Review Articles

The role of dexamethasone in peripheral and neuraxial nerve blocks for the management of acute pain

K.G. Gordon, S. Choi, R.N. Rodseth
Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia | Vol 22, No 6 | a1005 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/22201181.2016.1251063 | © 2016 K.G. Gordon, S. Choi, R.N. Rodseth | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 14 November 2025 | Published: 30 December 2016

About the author(s)

K.G. Gordon, Department of Anaesthetics, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa; and, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
S. Choi, Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
R.N. Rodseth, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; and, Department of Anaesthetics, Grey’s Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; and, Department of Outcomes Research, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, United States

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Abstract

Dexamethasone has an emerging role as an additive in regional anaesthesia for the management of acute pain. However, outcomes in terms of improvement and prolongation of analgesia, as well as the methods of administration and potential adverse effects, have yet to be clarified. This semi-structured review examines the current literature available with regard to supplemental dexamethasone in regional and neuraxial anaesthesia.

Keywords

adverse effects; analgesia; dexamethasone; dosage regimes; regional anaesthesia

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