The optimal dose of intravenous dexamethasone in peripheral nerve blocks: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Although intravenous dexamethasone prolongs the duration of analgesia for peripheral nerve blocks (PNB), the optimal dose of dexamethasone is not yet determined. This protocol aims to compare the analgesic effects of different doses of intravenous dexamethasone on PNB. Methods: We will search PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of different doses of intravenous dexamethasone for PNB. The duration of analgesia will be defined as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include pain scores, analgesics consumption >48 hours, and the incidence of adverse effects. RevMan 5.3 software will be used for data analysis. Results: This study will explore the optimal dose of intravenous dexamethasone for the prolongation of analgesia in PNB. Conclusion: The results of this study will provide evidence for the dose selection of intravenous dexamethasone in PNB.