public int ExecStoredProcedure(string procName, out DataSet dataSet, params SqlParameter[] parameters)
{
    // Prepare the stored proc execution
    using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(procName, _dbConnection, _transaction))
    {
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;

        // Add regular parameters (in, out, inout)
        if (parameters != null)
        {
            foreach (SqlParameter parameter in parameters)
            {
                cmd.Parameters.Add(parameter);
            }
        }

        // Add return value parameter
        SqlParameter retValParam = cmd.Parameters.Add("@RETURN_VALUE", SqlDbType.Int);
        retValParam.Direction = ParameterDirection.ReturnValue;

        // Execute the proc
        dataSet = new DataSet();
        using (SqlDataAdapter dataAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd))
        {
            dataAdapter.Fill(dataSet);
        }

        // Extract the return value
        return (int)retValParam.Value;
    }
}