Role of Dexamethasone in Transversus Abdominis Plane Block After Cesarean Section

The pain and discomfort following cesarean delivery are mostly due to the abdominal wall incision and dissection of muscles; it delays early ambulation and breastfeeding. This can lead to postoperative complications such as thromboembolic disorders. So, providing an effective and safe postoperative analgesic method seems to be mandatory. Opioid analgesia remains the most effective means of relieving pain in a wide variety of conditions; however, it may cause adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, pruritus, urinary retention, and respiratory depression. As the analgesia and the side effects of opioids are dose‐dependent, a multimodal approach may enhance analgesia, which in turn would decrease the side effects . Mc Donnell and colleagues have reported that a transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block can decrease the postoperative pain following abdominal surgery. The landmarks of this block were first described in 2001 by Rafi. The TAP block has been performed for postoperative analgesic control in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, hysterectomy, cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, and laparoscopic surgery.