Magnesium sulfate versus dexamethasone as an adjuvant in the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks

Introduction Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric (IIIH) nerve blocks help to manage postoperative pain that occurs following inguinal hernia repair or varicocelectomy. Aim The study aimed to compare the effect of adding magnesium sulfate or dexamethasone to levobupivacaine for iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerve blocks, in terms of postoperative analgesic length, visual analog scale ratings, first analgesic requirements, and hemodynamic changes. Patients and methods The study included 86 patients, aged 20–70 years, who were divided into two groups (D and M). Patients in group D received 9 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine for the nerve block plus 1 ml dexamethasone (8 mg), whereas patients in group M received 9 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine plus 1 ml magnesium sulfate 10% (100 mg). Postoperative analgesia, visual analog scale scores, and any complications were documented. Results Group D had a significantly longer analgesic time. A significantly lower amount of analgesic was consumed on the first postoperative day with significantly low pain score as compared with group M. Conclusion The addition of dexamethasone to levobupivacaine for IIIH nerve blocks improved the postoperative analgesia.