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The Effect of Dexamethasone on the Duration of Interscalene Nerve Blocks With Ropivacaine or Bupivacaine

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Anesthesia, Local
Shoulder Surgery
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00801138
Lead Sponsor
The Cleveland Clinic
Brief Summary

This study will test the hypothesis that adding dexamethasone significantly prolongs the duration of ropivacaine and bupivacaine analgesia, and that the magnitude of the effect differs among the two local anaesthetics.. Participants will be patients undergoing shoulder surgery with an interscalene nerve block.

Detailed Description

This is a double-blinded randomized study of four groups of patients undergoing shoulder surgery using interscalene nerve blocks. Participants will be randomized into one of four groups:

* Ropivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline (placebo) for interscalene block;

* Bupivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline (placebo);

* Ropivacaine and steroid: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine plus dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml) mixed with the local anesthetic;

* Bupivacaine and steroid: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine plus dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml) mixed with the local anesthetic.

The primary outcome is the duration of the interscalene nerve block which is time to first analgesic request after PACU discharge.

Kaplan-Meier survival density estimation and stratified Cox proportional hazard regression were used to compare groups.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
218
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age between 18 and 75 years
  • Patients undergoing shoulder procedures, such as rotator cuff repair, capsular shift, shoulder arthroplasty, subacromial decompression
Exclusion Criteria
  • Contraindications to interscalene block (Coagulopathy, infection at the needle insertion site, moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, contralateral pneumothorax or diaphragmatic paralysis)
  • Pregnancy
  • Pre-existing neuropathy involving the surgical limb
  • Systemic glucocorticoid treatment (for 2 weeks or more) within six months of surgery
  • Chronic opioid use (greater than 30 mg oral oxycodone equivalent per day)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group 1salineGroup 1 Ropivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline for interscalene block
Group 2salineGroup 2 Bupivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline
Group 1ropivacaineGroup 1 Ropivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline for interscalene block
Group 2BupivacaineGroup 2 Bupivacaine: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine plus 2 ml 0.9% saline
Group 4DexamethasoneGroup 4 Bupivacaine and steroid: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine mixed with dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml).
Group 3ropivacaineGroup 3 Ropivacaine and dexamethasone: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine mixed with dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml)
Group 3DexamethasoneGroup 3 Ropivacaine and dexamethasone: 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine mixed with dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml)
Group 4BupivacaineGroup 4 Bupivacaine and steroid: 30 ml 0.5% bupivacaine mixed with dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The Duration of the Interscalene Nerve Block Which is Time to First Administration of Pain Medication After BlockPostoperative day 1, 2 and 3
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Median Maximum VAS Pain Scores at RestPostoperative day 1, 2 and 3

Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain scale is used to describe the severity or intensity of pain. It ranges from 0 to 10. Zero indicates"no pain at all" and ten indicates "worst pain imaginable." , The higher of the score, the worse of the pain.

Time to First Report of PainPostoperative day 1, 2 and 3
Total Three-day Opioid Consumption in Oral Oxycodone EquivalentPostoperative day 1, 2 and 3

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cleveland Clinic

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

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