bupivacaine + adrenaline + dexamethasone

bupivacaine + adrenaline + dexamethasone is a combination analgesic regimen investigated by the University of Aarhus for the management of preoperative pain in patients with hip fractures. In this specific application, dexamethasone is utilized as a perineural adjuvant to a standard femoral nerve block consisting of the local anesthetic bupivacaine and the vasoconstrictor adrenaline. Bupivacaine provides the primary block by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, while adrenaline limits systemic absorption to maintain local concentrations. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, is added to significantly extend the duration of the sensory block, potentially increasing the period of effective analgesia from 15 hours to over 20 hours. This prolongation is critical for providing continuous pain relief from the time of admission through the preoperative period, thereby reducing the requirement for systemic opioids and associated side effects in elderly hip fracture patients.

Other names

Dexamethasone Adjuvant for Femoral Nerve Block