Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis

Background: In combination with local anesthetics such as levobupivacaine, fentanyl, and dexmedetomidine improve post-operative analgesia after surgery on the lower extremities. Aims and Objectives: To determine whether the local anesthetic levobupivacaine in combination with fentanyl or dexmedet...

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Main Authors: Mohit Gupta, Rana Pratap, Gajendra Pal Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara 2025-03-01
Series:Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
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Online Access:https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4352
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author Mohit Gupta
Rana Pratap
Gajendra Pal Singh
author_facet Mohit Gupta
Rana Pratap
Gajendra Pal Singh
author_sort Mohit Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Background: In combination with local anesthetics such as levobupivacaine, fentanyl, and dexmedetomidine improve post-operative analgesia after surgery on the lower extremities. Aims and Objectives: To determine whether the local anesthetic levobupivacaine in combination with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine can improve the efficacy and duration of analgesia in lower extremity surgery. Materials and Methods: After a search in PubMed, Google, and Web of Science, six randomized controlled trials with 400 patients were found. Review Manager 5 was then used to retrieve the study results and calculate the effect sizes. Results: The effects of 0.5% levobupivacaine with fentanyl (group F) and dexmedetomidine (group D) on sensory blockade, regression, and post-operative analgesia were investigated in numerous studies. Group D had a significant advantage in sensory regression (standard mean difference [SMD] −3.34, confidence interval [CI] [−4.07, −2.62], P<0.00001), although there was no significant difference in the onset of sensory blockade (SMD −0.21, CI [−1.28, 0.86], dexmedetomidine prolonged post-operative analgesia (SMD −7.34, CI [−11.08, −3.60], P=0.0001). The heterogeneity between the studies was substantial (I²=59–97%). The methodological excellence of the selected studies was reflected in their low risk of bias in all areas. Conclusion: Despite the identical onset of sensory blockade, dexmedetomidine prolongs sensory regression and post-operative analgesia more than fentanyl. Despite considerable variability, these results are supported by a low bias, making dexmedetomidine a better adjuvant for analgesia in chronic lower extremity surgery.
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spelling doaj-art-53f21f242a8447978da95dc4db1fd2d42025-08-20T02:11:17ZengManipal College of Medical Sciences, PokharaAsian Journal of Medical Sciences2467-91002091-05762025-03-011631523https://doi.org/10.71152/ajms.v16i3.4352Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysisMohit Gupta 0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6998-3815Rana Pratap1https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9904-3295Gajendra Pal Singh 2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5714-439XAssistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Gautam Buddha Chikitsa Mahavidyalaya, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesiology, Mahamaya Rajkiya Allopathic Medical College, Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India Assistant Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, SRMS Institute of Medical Science, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India Background: In combination with local anesthetics such as levobupivacaine, fentanyl, and dexmedetomidine improve post-operative analgesia after surgery on the lower extremities. Aims and Objectives: To determine whether the local anesthetic levobupivacaine in combination with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine can improve the efficacy and duration of analgesia in lower extremity surgery. Materials and Methods: After a search in PubMed, Google, and Web of Science, six randomized controlled trials with 400 patients were found. Review Manager 5 was then used to retrieve the study results and calculate the effect sizes. Results: The effects of 0.5% levobupivacaine with fentanyl (group F) and dexmedetomidine (group D) on sensory blockade, regression, and post-operative analgesia were investigated in numerous studies. Group D had a significant advantage in sensory regression (standard mean difference [SMD] −3.34, confidence interval [CI] [−4.07, −2.62], P<0.00001), although there was no significant difference in the onset of sensory blockade (SMD −0.21, CI [−1.28, 0.86], dexmedetomidine prolonged post-operative analgesia (SMD −7.34, CI [−11.08, −3.60], P=0.0001). The heterogeneity between the studies was substantial (I²=59–97%). The methodological excellence of the selected studies was reflected in their low risk of bias in all areas. Conclusion: Despite the identical onset of sensory blockade, dexmedetomidine prolongs sensory regression and post-operative analgesia more than fentanyl. Despite considerable variability, these results are supported by a low bias, making dexmedetomidine a better adjuvant for analgesia in chronic lower extremity surgery.https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4352spinal block; post-operative pain; adjuvant; sensory block; motor block
spellingShingle Mohit Gupta
Rana Pratap
Gajendra Pal Singh
Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
Asian Journal of Medical Sciences
spinal block; post-operative pain; adjuvant; sensory block; motor block
title Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery: A meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and duration of analgesia with levobupivacaine combined with fentanyl or dexmedetomidine in lower extremity surgery a meta analysis
topic spinal block; post-operative pain; adjuvant; sensory block; motor block
url https://ajmsjournal.info/index.php/AJMS/article/view/4352
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