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Not yet recruitingNCT06662175Updated Oct 28, 2024

Role of Dexmedetomidine as Synergistic Agent

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Hyperbaric bupivacaine and hyperbaric bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine in Dexmedetomidine, Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Subarachnoid Anesthesia, sponsored by Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-28.

Sponsored by Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jul 2025, 1 year 4 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
166
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

The aim of this clinical trial is to contribute valuable insights into the role of Dexmedetomidine as a synergistic agent in prolonging subarachnoid block duration, with the overarching goal of enhancing perioperative care and surgical success rates.

Read the detailed description

Dexmedetomidine is a frequently used alpha-2 adrenergic agonist for anesthesia and sedation due to its excellent selectivity. Dexmedetomidine can cause drowsiness, analgesia, and sympathetic reactions when injected intravenously. Dexmedetomidine has been investigated for possible synergistic benefits when used in conjunction with hyperbaric bupivacaine for subarachnoid block, sometimes referred to as spinal anesthesia. Because hyperbaric bupivacaine can produce a rapid onset and a longer duration of sensory and motor blockage, it is a common local anesthetic used in spinal anesthesia.

Numerous research studies have examined the synergistic effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine and hyperbaric bupivacaine in subarachnoid blocks. These effects are primarily observed in terms of extending the duration of sensory and motor blockade, enhancing postoperative analgesia, decreasing intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, and improving patient satisfaction. The mechanism underlying this synergistic effect is believed to be connected to the effects of dexmedetomidine on the central nervous system, which include its capacity to modify pain pathways, improve spinal anesthesia, and produce drowsiness and anxiolysis.

Although the combination of dexmedetomidine with hyperbaric bupivacaine has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in a number of studies, there is still discussion and continuing research over the best time, dosage, and patient selection criteria. As with any anesthesia procedure, the best course of action should be determined after taking into account specific patient considerations such age, comorbidities, and concurrent drugs.

Hameed et al compare the Synergistic effect of Dexmedetomidine on Subarachnoid Block with Hyperbaric Bupivacaine among three groups. In there study Patients in Group 1 received 2 ml of intrathecal bupivacaine; Group 2 received a combination of bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine infusion; and Group 3 received bupivacaine followed by Dexmedetomidine infusion. Their study show that onset time of sensory blockade. The duration of sensory blockade and the rate of recovery of complete sensory block was significantly higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1. The distribution of adverse effect among group 1 and group 2 was, hypotension 20% vs 40%, Bradycadria 8% vs 24%, and Nausea 12% vs 12% respectively.

Previous studies have indicated that Dexmedetomidine can enhance the duration and quality of sensory blockade, improve postoperative analgesia, and reduce opioid consumption when used in conjunction with hyperbaric bupivacaine. Despite these promising findings, further exploration is warranted to elucidate the optimal dosage, timing, and patient selection criteria for Dexmedetomidine administration in subarachnoid blocks. Understanding the mechanistic basis of Dexmedetomidine's synergistic effects on subarachnoid block duration is crucial for refining anesthesia protocols and ultimately improving patient outcomes. By conducting this research study, the investigators aim to contribute valuable insights into the role of Dexmedetomidine as a synergistic agent in prolonging subarachnoid block duration, with the overarching goal of enhancing perioperative care and surgical success rates.

02

Conditions studied

  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Hyperbaric Bupivacaine
  • Subarachnoid Anesthesia
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In context

Lead sponsor

Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Patients of either gender aged between 18 and 65 years.
  2. Patients scheduled for surgical procedures of lower limb requiring subarachnoid anesthesia.
  3. (ASA) physical status classification I or II.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with to subarachnoid anesthesia, including severe coagulopathy, infection at the site of injection, or increased intracranial pressure.
  2. Patients with a history of significant cardiac, respiratory, hepatic, or renal disease.
  3. Pregnant or lactating women.
  4. Patients with a history of substance abuse or dependence.
  5. Patients on chronic opioid therapy or with opioid tolerance.
  6. Patients with neurological deficits affecting sensation or motor function in the lower extremities.
  7. Patients with psychiatric disorders affecting their ability to cooperate during the procedure or follow instructions.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

ASA physical status

The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

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Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
166 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group A Hyperbaric Bupivicaine

    Group A (Unexposed) will received 2 ml of intrathecal bupivacaine.

    Drug: Hyperbaric bupivacaine

  • Experimental
    GROUP B Hyperbaric Bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine

    Group B (Exposed) will receive a combination of bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine infusion.

    Drug: hyperbaric bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine

Interventions

  • Group A (Unexposed) will received 2 ml of intrathecal bupivacaine

  • Drughyperbaric bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine

    Group B (Exposed) will receive a combination of bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine infusion

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluate the efficacy of Dexmedetomidine when used adjunctively with hyperbaric bupivacaine in extending the duration of sensory and motor blockade in subarachnoid anesthesia.

    Sensory Blockade Duration: This refers to the time interval from the administration of the subarachnoid block until the complete recovery of sensory function in the dermatomes affected by the anesthesia. It will be assessed using standardized sensory tests, such as pinprick or cold sensation, within the affected dermatomes. Motor Blockade Duration:It encompasses the time from the onset of motor blockade to the complete recovery of motor function and will assessed by evaluating muscle strength and movement capability using modified Bromage score as 0=Subject is able to lift the leg straight and move the hip, knee and ankle. 1. Subject is unable to lift the leg straight but is able to lift the leg straight but is able to flex the knee and ankle freely. 2. Subject is unable to flex the knee and hip, but is able to flex the ankle. 3. Subject is unable to flex the ankle, knee, and hip, but is able to move toes. 4. No movement in the lower extremity.

    Time frame: periodically motor blockade will be assessed until the achievement of modified Bromage score 3 from giving anesthesia till shifting of the patient to parent ward

Secondary outcomes

  1. Investigate the safety profile of Dexmedetomidine in combination with hyperbaric bupivacaine, in term of adverse events such as hypotension, bradycardia, and patient satisfaction.

    Sedation levels will be assessed using the Ramsay score 1. Awake; agitated or restless or both 2. Awake; cooperative, oriented, and tranquil 3. Awake but responds to commands only 4. Asleep; brisk response to light glabellar tap or loud auditory stimulus 5. Asleep; sluggish response to light glabellar tap or loud auditory stimulus 6. Asleep; no response to glabellar tap or loud auditory stimulus Adverse Event: will be measured in following term Hypotension: defined as a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg or a mean arterial pressure below 60 mm Hg. Bradycardia:defined as a heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute. Patient Satisfaction:defined in terms of subjective assessment of the patient's physical and emotional well-being during the procedure include observed signs of distress, facial expressions, and verbal feedback. Patients' satisfaction will be assessed using a 10cm Visual Analogue Score. Where 10cm denoted maximal satisfaction and 0cm denoted minimal.

    Time frame: till the shifting of patient to parent ward.

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Study locations

1 site
  • Lady Reading Hospital Mti Peshawar Kp Pakistan
    Peshawar, KPK 25000, Pakistan
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References and documents

Publications

  • Sharma A, Varghese N, Venkateswaran R. Effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine versus intravenous dexmedetomidine on subarachnoid anesthesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Jul-Sep;36(3):381-385. doi: 10.4103/joacp.JOACP_323_17. Epub 2020 Sep 14. PubMed 33487907 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — the patients identity will be kept anonymous

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 28, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06662175
Lead sponsor
Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan
Responsible party
Faryal Uzma (Faryal Uzma Prinicipal Investigator, Lady Reading Hospital, Pakistan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 28, 2024
Start date
Nov 2024 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 28, 2024

Study contacts

FARYAL UZMA, MBBS
Contact
faryaluzma1606@gmail.com
+923315138986

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Bupivacaine

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