Comparison between sodium bicarbonate and dexamethasone as adjuncts to levobupivacaine for post operative analgesia, given via ultrasound guided lateral quadratus lumborum block for hip surgery.

The ideal peripheral nerve block technique for hip arthroplasty should achieve adequate sensory block without affecting motor function. The sensory afferent of the hip joint arise from several branches of lumbar plexus. Ultrasound guided quadratus lumborum block has been described as an analgesic technique in abdominal surgeries as well as in various lower limb surgeries (lateral or posterior QL block). It is performed through the injection of a local anaesthetic mixture between the lateral abdominal layers and QL muscle. The peculiar feature of this block is that it not only sensory nerves but also the visceral nerves. Peripheral nerve blocks provide longer and localized pain relief with early ambulation and also avoid the side effects of systemic medication. The major limiting factor with the use of local anaesthetic are their short duration of action and delayed onset. To overcome these shortcomings, adjuvant such as opioids, magnesium, ketamine etc have been used. In this study we will compare the duration of analgesia with two adjuvants dexamethasone and sodium bicarbonate with levobupivacaine.