IV Dexamethasone prolongs blocks

Small study suggests 8 IV dexamethasone along with 30ml 0.5% Bupivacaine prolongs interscalene analgesia from a mean of 13 hours to 25 hours for patients undergoing ambulatory upper extremity surgeries. Why this works no one really knows.  More data is needed but certainly at this point looks promising that dex will significantly prolong blocks. Should this become standard for hip fracture patients presenting to the ED?

 

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