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Lidocaine Infiltration and Neuroimmunomodulation in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

2 novembre 2026 aggiornato da: University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Lidocaine and Neuroimmunomodulation: The Effect of Local Anesthetic Concentration in Head and Neck Cancer Resections

This study aims to investigate whether different doses of locally infiltrated lidocaine affect inflammation, neurological biomarkers, and cognitive function in patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery.

Major head and neck cancer surgery can cause substantial physical stress, inflammation, and changes in cognitive function after surgery. Lidocaine is a commonly used local anesthetic that may also have anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the nervous system. However, little is known about whether the dose of lidocaine injected into the surgical area influences these responses.

This prospective, randomized pilot study will include 20 adult patients undergoing head and neck cancer resection followed by microvascular free-flap reconstruction at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 150 mg or 300 mg of lidocaine infiltrated into the surgical area at the beginning of surgery. Both groups will receive the same total volume of infiltration solution and the same dose of adrenaline.

Blood samples will be collected before surgery, six hours after surgical incision, and on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6 to measure inflammatory and neurological biomarkers. Cognitive function will be assessed before surgery, on postoperative day 6, and three months after surgery.

The study will explore whether the higher dose of lidocaine is associated with differences in inflammatory responses, neurological biomarkers, and postoperative cognitive function. The findings will help inform the design of larger future clinical studies.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Reclutamento

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

Major head and neck cancer surgery, particularly oncological resection followed by microvascular free-flap reconstruction, is associated with substantial physiological stress, systemic inflammation, and an increased risk of postoperative neurological and cognitive disturbances. These effects may be especially pronounced in patients with pre-existing comorbidities and reduced physiological reserves.

Lidocaine is a widely used local anesthetic with established analgesic properties and potential anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective effects. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated its effects on inflammatory cytokine release, neutrophil activation, and endothelial permeability. However, most available perioperative evidence concerns intravenous lidocaine administration, while the potential systemic and neurological effects of local surgical-field infiltration remain insufficiently investigated.

This prospective, randomized, two-arm pilot study aims to explore whether different doses of locally infiltrated lidocaine influence perioperative inflammatory responses, biomarkers associated with neuronal and glial injury, and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery.

The study will be conducted at University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, and will include 20 adult patients undergoing oncological head and neck resection with microvascular soft-tissue free-flap reconstruction. Participants will be randomized into two groups receiving either 300 mg or 150 mg of lidocaine infiltrated into the surgical field. Both infiltration solutions will have an identical total volume of 50 mL and contain the same amount of adrenaline (0.5 mg), allowing comparison between the two lidocaine doses.

General anesthesia will be standardized using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and remifentanil, administered by manual infusion or target-controlled infusion (TCI). Intraoperative monitoring will include invasive arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart rate, body temperature, urine output, and processed electroencephalographic monitoring of anesthetic depth.

The inflammatory response will be assessed by measuring serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Biomarkers associated with neuronal, glial, and neurovascular injury will include neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100β protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9).

Five blood samples of 7 mL each (two 3.5 mL serum collection tubes per sampling time point) will be collected immediately before surgery, six hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6. The total blood volume collected for research purposes will be 35 mL per participant.

Cognitive function will be evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) before surgery, on postoperative day 6, and three months after surgery.

The study will explore differences in perioperative biomarker trajectories between the two lidocaine-dose groups and investigate potential associations between systemic inflammatory responses, neurological biomarkers, and postoperative cognitive function.

Given the limited sample size, the study is designed as an exploratory pilot investigation rather than a definitive efficacy trial. The primary scientific purpose is to characterize perioperative biological responses, estimate the magnitude and variability of potential dose-related effects, and generate preliminary evidence to inform the selection of outcome measures and sample size for a larger randomized clinical study.

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

20

Fase

  • Fase 4

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Contatto studio

Backup dei contatti dello studio

Luoghi di studio

      • Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1000
        • Reclutamento
        • University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

18 anni e precedenti (Adulto, Adulto più anziano)

Accetta volontari sani

No

Sessi ammissibili allo studio

Tutto

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients aged 18 years or older.
  • Patients scheduled for oncological resection of head and neck cancer followed by microvascular soft-tissue free-flap reconstruction.
  • Body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m².
  • No known hypersensitivity to amide-type local anesthetics or components of the infiltration solutions.
  • Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent for participation in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate or inability to provide written informed consent.
  • Known hypersensitivity to lidocaine or any component of the infiltration solution.
  • Heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction < 50%.
  • Cardiac conduction disorders without an implanted pacemaker.
  • Uncontrolled epilepsy.
  • Hepatic or renal insufficiency.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Pre-existing neurological diseases.
  • Psychiatric disorders.
  • Preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 23 points.

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Scienza basilare
  • Assegnazione: Randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Separare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Higher-Dose Lidocaine (300 mg)

Participants assigned to this group will receive surgical-field infiltration with 30 mL of 1% lidocaine (300 mg), 0.5 mg of adrenaline, and 20 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The total infiltration volume will be 50 mL. The infiltration will be administered at the beginning of surgery for head and neck cancer resection with microvascular free-flap reconstruction.

Lidocaine hydrochloride 1% solution will be administered by local infiltration into the surgical field at the beginning of head and neck cancer surgery.

Participants will be randomized to receive one of two doses:

Higher-dose group: 30 mL of 1% lidocaine (300 mg), combined with 0.5 mg of adrenaline and 20 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Lower-dose group: 15 mL of 1% lidocaine (150 mg), combined with 0.5 mg of adrenaline and 35 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Both groups will receive a total infiltration volume of 50 mL and an identical adrenaline dose (0.5 mg). The intervention will be administered once, at the beginning of surgery.

Sperimentale: Lower-Dose Lidocaine (150 mg)

Participants assigned to this group will receive surgical-field infiltration with 15 mL of 1% lidocaine (150 mg), 0.5 mg of adrenaline, and 35 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. The total infiltration volume will be 50 mL. The infiltration will be administered at the beginning of surgery for head and neck cancer resection with microvascular free-flap reconstruction.

Lidocaine hydrochloride 1% solution will be administered by local infiltration into the surgical field at the beginning of head and neck cancer surgery.

Participants will be randomized to receive one of two doses:

Higher-dose group: 30 mL of 1% lidocaine (300 mg), combined with 0.5 mg of adrenaline and 20 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Lower-dose group: 15 mL of 1% lidocaine (150 mg), combined with 0.5 mg of adrenaline and 35 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Both groups will receive a total infiltration volume of 50 mL and an identical adrenaline dose (0.5 mg). The intervention will be administered once, at the beginning of surgery.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. IL-6 concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum Interleukin-8 (IL-8) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. IL-8 concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum Interleukin-10 (IL-10) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine involved in the regulation of immune responses. IL-10 concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. NSE is a biomarker associated with neuronal injury and neurological stress. NSE concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum S100 Beta (S100β) Protein Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum S100 beta (S100β) protein concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. S100β is a biomarker associated with glial cell injury and neurological stress. S100β concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in micrograms per liter (µg/L). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. GFAP is a biomarker associated with astrocytic injury and neurological stress. GFAP concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.
Change in Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) Concentration
Lasso di tempo: Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Changes in serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) concentration relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed at four postoperative time points. MMP-9 is involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammatory processes, and neurovascular responses. MMP-9 concentrations and absolute changes from baseline will be expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The magnitude and temporal pattern of changes will be compared between patients receiving 150 mg and 300 mg of infiltrated lidocaine.

Immediately before surgery (baseline), 6 hours after surgical incision, and at 08:00 on postoperative days 1, 2, and 6.

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in Cognitive Function Assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Lasso di tempo: Preoperatively (baseline), on postoperative day 6, and at 3 months after surgery.

Changes in cognitive function relative to the preoperative baseline will be assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with scores ranging from 0 to 30 points; higher scores indicate better cognitive performance. Assessments will be performed preoperatively, on postoperative day 6, and at 3 months. For patients unable to speak after surgery due to surgical or airway-related limitations, written responses may be accepted instead of verbal responses where feasible. Adaptations will be documented. Changes in MMSE scores will be compared between the 150 mg and 300 mg lidocaine groups.

Preoperatively (baseline), on postoperative day 6, and at 3 months after surgery.

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Investigatori

  • Investigatore principale: Liljana Markova, MD, PhD, University Medical Centre Ljubljana

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

20 giugno 2026

Completamento primario (Stimato)

1 giugno 2028

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

1 dicembre 2028

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

2 novembre 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

2 novembre 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

6 novembre 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

6 novembre 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

2 novembre 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 ottobre 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

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