Clinical trial NCT02653144: the Analgesic Duration of Dexmedetomidine Compared to Dexamethasone as Adjuncts to Single Shot Interscalene Block
Official title: 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
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Opioid Use, Unspecified
Keywords: post operative pain, Dexmedetomidine, Regional anesthesia
Lead sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2016-01-12
Enrollment: 105
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of the study is to determine if perineural dexmedetomidine can provide increased prolongation of analgesia when compared to perineural dexamethasone in patients 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.

Detailed description: 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 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 has been described on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, although it has been shown to potentiate peripheral nerve blockade and prolong duration of analgesia in various studies , it remains rarely used as an adjunct to regional anesthesia.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria :

* ASA 1 and 2
* 18-60 years old
* 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
* Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Ropivacaine or other amide local anesthetics
* Known allergy to dexmedetomidine
* Coagulopathy
* Uncontrolled Diabetes

Primary outcomes:
measure: Opioid Requirements (Morphine Equivalents)
timeFrame: 24 hours
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Opioid Requirements (Morphine Equivalents)
timeFrame: 48 hours
measure: Time to Discharge From PACU to First Opioid Consumption
timeFrame: 24-48 hours after surgery
measure: Return of Motor and Sensory Function
timeFrame: 24-48 hours after surgery
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bronx
country: United States
facility: Montefiore Medical Center
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Montefiore Medical Center
name: Amaresh Vydyanathan, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Brummett CM, Williams BA. Additives to local anesthetics for peripheral nerve blockade. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2011 Fall;49(4):104-16. doi: 10.1097/AIA.0b013e31820e4a49.
citation: Marhofer D, Kettner SC, Marhofer P, Pils S, Weber M, Zeitlinger M. Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine prolongs peripheral nerve block: a volunteer study. Br J Anaesth. 2013 Mar;110(3):438-42. doi: 10.1093/bja/aes400. Epub 2012 Nov 15.
citation: 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. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;39(1):37-47. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000033.
citation: Esmaoglu A, Yegenoglu F, Akin A, Turk CY. Dexmedetomidine added to levobupivacaine prolongs axillary brachial plexus block. Anesth Analg. 2010 Dec;111(6):1548-51. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181fa3095. Epub 2010 Oct 1.
citation: Ironfield CM, Barrington MJ, Kluger R, Sites B. Are patients satisfied after peripheral nerve blockade? Results from an International Registry of Regional Anesthesia. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;39(1):48-55. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000038.
citation: Rasmussen SB, 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. doi: 10.1111/pme.12150. Epub 2013 Jun 11.
citation: Williams BA, Schott NJ, Mangione MP, Ibinson JW. Perineural dexamethasone and multimodal perineural analgesia: how much is too much? Anesth Analg. 2014 May;118(5):912-4. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000203. No abstract available.