Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating the Analgesic Duration of Dexmedetomidine Compared to Dexamethasone as Adjuncts to Single Shot Interscalene Block in Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Shoulder Surgery
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Opioid Use, Unspecified
Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center

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Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating the Analgesic Duration of Dexmedetomidine 
compared to Dexamethasone as adjuncts to Single Shot Interscalene Block in Patients Undergoing 
Ambulatory Shoulder Surgery 
Introduction: 
With the rapidly increasing proportion of surgeries being performed in an ambulatory setting, there is a 
significantinterest in post-operative outpatient analgesic strategies.Regional anesthesia is often the 
most efficient and safe modality for controlling pain, as well as decreasing length of hospital stay, 
reducing common side effects of opioid centered analgesia, and improving overall patient satisfaction. 
Particularly in shoulder surgery, postoperative pain poses a challenge to both the anesthesiologist and 
orthopedic surgeons. In an effort to improve analgesia and facilitate mobilization, regional anesthesia in 
the form of an interscalene approach to the brachial plexus is often used, either as the primary 
anesthetic or as an adjunct to general anesthesia. Peripheral nerve blockade can often be a deciding 
factor tipping the scales on how well patients tolerate the initial recovery period.Pain control at time of 
discharge and in the initial 24-48 hours after surgery can result in decreased opioid consumption, 
decreased opioid related side effects, and reduced rate of hospital re-admission secondary to pain. 
The addition of various adjuvants to local anesthetics is a common practice in modern regional 
anesthesia. There have been many attempts to identify adjuncts in peripheral nerve blockade that can 
increase the duration of analgesia, are easy to administer, and simultaneously maintain a safe side effect 
profile. Currently, the most commonly employed adjunct to peripheral nerve blockade is perineural 
dexamethasone. In general, at the doses used in regional anesthesia, dexamethasone has a minimal side 
effect profile. However, while it has been shown to increase duration of analgesia, there have been 
concerns regarding its neurotoxicity in animal studies. In addition, dexamethasone has the potential to 
cause hyperglycemia in patients with impaired glucose metabolism as well as perineal pain and pruritis 
when administered peripherally. 
Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 agonist that is commonly used in patients undergoing 
anesthesia or requiring sedation in a non-operative setting. As a peripherally administered medication, it 
has both sedating and analgesic properties, as well as the added IRB NUMBER: 2015-5628 IRB 
APPROVAL DATE: 01/14/2016 benefit of avoidance of respiratory depression. Although it can rarely 
produce cardiac depression at high doses, its side effect profile is otherwise minimal and is generally 
very well tolerated by most patients. When administered peripherally, dexmedetomidine has most 
commonly been associated with side effects such as hypotension, respiratory depression, and 
bradycardia – although all at significantly higher doses than planned in our study.The safe use of 
perineural dexmedetomidine together with local anesthetics hasbeen described on numerous occasions. 
Nevertheless, although it has been shown to potentiate peripheral nerve blockade and prolong duration 
of analgesiain various studies (2, 5, 6), it remains rarely used as an adjunct to regional anesthesia. 
The purpose of the study we are proposing is to determine if perineural dexmedetomidine can 
provideincreasedprolongation of analgesia when compared to perineuraldexamethasonein patients 
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receiving regional block for shoulder surgery. If so, dexmedetomidine may serve as a superior adjunct to 
peripheral nerve blocks in a rapidly evolving, ambulatory-centered surgical setting. 
 
Hypothesis: 
The mean 24 hour opioid usage will be different in one of the three groups. 
 
Primary Objective: 
Opioid requirements at 24 hours (morphine equivalents) in patientsreceivingupper extremity nerve 
block for ambulatory shoulder surgery. 
 
Secondary Endpoints: 
48-hour opioid requirements (morphine equivalents)  
Time to discharge from PACU Time to first opioid consumption (Patients will be asked to document 
exact times)  
Return of motor and sensory function – questionnaire administered via post-op phone call (Patients will 
receive copy of questionnaire and will be asked to document exact times)  
Side effects encountered 
 
Design and methods: 
This is a randomized controlled, double blind studyin patients receiving regional nerve blocksfor upper 
extremity surgeries in an ambulatory surgical setting. At our surgical center, majority of 
patientsundergoingupper extremity peripheral nerve block currently receive a combination of local 
anesthetic and dexamethasone. For this study, patients will be randomized into three groups. All groups 
will undergo single shot peripheral never block for their upper extremity surgery. One group will receive 
dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetic, a second group given dexamethasone as an 
adjuvant, and a third group given no adjuvant to serve as the control. 
 
Inclusion Criteria: 
- 
ASA 1 and 2 
- 
18-65 years old 
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- 
Patients scheduled for ambulatory arthroscopic or open surgery 
 
Exclusion Criteria: 
- 
ASA 3 and 4 
- 
Pre-existing pain disorder 
- 
Regular consumption of chronic pain medication 
- 
Anatomical abnormalities of upper extremity 
- 
Know allergy or hypersensitivity to Ropivacaine or other amide local anesthetics 
- 
Know allergy to dexmedetomidine 
- 
Coagulopathy 
- 
Uncontrolled diabetes 
 
At our institution, shoulder surgery is performed under general anesthesia with interscalene brachial 
plexus block as a modality for intraoperative and post-operative pain control. Although patients often 
do receive opioids during induction of anesthesia for airway instrumentation, intraoperative analgesia 
relies mainly on peripheral nerve blockade – often with minimal or no additional opioid administration. 
As a routine standard of practice in our institution, the regional clinical care member calls the patient 
the evening before and explains the procedure and conducts the pre-anesthesia evaluations. During this 
phone call, the study will be presented to the subject and if the subject is interested one of the research 
members listed on the protocol will explain the study in detail and will obtain a verbal consent. On the 
day of the surgery, one of the research members will meet agreed patients (phone consent) at the 
registration and will explain the study once more before obtaining the signatures on the IRB approved 
informed consent. 
Because this study aims to evaluate a subjective endpoint like pain, all potential participants will initially 
undergo a Short Form of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire to improve the uniformity of the study 
population. The questionnaire consists of nine specific scenarios associated with pain that are graded by 
participants on a scale of 1(no pain at all) to 5 (extreme pain). All consented patients will fill out the 
Short Form of the Fear of Pain Questionnaire. 
On the day of surgery patients will arrive at the surgical center and undergo pre-surgical evaluation by 
the anesthetic team. After obtaining consent and completing all necessary paperwork, they will be taken 
to the post anesthesia care unit where our pre-operative nerve blocks are typically performed. Under 
standard monitors study participants will undergo preIRB NUMBER: 2015-5628 IRB APPROVAL DATE: 
01/14/2016 operative single shot interscalene nerve block under ultrasound guidance and peripheral 
nerve stimulation. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive on of three injections: 
1. Ropivacaine 0.5% 20ml (acting as control)  
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2. Ropivacaine 0.5% 20ml + 4mg dexamethasone  
3. Ropivacaine 0.5% 20ml + 75mcg of dexmedetomidine 
Although no official consensus has been reached, 4mg-8mg of perineural dexamethasone in peripheral 
nerve block is accepted as a safe and effective dose in most current practice.Dexmedetomidine has been 
administered perineurally in doses ranging from 20- 100mcg. The above dose was chosen for our study 
arbitrarily as one that has been both beneficial and devoid of significant side effects in current literature. 
Local anesthetic and adjunct will be drawn up by a physician or nurse not directly involved in patient 
care. The contents of solution will remain unknown to both the patient and physician performing the 
nerve block. 
Participants will undergo motor and sensory assessment immediately postoperatively in the PACU. This 
will be done to confirm effective interscalene nerve block. Although we do not anticipate a significant 
number of failed nerve blocks, patients with failed block – either by motor and sensory evaluation or by 
the need for significant opioid administration intraoperatively - will be excluded from further follow up. 
 
Outcomes and Post-Operative Follow-up: 
Study participants will receive a printed questionnaire upon enrollment and asked to note several 
events over the 24-48 hours after surgery.  
1. Time of return of sensation in shoulder/arm  
2. Time of return of motor function – ability to abduct shoulder IRB NUMBER: 2015-5628 IRB APPROVAL 
DATE: 01/14/2016  
3. Time of first sensation of pain  
4. Type and dose of oral pain medication prescribed  
5. Time of first dose of oral pain medication  
6. Total medication taken at 24 hours after surgery  
7. Total medication taken at 48 hours after surgery  
8. Overall satisfaction with having peripheral nerve block for pain control (1 – unsatisfied, 2 – somewhat 
satisfied, 3 – satisfied, 4 – very satisfied, 5 – extremely satisfied). 
After documentation of time to discharge from PACU, all other endpoints will be obtained via follow up 
phone call at 24 and 48 hours after surgery. Because of variability in type and dose of oral pain 
medication prescribed by different surgeons, all opioid consumption with be converted to morphine 
equivalents.  
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At our institution it is routine standard of care for patients to receive a post surgical follow up phone call 
from the nursing staff to assess general recovery. The additional questions described above are different 
from the typical follow up and will be carried out by an anesthesiologist involved in the study. 
 
Randomization: 
Once patients meet all inclusion criteria, they will be randomly assigned to receive one of three 
interscalene injections (ropivacaine 0.5%, ropivacaine 0.5% + dexamethasone 4mg, or ropivacaine 0.5% 
+ dexmedetomidine75mcg).  
Subjects will be randomized on the day of the procedure.Simple randomization will be used to assign 
patients into one of the three groups. Pre sealed randomization envelopes will be opened just before 
performing the block. A physician or nurse that are not part of data collection and not directly involved 
in the care of the patient will be provided with a sealed envelope corresponding to each respective 
group with instructions on which medication to prepare for the nerve block injection. The medication 
syringe will be labeled only with a numerical randomization code and IRB NUMBER: 2015-5628 IRB 
APPROVAL DATE: 01/14/2016 handed to the physician performing the nerve block just prior to injection. 
A faculty member not directly involved in the study or in patient care will hold all randomization codes. 
 
Unblinding: 
In general, unblinding of study treatments during a clinical trial is not allowed unless there are 
compelling medical or safety reasons to break the blind treatment code, such as in a condition needed 
to treat serious adverse effects. In case of emergency, if it is necessary to break the blind, the principal 
investigator or his designee will be able to obtain the randomization key. The IRB andDSMB will be 
notified and the date, time and reason for unblinding will be recorded. 
 
Statistical Analysis: 
Primary objective of the study is to compare the amount of 24 hours opioids (opioid equivalence) used 
by the three groups. Our own clinical audit and published literature reported 50mg ±20mg of opioids in 
the first 24 hours. The study is powered to demonstrate a 20% difference between the Dexamethasone 
group and 30% difference between the placebo group. Based on a two-sided alpha of 0.05 and Type II 
error of 20% to achieve a clinically significant 30% difference a total of 105 subjects needed to be 
studied. Sample size calculation is based on the hypothesis that, in one of the groups the mean 24 hours 
opioid usage will be different.  
Primary endpoint of the study, 24 hour opioid requirements is a continuous variable, depending on the 
distribution of the data, parametric one-way ANOVA or a non-parametric Kruskal Wallis test will be used 
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for analysis. For all the secondary outcomes time in minutes will be calculated from end of anesthesia 
time to the events mentioned on the outcomes and post-operative follow up section. Time in minutes is 
a continues variable, and will be analyzed in a similar way as the primary endpoint. Additionally, if there 
are covariates that are clinically and statistically different between the groups, data will be analyzed 
using linear regression analysis and these covariates will be adjusted in the analysis.  
 
Data Management: 
All information and patient follow up will be entered into a computer database to be maintained by the 
principal investigator or their designee. Information in the database will be tracked by the specific 
randomization code assigned to each patient, which ultimately corresponds to a particular arm of the 
study 
 
Risks and Benefits: 
Both dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine have been used in peripheral nerve blockade in prior 
studies without any significant side effect experienced by patients. At the doses administered 
perineurally, the potential risks of the medications are extremely low. As with any peripheral nerve 
block, potential complications such as nerve damage, bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding 
structures, and seizure are all potentially possible. However, with the use of ultrasound guidance, 
peripheral nerve stimulation, and experienced providers, the overall risk of the procedure and the 
proposed study remains very low. 
 
Data Safety Monitoring Plan: 
All the serious adverse events will be reported to the DSMB and the continuation of the study will be at 
the discretion of the DSMB and the IRB. The DSMB should meet every 6 months to review the status of 
the research in addition to when a serious adverse event occurs. 
 
References: 
1. Brummerr, Chad M., Williams, Brian A. Additives to Local Anesthetics in Peripheral Nerve Blockade. 
IntAnesthesiolClin. 2011; 49(4) 104-116. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3427651/pdf/ 
nihms398160.pdf  
2. D. Marhofer, S. C. Kettner, P. Marhofer, S. Pils, M. Weber and M. Zeitlinger. Dexmedetomidine as an 
Adjuvant to Ropivacaine Prolongs Peripheral Nerve Block: A Volunteer Study. British Journal of 
Anesthesia, November 2012. http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/11/14/bja.aes400.full.  
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3. McCartney CJ, Chan VWS, Sanandaji K, Rawson R, Katz J and Choyce A. Small dose ketamine produces 
a peripheral preventive analgesic effect when added to interscalene block for major Shoulder Surgery. 
American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, April 2003, 28;2.  
4. Gurajala I., Thipparampall A., Durga P. Effect of Perineural Dexmedetomidine on the Quality of 
Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block with 0.5% Ropivacaine and its Interaction with General Anesthesia, 
Indian Journal of Anesthesia, 2015 59; 2 89-95. http://www.ijaweb.org/article.asp?issn=0019- 
5049;year=2015;volume=59;issue=2;spage=89;epage=95;aulast=Gurajala  
5. Fritsch G, Danninger T, Allerberger K, Tsodikov A, Felder TK, Kapeller M, Gerner P, Brummett CM. 
Dexmedetomidine Added to Ropivacaine Extends the Duration of Interscalene Brachial Plexus Blocks for 
Elective Shoulder Surgery When Compared with Ropivacaine Alone: A Single-Center, Prospective, Triple-
Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. RegAnesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;39(1):37-47.  
6. Esmaoglu A, Yegenoglu F, Akin A, Turk CY. Dexmedetomidine added to levobupivacaine prolongs 
axillary brachial plexus block. AnesthAnalg 2010;111:1548-51  
7. Ironfield CM1, Barrington MJ, Kluger R, Sites B.Are patients satisfied after peripheral nerve blockade? 
Results from an International Registry of Regional Anesthesia.RegAnRegional Anesthesia and Pain Med. 
2014 Jan-Feb;39. 
 8. Rasmussen SB1, Saied NN, Bowens C Jr, Mercaldo ND, Schildcrout JS, Malchow RJ.Duration of upper 
and lower extremity peripheral nerve blockade is prolonged with dexamethasone when added to 
ropivacaine: a retrospective database analysis. Pain Med. 2013 Aug;14(8):1239-47  
9. Williams, Brian A., Schott, Nicholas J.,Mangione, Michael P., Ibinson, James W. Perineural 
Dexamethasone and Multimodal Perineural Analgesia: How Much Is Too Much? Anesthesia & Analgesia: 
May 2014 - Volume 118 - Issue 5 - p 912–914  
10. Mcneil, Daniel. Short Form of Fear of Pain Questionnaire, 2006 
http://daniel_mcneil.psychology.wvu.edu/r/download/142935 
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