A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of clonidine as an adjunct to suprazygomatic maxillary nerve blocks for pediatric cleft lip and palate surgeries.

Suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block SZMNB was used for analgesia in pediatric cleft palate surgery 1 The use of bilateral SZMNB has in a previous study been reported to reduce the need of intraoperative fentanyl and volatile agent 2 but did not report on postoperative pain We have planned this study to evaluate the effectiveness of clonidine as an adjunct to suprazygomatic approach maxillary nerve block for pediatric patients undergoing cleft lip and palate surgeries

Eligible patients will be screened and informed written consent will be obtained from parents or caregivers before participation Randomization will be performed using computer generated random numbers or sealed envelopes Participants will be allocated to one of two study groups

The clonidine group will receive 2 mcgkg of clonidine added to 025 percent levobupivacaine administered at a volume of 015 mLkg per side The placebo group will receive the same volume of saline added to 025 percent levobupivacaine

The study will terminate at 24 hours postoperatively with follow up on Day 5 for wound healing assessments

References 1 Mesnil M Dadure C Captier G Raux O Rochette A Canaud N Sauter M Capdevila X A new approach for peri operative analgesia of cleft palate repair in infants the bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block Paediatr Anaesth 2010 20 3439 2 Chiono J Raux O Bringuier S Sola C Bigorre M Capdevila X Dadure C Bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block for cleft palate repair in children a prospective randomized double blind study versus placebo Anesthesiology 2014 120 13629