Dexamethasone and Bupivacaine for Pain After Hernia Surgery

This study looked at whether a combination of two medicines, dexamethasone and bupivacaine, can reduce pain after laparoscopic hernia surgery. A total of 175 patients who had elective total extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received a spray of dexamethasone and bupivacaine around the surgical mesh, while the other group did not receive any local treatment. Pain levels were measured at 3, 6, and 12 hours after surgery using a visual pain scale. The need for additional pain medicine and patient satisfaction were also recorded. Patients who received dexamethasone and bupivacaine reported lower pain scores, needed less extra pain medicine, and were more satisfied with their pain control compared to the control group. The results suggest that this simple, safe, and low-cost method may help improve pain control and comfort after laparoscopic hernia repair.