Intravenous Dexamethasone Added to Dexmedetomidine After Superior Trunk Block

Summary

This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind trial will evaluate the effect of adding intravenous dexamethasone to intravenous dexmedetomidine on postoperative analgesia after superior trunk block in adult patients undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery. All participants will receive ultrasound-guided superior trunk block and standard intravenous dexmedetomidine. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either intravenous dexamethasone or an equal volume of normal saline placebo before surgery. The main outcome will be the time from completion of the block to the first request for rescue analgesia after surgery. The study will also evaluate postoperative pain scores, rebound pain, opioid consumption, blood glucose levels, hemodynamic changes, postoperative nausea and vomiting, sleep disturbance due to pain, block-related complications, and patient satisfaction.

Timeline

Start

2026-09

Primary completion

2026-12

Completion

2027-01

Publications

• Background Et T, Basaran B, Bilge A, Yarimoglu R, Korkusuz M, Tuluce I. Rebound pain after interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder surgery: a randomized clinical trial of the effect of different multimodal analgesia regimens. Ann Saudi Med. 2023 Nov-Dec;43(6):339-347. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2023.339. Epub 2023 Dec 7.
• Background Kang RA, Jeong JS, Yoo JC, Lee JH, Gwak MS, Choi SJ, Hahm TS, Cho HS, Ko JS. Improvement in postoperative pain control by combined use of intravenous dexamethasone with intravenous dexmedetomidine after interscalene brachial plexus block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2019 May;36(5):360-368. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000977.
• Background Kim Y, Yoo S, Kim SH, Kim H, Bae J, Park SK, Kim JT, Lim YJ. Comparison between low-volume local anesthetic with intravenous dexamethasone and conventional volume without dexamethasone for superior trunk block after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2024 Aug 5;49(8):558-564. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2023-104520.
• Background Buyukgebiz Yesil B, Emmez G, Kanatli U, Oguzulgen IK, Gunaydin B, Gungor I. Impact of interscalene versus superior trunk blocks as sole anesthetics on respiratory outcomes for shoulder arthroscopy: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2026 Jan 14;26(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s12871-025-03575-0.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.