Intravenous Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine on the Analgesic Efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block

Summary

Patients having lumbar spinal fusion often complain about severe postoperative pain and postoperative rehabilitation process can be affected negatively. Postoperative pain that cannot be well controlled may lead to delayed mobilization, pulmonary and thromboembolic complications, prolonged hospital stays, and chronic pain syndromes. Pain after spinal surgery can arise from several different tissues, such as the vertebrae, disks, ligaments, dura, facet joint, muscle, fascia, and subcutaneous and cutaneous tissues.

Ultrasound-guided lumbar erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been shown to reduce postoperative pain in patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). However, the duration of analgesia after single-shot ESPB with commonly used local anesthetics is reported to be no more than 12 h, which often not long enough to provide satisfactory postoperative pain relief, as the pain typically lasts for several days. Compared with perineural route, intravenous additives to local anesthetics are commonly accepted as its safety and efficiency have been reported. Moreover, co-administration of intravenous dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine significantly prolonged the time to first rescue analgesic request after single-shot interscalene brachial plexus block. However, more data are needed especially for lumbar ESPB.

Conditions

• Dexamethasone
• Dexmedetomidine
• Nerve Block

Interventions

DRUG

Dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine

General anesthesia was induced with sufentanil 0.5-0.8 ug/kg, propofol 1.5-2.0 mg/kg, and rocuronium 0.5-1.0 mg/kg. Intravenous dexamethasone 10 mg was injected and a 50-ml syringe containing dexmedetomidine 1 ug/kg in 0.9% saline was infused after induction of general anaesthesia over a 30-min period. Anesthesia was maintained by remifentanil and sevoflurane to keep the Narcotrend index reading between 40 and 60.

DRUG

Dexmedetomidine

Intravenous dexmedetomidine 1 ug/kg was infused after induction of general anaesthesia over a 30-min period.

OTHER

Ultrasound-guided lumbar erector spinae plane block

The probe was installed in the sagittal axis in the midline at the L3 vertebral level. The spinous processes were first visualized, after which the probe was lateralized, and the transverse processes and the erector spinae muscle were visualized approximately 3 cm laterally to the midline. The needle was advanced between the transverse process and the deep fascia of the erector spinae muscle from the caudal to the cranial using in-plane technique. The location of the needle was confirmed with 2mL saline solution, after which 20 mL of 0.4% ropivacaine was administered.

OTHER

PCIA

Intravenous PCA included 0.9% saline with sufentanil and was programmed to run at 2ml with a 1-ml bolus dose and a 10-min lockout time. The patients with VAS more than 4 despite using intravenous PCA were treated with rescue analgesics comprising intravenous parecoxib.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-03-01

Primary Completion

2021-08-22

Completion

2021-12-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations