Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block Using Ropivacaine Alone and With Dexmedetomidine

Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block Using Ropivacaine Alone or Combined With Dexmedetomidine for Upper Limb Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blinded, Comparative Study

80 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I-II patients, 18-60 years old,scheduled for elective upper limb orthopaedic surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block, were included in this prospective study. The patients were randomly assigned to group R (Ropivacaine alone) and group RD (Ropivacaine and dexmedetomidine) (40 patients in each group). Group R received Ropivacaine 0.50% (30 cc) + placebo and group RD received Ropivacaine 0.50% (30 cc) + dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Brachial Plexus Anesthesia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ropivacaine; Drug: Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine

Detailed Description

After Institutional Ethical Committee approval and written informed consent, a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was carried out on 80 ASA Grade I and II patients of either sex, aged 18-60 years, undergoing various orthopaedic surgeries on the upper limb under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. A power analysis was performed to determine the necessary number of patients for each group based on duration of analgesia. With a 2-sided type I error of 5% and study power at 80%, it was estimated that 38 patients would be needed in each group in order to detect a difference of 35 min in the duration of analgesia between the 2 groups. The study was conducted in two groups of 40 patients each. Patients were randomly chosen by computer-generated random selection to one of the following groups:

Group R: Ropivacaine 0.50% (30 cc) + Placebo Group RD: Ropivacaine 0.50% (30 cc) + Dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg Randomization was performed by an independent statistician and concealed from patients and investigators until completion of statistical analysis. Patients were instructed preoperatively about use of the verbal rating scale (VRS) for pain assessment (VRS: 0 = no pain, 10=worst pain possible). On arrival in the operation room, baseline heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were recorded. An intravenous line was secured in the unaffected limb and Ringer's lactate was started. Patients were given midazolam intravenous (IV) (0.03 mg/kg) as premedication 10-15 min before beginning each blocks technique. Subcutaneous injection with 2 mL of 2% lidocaine was administered at the needle insertion site. All the patients received brachial plexus block through the supraclavicular approach by an experienced anesthesiologist different from the one assessing the patient intra- and post-operatively. Both were blinded to the treatment groups. Neural localization was achieved by using a nerve locator (Stimuplex® Dig RC, B.Braun, Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany) connected to a 22 G, 50-mm-long stimulating needle (Stimuplex, Braun, Germany). The location end point was a distal motor response with an output lower than 0.5 milliampere (mA).

Following negative aspiration, 30 mL of a solution containing local anesthetic combined with placebo or dexmedetomidine as mentioned above was injected and the use of Dexmedetomidine was off-label. A 5-min compression was performed to facilitate an even drug distribution. Sensory blockade was assessed every 3 min and motor block was evaluated every 5 min within the first 30 min following completion of drug administration. Sensory block was confirmed by pinprick sensation using a 23-G needle in all dermatomes of the brachial plexus (C5-T1) i.e. median nerve, radial nerve, ulnar nerve and musculocutaneous nerve. Sensory onset was considered when there was a dull sensation to pin prick along the distribution of any of these nerves (Grade 1). Complete sensory block was considered when there was complete loss of sensation to pin prick.

Sensory block was graded as- Grade 0 Sharp pin felt Grade 1 Analgesia, dull sensation felt Grade 2 Anesthesia, no sensation felt

Motor blockade was evaluated by the ability to flex the elbow and hand against gravity as follows :

Grade 1 Ability to flex and extend the forearm Grade 2 Ability to flex or extend only the wrist and fingers Grade 3 Ability to flex or extend only the fingers Grade 4 Inability to move the forearm, wrist, and fingers Onset of motor block was defined as the time from injection of local anesthetic mixture until achieving a reduction in motor power to grade 3 or less. The block was considered incomplete when any of the segments supplied by median, radial, ulnar and musculocutaneous nerve did not have analgesia even after 30 min of drug injection. These patients were supplemented with intravenous fentanyl (2 μg/ kg) and midazolam (0.03 mg/kg). When more than one nerve remained unaffected, it was considered a failed block. In this case, general anesthesia was given intraoperatively. Patients were monitored for hemodynamic variables such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 80 ASA Grade I and II patients of either sex, aged 18-60 years, undergoing various orthopaedic surgeries on the upper limb under supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal
• Patients with chronic pain (pain lasting more than 12 weeks)
• Those using chronic analgesic medications (opioid, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, antidepressants)
• Coagulopathy
• History of brachial plexus injury
• Allergy to the study drugs
• Patients taking other medications with α-adrenergic blocking effect
• Hepatic or renal insufficiency
• Systemic infection or infection at the site of injection, and shoulder surgery.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Ropivacaine; amide local anesthetic	Drug: Ropivacaine; Ropivacaine 0.5% 30 ml was used to block brachial plexus; Other Names: Ropin
Active Comparator: Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine; combination of amide local anaesthetic and alpha2 agonist	Drug: Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine; Dexmedetomidine 1 microgram per kilogram bodyweight was added with 30 ml 0.5% Ropivacaine to block brachial plexus; Other Names: Ropin with Dextomid

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Duration of Analgesia	upto 8 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Onset of Sensory Block	20 minutes
Onset of Motor Block	30minutes
Duration of Motor Block	6 hours

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Haemodynamic Changes	8 hours
Complications	2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Government Medical College, Haldwani
• Investigators: Study Director: Shahin N Jamil, MD, Professor, Aligarh Muslim University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 15, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): March 19, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 6, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 6, 2015
• Last Verified: October 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic Agonists; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Anesthetics, Local; Dexmedetomidine; Ropivacaine
• Other Study ID Numbers: DN57/FM