The Effect of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant for Lower Limb Nerve Blocks

April 14, 2017 updated by: Xiaofeng Bai

The Effect of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant for Lower Limb Nerve Blocks Following Oromaxillofacial Reconstruction

Peripheral nerve block has been recommended as the technique for postoperative pain management because it provides equivalent analgesia but with fewer adverse effects than either systemic or epidural analgesia.

The use of clonidine, a partial α2 adrenoceptor agonist, has been reported to prolong the duration and analgesia in peripheral nerve blockade. Dexmedetomidine is a more selective and shorter-acting α2 adrenergic receptor.However, its use in femoral and common peroneal nerve blocks has not been described.

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding dexmedetomidine as additive in femoral and common peroneal nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia.

Patients, diagnosed as oromaxillofacial tumor and undergoing elective free fibular or anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction, were divided into two groups in a randomized, double-blind fashion. In Group Ropivacaine (Group R), nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine. In Group Ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine (Group RD), nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine and 50 μg dexmedetomidine.The primary endpoints were the onset time and duration of sensory blocks. The secondary endpoints were heart rate, blood pressure, SpO2, sedation level, the duration of motor blocks.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Peripheral nerve block has been recommended as the technique for postoperative pain management because it provides equivalent analgesia but with fewer adverse effects than either systemic or epidural analgesia.

The use of clonidine, a partial α2 adrenoceptor agonist, has been reported to prolong the duration and analgesia in peripheral nerve blockade. Dexmedetomidine is a more selective and shorter-acting α2 adrenergic receptor.However, its use in femoral and common peroneal nerve blocks has not been described.

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding dexmedetomidine as additive in femoral and common peroneal nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia.

Patients, diagnosed as oromaxillofacial tumor and undergoing elective free fibular or anterolateral thigh flap reconstruction, were divided into two groups in a randomized, double-blind fashion. For patients with free fibular flaps harvested, femoral nerve block and common peroneal nerve with ropivacaine were administered. For patients with anterolateral thigh flaps harvested, femoral nerve block with ropivacaine was administered.In Group R, nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine. In Group RD, nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine and 50 μg dexmedetomidine.The primary endpoints were the onset time and duration of sensory blocks. The secondary endpoints were heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), sedation level, the duration of motor blocks.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

40

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110002
        • School & Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial tumor.
  • Undergoing microsurgical oromandibular reconstruction with free fibular flaps or anterolateral thigh flaps.
  • Greater than 18 years old.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • True allergy to local anesthetics or dexmedetomidine.
  • History of chronic pain on opioids within the last 12 months.
  • Specific mental health issues such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
  • Patients who are pregnant.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: QUADRUPLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Group R
Nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine without dexmedetomidine.
Nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine.
EXPERIMENTAL: Group RD
Nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine and 50 μg dexmedetomidine.
Nerve blocks were administered with 0.3% ropivacaine and 50 μg dexmedetomidine.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
the duration of sensory blocks
Time Frame: The duration of sensory blocks was recorded up to 48 hours after injection.
The duration of sensory block was defined as the time interval between the end of ropivacaine administration and the pain score up to 5.
The duration of sensory blocks was recorded up to 48 hours after injection.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
sedation level
Time Frame: every 5 minutes until 30 minutes after injection, and then every 60 minutes up to 48 hours
Sedation level was assessed using visual scale.
every 5 minutes until 30 minutes after injection, and then every 60 minutes up to 48 hours
heart rate
Time Frame: every 5 minutes until 30 minutes after injection, and then every 60 minutes up to 48 hours
If the heart rate is lower 50 beat/minute, atropine was administered.
every 5 minutes until 30 minutes after injection, and then every 60 minutes up to 48 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ANTICIPATED)

April 20, 2017

Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED)

July 31, 2017

Study Completion (ANTICIPATED)

July 31, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 16, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2017

First Posted (ACTUAL)

April 18, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

April 18, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2017

Last Verified

April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Dexmedetomidine in nerve block

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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