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Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

NCT number NCT02393677
Other study ID # DN57/FM
Secondary ID
Status Completed
Phase N/A
First received March 15, 2015
Last updated October 6, 2015
Start date July 2011
Est. completion date July 2012

Study information

Verified date October 2015
Source Government Medical College, Haldwani
Contact n/a
Is FDA regulated No
Health authority India: Indian Council of Medical Research
Study type Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

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.


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.


Recruitment information / eligibility

Status Completed
Enrollment 80
Est. completion date July 2012
Est. primary completion date July 2012
Accepts healthy volunteers Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Gender Both
Age group 18 Years to 60 Years
Eligibility 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 a-adrenergic blocking effect

- Hepatic or renal insufficiency

- Systemic infection or infection at the site of injection, and shoulder surgery.

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Supportive Care


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


Intervention

Drug:
Ropivacaine
Ropivacaine 0.5% 30 ml was used to block brachial plexus
Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine 1 microgram per kilogram bodyweight was added with 30 ml 0.5% Ropivacaine to block brachial plexus

Locations

Country Name City State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor Collaborator
Government Medical College, Haldwani

Outcome

Type Measure Description Time frame Safety issue
Other Haemodynamic Changes 8 hours No
Other Complications 2 hours No
Primary Duration of Analgesia upto 8 hours No
Secondary Onset of Sensory Block 20 minutes No
Secondary Onset of Motor Block 30minutes No
Secondary Duration of Motor Block 6 hours No
See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Active, not recruiting NCT01739270 - Dexamethasone Added to Levobupivacaine Improves Postoperative Analgesia N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05763433 - Variation in the Effect of Dexamethasone Associated With Axillary Plexus on the Occurrence of Rebound Pain