Comparative Analysis Of Dexmedetomidine And Dexamethasone As An Adjuvant To 0.5%Ropivacaine On Onset Of Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block In Patients Undergoing Upper Limb Surgeries

NCT07290595 | Recruiting Phase 2 DMC FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: 173-IRB/SLMC/SWL
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

To compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as an adjuvant to 0.5%ropivacaine on onset of ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. Ropivacaine hydrochloride, a long acting local anesthetic, is commonly used for supraclavicular block owing to its favorable safety profile especially in terms of minimal cardiotoxicity and less motor block. Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, enhances the quality of supraclavicular block by providing sedation and analgesia while potentially prolonging the duration of block through hyperpolarization of nerve fibers. While, Dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, prolongs duration of analgesia by reducing perineural inflammation and inhibiting nociceptive signal transmission. Supraclavicular brachial plexus block offers dense anesthesia for surgical procedures at or distal to the elbow with relatively high success rate, once described as "spinal of the arm". Moreover, supraclavicular brachial plexus block is an excellent alternative to general anesthesia in upper limb surgeries.

Conditions

Post Operative Analgesia; Bradycardia; Hypotension; Upper Limb Surgeries

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Post Operative Analgesia

  Onset of Sensory Block

  from performance of Block upto 5 minutes

• Post Operative Analgesia

  Onset of Motor Block

  from performance of block upto 5 minutes

Study Arms (2)

Group A

OTHER

0.5%Ropivacaine + 1mcg/kg Dexmedetomidine

Drug: Ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine

Group B

OTHER

0.5%Ropivacaine + 8mg Dexamethasone

Drug: Ropivacaine + dexamethasone

Interventions

Ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine DRUG

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block will be performed under aseptic measures with the patient lying supine with head turned 30 degrees toward the contralateral side. A linear 7-13 MHz ultrasonography probe (ACUSON P500, digital color doppler ultrasound Siemens Germany) will be placed in supraclavicular fossa and slightly angled towards the thorax. The brachial plexus appears as multiple hypoechoic disks just superficial and lateral to the subclavian artery. After identification of brachial plexus, the proposed puncture site will be infiltrated with 1ml of 2% lignocaine. Then, 25-gauge spinal needle will be inserted using in plane technique, from lateral to medial direction until the tip is visualized near the brachial plexus. After careful aspiration for blood, 28ml of 0.5%Ropivacaine + 1mcg/kg Dexmedetomidine (diluted in 2ml normal saline) will be injected in 5ml increments to obtain uniform spread around brachial plexus

Also known as: Supravlavicular Brachial Plexus Block with Ropivacaine and Dexmedetomidine

Group A

Ropivacaine + dexamethasone DRUG

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block will be performed under aseptic measures with the patient lying supine with head turned 30 degrees toward the contralateral side. A linear 7-13 MHz ultrasonography probe (ACUSON P500, digital color doppler ultrasound Siemens Germany) will be placed in supraclavicular fossa and slightly angled towards the thorax. The brachial plexus appears as multiple hypoechoic disks just superficial and lateral to the subclavian artery. After identification of brachial plexus, the proposed puncture site will be infiltrated with 1ml of 2% lignocaine. Then, 25-gauge spinal needle will be inserted using in plane technique, from lateral to medial direction until the tip is visualized near the brachial plexus. After careful aspiration for blood,28ml of 0.5%Ropivacaine + 8mg Dexamethasone (2ml)will be injected in 5ml increments to obtain uniform spread around brachial plexus

Also known as: Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block with Ropivacaine and Dexamethasone

Group B

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients scheduled for upper limb surgery below mid-humerus level
• Patients aged 18 to 70 years
• Patients with ASA class I, II and III

You may not qualify if:

• Patients refusal
• Patients with pre-existing peripheral neuropathy of the upper limb
• Patients with the Infection at block site
• Patients with history of ischemic heart disease
• Patients with bleeding disorder or deranged coagulation profile
• Patients with known history of allergy to local anaesthetic or any other drugs used

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sahiwal medical college sahiwal: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sahiwal Medical College, Sahiwal

Sāhīwāl, Punjab Province, 57000, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Bradycardia; Hypotension

Interventions

Ropivacaine; Dexmedetomidine; Dexamethasone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Vascular Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anilides; Amides; Organic Chemicals; Aniline Compounds; Amines; Imidazoles; Azoles; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Pregnadienetriols; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Steroids, Fluorinated

Study Officials

• Adeel Riaz, MD

  Sahiwal medical college sahiwal

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Dr Maryam Maqsood, MBBS

CONTACT

00923347036271; maryammaqsood448@gmail.com

Dr Muhammad Shahid, FCPS

CONTACT

00923336173056; shahidnishtar@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Post-Graduate Resident

Model Details: Group A will receive 28ml of 0.5%Ropivacaine + 1mcg/kg Dexmedetomidine (diluted in 2ml normal saline) and Group B will receive 28ml of 0.5%Ropivacaine + 8mg Dexamethasone (2ml).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2025
• First Posted: December 18, 2025
• Study Start: January 13, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 12, 2026
• Study Completion: March 12, 2026
• Last Updated: December 23, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: March 2026
• Access Criteria: On Demand

Locations

PA (1)