bupivacaine in Transversusabdominis Plane (TAP) Block

Comparison of Post-operative Analgesic Effects of Two Doses of Dexamethasone Added to Bupivacaine in Ultrasound-guided Transversusabdominis Plane (TAP) Block for Inguinal Hernia Repair

To compare the postoperative analgesic effect of two doses of dexamethasone added to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided TAP block for inguinal hernia repair.

The transverses abdominis plane block (TAP block) is a regional anesthesia technique that provides analgesia following abdominal surgery . The TAP block significantly reduces pain after open inguinal hernia repair, regardless of whether it is used as a primary anesthesia technique or as a complement to general anesthesia, spinal or local anesthesia .

The investigators designed this study to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of two doses of dexamethasone( 4 mg and 8 mg ) added to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided TAP block for inguinal hernia repair.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients' age from 18 to 60 years old,
• physical status ASA I-II (by the American Society of Anesthesiologists),
• Elective unilateral open inguinal hernia repair,
• Under spinal anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

• age < 18 or > 60,
• American society of anesthesiologist (ASA)class III-IV,
• known allergy to amino amide local anesthetics,
• skin infection and diseases at site of injection.
• coagulation disorders,
• patients with body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2,
• scrotal hernias,