Comparison Of Dexmedetomidine And Dexamethasone As An Adjuvant To Bupivacaine In Brachial Plexus Block

NCT ID: NCT04791475

Last Updated: 2022-07-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-02-22
• Study Completion Date: 2022-01-30

Brief Summary

Brachial plexus block is a regional anaesthesia technique employed as a safe and valuable alternative to general anaesthesia for upper limb surgery. In recent practices of day care surgeries, brachial plexus block seems to be a better alternative to general anesthesia with minimal hospital stay and better analgesic effect. Among several techniques of brachial plexus block, supraclavicular approach is considered as easiest, effective and can be performed much more quickly than other approaches. Various local anaesthetic agents and adjuvants are used for this purpose. Among them, bupivacaine has been the most widely used long-acting local anaesthetic agent. Combining local anesthetics with different adjuncts can prolong the duration of analgesia associated with brachial plexus block. Among various adjuncts, dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine have been identified as clinically effective adjuncts. Several metaanalyses have convincingly demonstrated their efficacy in prolonging the analgesic duration of brachial plexus block. However, there has been limited research conducted to compare the effects of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine added as adjuvants to the local anesthetics for BPB. Studies have demonstrated benefits of one agent over other without any definitive conclusion as which is the best agent for this purpose. Therefore, there is a need of study to compare the onset and duration of bupivacaine when dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone is used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular BPB

Detailed Description

Peripheral nerve block (PNB), as an integral part of regional anesthetic technique, remains a well-accepted component of comprehensive anaesthetic care. William Halstead (1852-1922) was first to perform Brachial Plexus Block (BPB) in 1884 by surgically exposing the roots of the brachial plexus and injecting each nerve directly. Kulenkampff described the first percutaneous supraclavicular approach in 1911. BPB provides both intraoperative anaesthesia as well as postoperative analgesia. Being a regional anaesthetic technique, it has many advantages over general anaesthesia like effective analgesia with good motor blockade, awake patient, extended postoperative analgesia, early mobilization, no airway manipulation, avoidance of polypharmacy and decreased incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Advantages of supraclavicular approach include rapid onset and reliable blockade with a small volume of local anaesthetic and produced a more intense motor blockade and reduced the incidence of Horner's syndrome compared with Interscalene BPB. The clinical indications of supraclavicular BPB have been confined to upper limb surgeries below the midshaft of humerus because of concerns that it is performed too distally from the cervical nerve roots to block the suprascapular nerve which innervates 70% of the shoulder joint in addition to the subacromial bursa, coracoclavicular ligament, and acromioclavicular joint. There is evidence that peripheral nerve blocks performed by ultrasound guidance alone, or in combination with Peripheral Nerve Stimulator (PNS), are superior in terms of improved sensory and motor block, reduced need for supplementation and fewer minor complications reported. Using ultrasound alone shortens performance time when compared with nerve stimulation, but when used in combination with PNS it increases performance time. Many local anaesthetics have been used to produce brachial plexus block. Most common among them is bupivacaine, because of its higher potency and prolonged duration of action. Bupivacaine is an amide local anaesthetic. It prevents transmission of nerve impulses by inhibiting passage of sodium ions through selective ion channel in nerve membranes. This slows the rate of depolarization such that threshold potential is not reached and action potential not propagated. The half life of bupivacaine in adults is 3.5 hours. The commonly used concentrations in brachial plexus block are 0.25%, 0.375% and 0.5%. Studies have shown that mass of bupivacaine rather than concentration is the major determinant of the Effective Dose 50 (ED50) for achieving supraclavicular brachial plexus block. The concentration of bupivacaine that will be used in our study is 0.5% and volume is 20 ml. Adjuvants or additives are often used with local anaesthetics for its synergistic effect by prolonging the duration of sensory-motor block and limiting its cumulative dose requirement. Various drugs like opioids, epinephrine, alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, midazolam, ketamine, magnesium sulfate and neostigmine have been used to potentiate the effect of local anesthetics. Due to its potential adverse effects, current researches are exploring newer drugs and delivery mechanisms to prolong the duration of action of local anesthetics. Recently, dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine have been identified as clinically effective adjuncts; several metaanalyses have convincingly demonstrated their efficacy and prolonging the analgesic duration of PNB. Dexmedetomidine, a potent α2 adrenoceptor agonist, is approximately eight-times more selective towards the α2 adrenoceptor than clonidine. Dexmedetomidine is also reportedly safe and effective when administered with long-acting local anesthetics in PNBs. No significant histopathologic abnormalities were reported after intrathecal or perineural administration of dexmedetomidine. There have been four proposed mechanisms for the action of alpha 2 adrenergic agonists in peripheral nerve blocks. These mechanisms include centrally mediated analgesia, ∝2B-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstrictive effects, attenuation of the inflammatory response, and direct action on the peripheral nerve. In this study we are adding 1mcg/kg dexmedetomidine as adjunct to bupivacaine as previous studies have shown that 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine added perineurally to levobupivacaine in Supraclavicular BPB is a safer dose than 2 mcg/kg with less sedation, bradycardia, and comparable analgesia. Dexamethasone is a very potent and highly selective glucocorticoid. Various studies have been done using dexamethasone as an adjuvant to local anaesthetics mixture in brachial plexus block resulting in variable effects on onset but prolonged duration of analgesia and motor block. Dexamethasone produces analgesia by blocking pain signal transmission in nociceptive c-fibers, suppressing ectopic neural discharge and by inhibiting the action of phospholipase A2. The block prolonging effect of peripherally applied dexamethasone could be due to alteration in the function of potassium channels in the excitable cells by dexamethasone via glucocorticoid receptors present in the brachial plexus. It may also be due to the local vasoconstrictive effect of dexamethasone via glucocorticoid receptors. In this study we are using 4 mg dexamethasone as articles have shown that perineural dexamethasone at a dose of 4 mg prolongs the duration of analgesia after local anaesthetic PNB with efficacy similar to a dose of 8 mg and without any reported serious adverse effects. However, each of these molecules is associated with undesirable side effects: increased glycemia, neurotoxicity and risk of precipitation may occur after use of dexamethasone but studies show that these toxicities are very unlikely with peripheral use and at the low dose of 4mg which will be used in this study; bradycardia, hypotension, and sedation for dexmedetomidine. Importantly, most published trials of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine have compared these adjuncts to control, with very scant head-to-head comparison. Notably, literature is characterized by conflicting results and inconsistent reporting of side effects.

Conditions

Brachial Plexus Block; Dexmedetomidine; Dexamethasone; Bupivacaine

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Dexmedetomidine with 0.5% bupivacaine

1mcg/kg dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml in USG guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

adding Dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone to bupivacaine in USG guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The linear transducer probe (frequency 4 -12 Hz) of USG machine will be used. A superficial skin wheal will be made by 2ml of 1% lignocaine subcutaneously at the point of needle insertion. USG guided Brachial plexus block will be performed by supraclavicular route via the subclavian perivascular approach in in-plane technique from lateral to medial using 22 gauge spinal needle. Study Drug will be administered via Pressure Monitoring line connected to syringe according to the allocated group with repeated aspiration and incremental dosing. • Intercostobrachial nerve block will be performed to alleviate the tourniquet pain. A 25 G needle will be inserted at the level of axillary fossa. The entire width of the medial aspect of arm, starting at the deltoid prominence and proceeding inferiorly, will be infiltrated with 5ml of 1% Lignocaine with Epinephrine (1:4,00,000) to raise a subcutaneous wheal. •

Dexamethasone with 0.5% bupivacaine

4mg dexamethasone as an adjuvant to 0.5% bupivacaine 20 ml in USG guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

adding Dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone to bupivacaine in USG guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The linear transducer probe (frequency 4 -12 Hz) of USG machine will be used. A superficial skin wheal will be made by 2ml of 1% lignocaine subcutaneously at the point of needle insertion. USG guided Brachial plexus block will be performed by supraclavicular route via the subclavian perivascular approach in in-plane technique from lateral to medial using 22 gauge spinal needle. Study Drug will be administered via Pressure Monitoring line connected to syringe according to the allocated group with repeated aspiration and incremental dosing. • Intercostobrachial nerve block will be performed to alleviate the tourniquet pain. A 25 G needle will be inserted at the level of axillary fossa. The entire width of the medial aspect of arm, starting at the deltoid prominence and proceeding inferiorly, will be infiltrated with 5ml of 1% Lignocaine with Epinephrine (1:4,00,000) to raise a subcutaneous wheal. •

Interventions

adding Dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone to bupivacaine in USG guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

The linear transducer probe (frequency 4 -12 Hz) of USG machine will be used. A superficial skin wheal will be made by 2ml of 1% lignocaine subcutaneously at the point of needle insertion. USG guided Brachial plexus block will be performed by supraclavicular route via the subclavian perivascular approach in in-plane technique from lateral to medial using 22 gauge spinal needle. Study Drug will be administered via Pressure Monitoring line connected to syringe according to the allocated group with repeated aspiration and incremental dosing. • Intercostobrachial nerve block will be performed to alleviate the tourniquet pain. A 25 G needle will be inserted at the level of axillary fossa. The entire width of the medial aspect of arm, starting at the deltoid prominence and proceeding inferiorly, will be infiltrated with 5ml of 1% Lignocaine with Epinephrine (1:4,00,000) to raise a subcutaneous wheal. •

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• ASA PS I & II
• Age: 18-65 years
• Sex: Both male and female
• Patients scheduled for Upper limb surgery below the level of midshaft of humerus

Exclusion Criteria

1. Local infection at the site of puncture

2. Patients having any neurologic deficit in the upper limb

3. Pregnant or lactating women.

4. Patients receiving adrenoceptor agonist or antagonist therapy or chronic analgesic therapy.

5. Patients with diabetic neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, coagulopathy, or known allergies.

6. Patients with polytrauma.

7. Patients weighing <30 kg and > 100 kg.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Institute Of Medicine.

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

manu bhattarai

Dr. Manu Bhattarai, Resident

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Manu Bhattarai

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

MD resident

Locations

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital

Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal

Countries

Nepal

References

Vorobeichik L, Brull R, Abdallah FW. Evidence basis for using perineural dexmedetomidine to enhance the quality of brachial plexus nerve blocks: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Br J Anaesth. 2017 Feb;118(2):167-181. doi: 10.1093/bja/aew411.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 28100520 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

TribhuvanUTH

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id