Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Bupivacaine in the Presence and Absence of Perineural Dexamethasone in Axillary Blockade

Summary

The investigators will conduct a prospective, randomized, double-blinded study using an axillary brachial plexus block in patients undergoing elective surgery of the distal forearm and hand to characterize and describe the pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine associated with perineural dexamethasone. The pharmacokinetic analysis will be performed by measuring bupivacaine plasma levels at different time intervals after the blockade (15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 minutes), allowing comparison between 2 different groups: Bupivacaine (B) and Bupivacaine-dexamethasone (BD). Thus, the hypothesis is that plasma levels of bupivacaine during the first 90 minutes after a blockade are lower in the presence of perineural dexamethasone, suggesting a decrease, at least initially, in systemic absorption from the injection site.

Timeline

Start

2022-06-28

Primary completion

2023-04-17

Completion

2023-04-24

Publications

• Background Desai N, Albrecht E, El-Boghdadly K. Perineural adjuncts for peripheral nerve block. BJA Educ. 2019 Sep;19(9):276-282. doi: 10.1016/j.bjae.2019.05.001. Epub 2019 Jul 6. No abstract available.
• Background Leurcharusmee P, Aliste J, Van Zundert TC, Engsusophon P, Arnuntasupakul V, Tiyaprasertkul W, Tangjitbampenbun A, Ah-Kye S, Finlayson RJ, Tran DQ. A Multicenter Randomized Comparison Between Intravenous and Perineural Dexamethasone for Ultrasound-Guided Infraclavicular Block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 May-Jun;41(3):328-33. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000386.
• Background Aliste J, Leurcharusmee P, Engsusophon P, Gordon A, Michelagnoli G, Sriparkdee C, Tiyaprasertkul W, Tran DQ, Van Zundert TC, Finlayson RJ, Tran DQH. A randomized comparison between intravenous and perineural dexamethasone for ultrasound-guided axillary block. Can J Anaesth. 2017 Jan;64(1):29-36. doi: 10.1007/s12630-016-0741-8. Epub 2016 Sep 23.
• Background Heesen M, Klimek M, Imberger G, Hoeks SE, Rossaint R, Straube S. Co-administration of dexamethasone with peripheral nerve block: intravenous vs perineural application: systematic review, meta-analysis, meta-regression and trial-sequential analysis. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Feb;120(2):212-227. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2017.11.062. Epub 2017 Nov 22.
• Background Albrecht E, Kern C, Kirkham KR. A systematic review and meta-analysis of perineural dexamethasone for peripheral nerve blocks. Anaesthesia. 2015 Jan;70(1):71-83. doi: 10.1111/anae.12823. Epub 2014 Aug 14.
• Background Shishido H, Kikuchi S, Heckman H, Myers RR. Dexamethasone decreases blood flow in normal nerves and dorsal root ganglia. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Mar 15;27(6):581-6. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200203150-00005.
• Background Gonzalez AP, Bernucci F, Pham K, Correa JA, Finlayson RJ, Tran DQ. Minimum effective volume of lidocaine for double-injection ultrasound-guided axillary block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2013 Jan-Feb;38(1):16-20. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e3182707176.
• Background Kirkham KR, Jacot-Guillarmod A, Albrecht E. Optimal Dose of Perineural Dexamethasone to Prolong Analgesia After Brachial Plexus Blockade: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Anesth Analg. 2018 Jan;126(1):270-279. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002488.
• Background Souza MCO, Marques MP, Duarte G, Lanchote VL. Analysis of bupivacaine enantiomers in plasma as total and unbound concentrations using LC-MS/MS: Application in a pharmacokinetic study of a parturient with placental transfer. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2019 Feb 5;164:268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.10.040. Epub 2018 Oct 23.
• Background Tran DQ, Dugani S, Dyachenko A, Correa JA, Finlayson RJ. Minimum effective volume of lidocaine for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2011 Mar-Apr;36(2):190-4. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e31820d4266.
• Background Bravo D, Aliste J, Layera S, Fernandez D, Leurcharusmee P, Samerchua A, Tangjitbampenbun A, Watanitanon A, Arnuntasupakul V, Tunprasit C, Gordon A, Finlayson RJ, Tran DQ. A multicenter, randomized comparison between 2, 5, and 8 mg of perineural dexamethasone for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2019 Jan;44(1):46-51. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2018-000032.
• Background Ferraro LHC, Takeda A, Barreto CN, Faria B, Assuncao NA. [Pharmacokinetic and clinical effects of two bupivacaine concentrations on axillary brachial plexus block]. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2018 Mar-Apr;68(2):115-121. doi: 10.1016/j.bjan.2017.09.001. Epub 2017 Oct 16.
• Bravo D, Aguilera G, Giordano A, Layera S, Erpel H, Mora D, Ramirez C, Jara A, Aliste J. Bupivacaine pharmacokinetics in the absence or presence of perineural dexamethasone in axillary block: an exploratory trial. Br J Anaesth. 2026 Mar;136(3):1090-1092. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025.12.009. Epub 2026 Jan 16.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.