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Dexamethasone Compared With Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Ropivacaine for Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Registration Number
NCT02787018
Lead Sponsor
B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences
Brief Summary

The investigators want to compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to 0.5% ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block on the onset of block and duration of analgesia, so that the investigators can choose the better adjuvant for the investigators routine practice of regional anesthesia.

Detailed Description

Ropivacaine is a newer local anesthetic which is structurally related to bupivacaine, but has fewer side effects. It is more cardio stable than bupivacaine, but the onset of action is delayed and the duration of action is shorter than bupivacaine making its use during regional anesthesia less preferable to many anesthesiologists. Steroids like dexamethasone, or alpha-2 agonists like dexmedetomidine are being studied as adjuvants to ropivacaine for brachial plexus block to improve its anesthetic properties and have shown favorable outcome in terms of shortening the onset of block and prolonging the duration of action. But no study has been done to compare their effects. So in this study the investigators want to compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to 0.5% ropivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block on the onset of block and duration of analgesia, so that the investigators can choose the better adjuvant for the investigators routine practice of regional anesthesia.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
120
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status I and II undergoing elective upper limb surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient's refusal to participate
  • Patients weighing less than 40 kg
  • Allergy to study drugs
  • Infection at the site of injection
  • Patients with preexisting neurological deficit
  • Patients with diabetes mellitus
  • Patients on steroids preoperatively
  • Patients with bleeding disorder or coagulopathy
  • Abnormalities in ECG like AV block or symptomatic bradycardia
  • Patients receiving adrenoreceptor agonist or antagonist therapy preoperatively
  • Requirement of conversion to general anesthesia due to inadequate block

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Block with Ropivacaine and Normal salineRopivacaine and Normal salinePatients will receive brachial plexus block with 20 ml 0.5% ropivacaine with 1ml normal saline: Total volume 21 ml
Block with Ropivacaine and DexmedetomidineRopivacaine and DexmedetomidinePatients will receive brachial plexus block with 20ml 0.5% ropivacaine with 50mcg (1ml) dexmedetomidine: Total volume 21 ml
Block with Ropivacaine and DexamethasoneRopivacaine and DexamethasonePatients will receive brachial plexus block with 20ml 0.5% ropivacaine with 4mg (1ml) dexamethasone: Total volume 21 ml
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Onset of motor blockevery 3 minutes until 45 minutes after injection of drug

Motor block will be evaluated by thumb flexion/ opposition (median nerve), thumb extension (radial nerve), finger abduction (ulnar nerve) and elbow flexion with forearm in full supination (musculocutaneous nerve) on a 3-point scale for motor function:

0 - normal motor function,

1. - reduced motor strength but able to move,

2. - complete motor block. Complete motor block will be defined as grade 2 motor block in 3 or more nerve territories.

Duration of analgesiaUp to 24 hours after onset of block
Onset of sensory blockevery 3 minutes until 45 minutes after injection of drug

Sensory block in the territories of median nerve (palmar surface of index finger), ulnar nerve (palmar surface of little finger), radial nerve (dorsal surface of first web space/ thumb) and musculocutaneous nerve (lateral side of volar surface of forearm) will be assessed by pinprick test using a 3-point scale:

0 - normal sensation,

1. - loss of sensation of pinprick (analgesia),

2. - loss of sensation of touch (anaesthesia). Complete sensory block will be defined as grade 2 sensory block in 3 or more nerve territories.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence of side effects of drugsForty-eight hours following the injection of local anesthetics

Side effects like bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension, sedation, neurological deficit will be evaluated

Duration of motor blockUp to 24 hours after onset of block

time from onset of motor block to the recovery of complete motor function of the hand and forearm

Duration of sensory blockUp to 24 hours after onset of block

time from onset of sensory block to complete recovery of anaesthesia on all nerves.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences

🇳🇵

Dharān Bāzār, Koshi, Nepal

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