Dexamethasone and Analgesic Duration After Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Blockade

University Health Network, Toronto

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anesthesia

Treatments: Drug: Dexamethasone; Drug: Mepivicaine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00802009

08-0896-B

Details and patient eligibility

About

Patients undergoing surgery of the hand often are treated with a nerve block in the shoulder/neck area that provides anesthesia/numbing during surgery. Nerve blocks usually last for a few hours after surgery and provide pain relief for this period. It may be possible to extend the duration of anesthesia by using a steroid, which has anti-inflammtory properties. This study will compare the duration of the nerve block when dexamethasone (steroid) is added to the anesthetic injected around the nerve.

Enrollment: 44 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients having unilateral hand or forearm surgery under Supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade.
2. ASA I-III
3. Age 18-60
4. BMI < 35

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to local anesthetics and dexamethasone.
2. Contra-indication to regional anesthesia/ supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade e.g. bleeding diathesis, coagulopathy.
3. Peripheral neuropathy.
4. Peptic ulcer disease.
5. Diabetes Mellitus.
6. Inability to give informed consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Dexamethasone 8mg added to routine local anesthetic during brachial plexus blockade.

Treatment:

Drug: Dexamethasone

Drug: Mepivicaine

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Routine anesthetic solution (30 cc 1.5% mepivicaine) used during brachial plexus blockade.

Treatment:

Drug: Mepivicaine