Effect of Single-Dose Dexamethasone on Postoperative Pain After Cesarean Section Under Spinal Anesthesia

This study looked at whether giving a single dose of dexamethasone (a steroid medicine, 8 mg given into the vein) before a cesarean section could reduce pain after the operation. Eighty women having a planned cesarean section under spinal anesthesia at KRL Hospital, Islamabad were divided into two equal groups by chance. One group received dexamethasone through a drip before the procedure; the other group received a harmless salt-water solution (normal saline) as a comparison. Pain levels were measured using a 0-10 pain scale at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. The study also recorded how long it took before patients needed an extra painkiller. The group that received dexamethasone reported significantly less pain at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery, and far fewer patients in that group needed additional pain relief (7.5% vs 65%). The drug was well tolerated with no major side effects. The findings suggest that a single pre-operative dose of dexamethasone is a simple and effective way to improve pain control after cesarean section.