Two Doses of Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvent to Bupivacaine in Tap Block

Comparing the Analgesic Effect of Two Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine Added to Bupivacaine in Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal Cancer Surgeries; A Randomized Clinical Trial

The aim of this study to determine the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in U.S guided TAP block for preemptive analgesia In patients undergoing lower abdominal cancer surgeries.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) involves innervations of the anterolateral abdominal wall derived from T6-L1. The block can be given either by anatomical landmark technique or by using an ultrasound probe. The local anesthetic is deposited in a plane between internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle. It provides adequate postoperative analgesia following various abdominal surgeries.Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist that has been approved as a venous sedative and an adjuvant for pain relief .In previous studies, the addition of dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in the TAP block has prolonged the effect of this block . So far, the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine for the TAP block has not been determined.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age from 18 to 65 years old
• lower abdominal cancer surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• patient refusal
• the local anesthetic allergy
• coagulopathy
• local infection at the procedure site
• psychic patients
• patient on chronic opioid use