Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Bupivacaine for Ultrasound-Guided External Oblique Intercostal Block

Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant to Bupivacaine in Ultrasound Guided External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block in Upper Abdominal Cancer Surgery. A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant toBupivacaine in Ultrasound Guided ExternalOblique Intercostal Plane Block in UpperAbdominal Cancer Surgery.

Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant toBupivacaine in Ultrasound Guided ExternalOblique Intercostal Plane Block in UpperAbdominal Cancer Surgery. A prospectiverandomized clinical trial

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18-70 years scheduled for elective upper abdominal cancer surgery (e.g., gastrectomy, hepatectomy, pancreatectomy).
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III.
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18-35 kg/m².

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal.
• Allergy to local anesthetics or dexmedetomidine.
• Coagulopathy (INR >1.5, platelet count <100,000/mm³).
• Infection at the injection site.
• Severe cardiopulmonary, renal, or hepatic dysfunction.
• Chronic opioid use (>30 mg morphine equivalents daily for >3 months).
• Pregnancy or lactation.