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CompletedNCT07274670BPSS-DEXUpdated Dec 10, 2025

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block With Dexmedetomidine Versus Without Adjuvant in Thyroid Surgery

An interventional study of Dexmedetomidine & Bupivacaine. and Bupivacain in Thyroid Cancer, Goiter and Hyperthyroidism, sponsored by Udayana University. Completed at 1 site in Indonesia. Open to participants aged 30 Years to 59 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-10.

Sponsored by Udayana University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 4 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Jul 2025, registered Nov 2025).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
58
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
30 Years to 59 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Efficacy of Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) with Dexmedetomidine Adjuvant Compared to Without Adjuvant in Thyroid Surgery. This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding perineural dexmedetomidine to a Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) for pain management in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. The study aims to prove that SCPB with dexmedetomidine adjuvant provides superior post-operative analgesia, lowers total opioid consumption, prolongs the time until the first analgesic request, and reduces the incidence of chronic pain three months post-surgery compared to SCPB without the adjuvant. The study will also evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect by measuring the reduction in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels post-operatively and compare the incidence of bradycardia as a side effect. The total required sample size is 58 subjects.

Read the detailed description

Thyroid surgery is a major procedure often associated with acute and chronic postoperative pain in the neck area. Chronic post-surgical pain can significantly affect the patient's long-term quality of life. Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) is an effective regional anesthesia technique used to manage perioperative pain and reduce the need for postoperative opioids. However, achieving an optimal duration of analgesia remains a challenge. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha_2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is frequently used as an adjuvant to prolong the analgesic effect of nerve blocks. Studies have shown that combining dexmedetomidine with SCPB provides better and longer-lasting analgesia. Dexmedetomidine also possesses anti-inflammatory properties, potentially lowering the level of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a biomarker of inflammation often elevated after surgery that can exacerbate pain. The effectiveness of SCPB with dexmedetomidine adjuvant, particularly in reducing inflammation and chronic pain incidence, has not been widely explored locally at RSUP Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah.Study Objectives: The primary goal is to prove the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine as an SCPB adjuvant in thyroid surgery, assessed by acute and chronic pain outcomes. Acute Pain Outcomes: Measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores at 6, 12, and 24 hours post-operation, time to first Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) button press, total opioid consumption via PCA over 24 hours, and changes in the inflammatory biomarker Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Chronic Pain Outcomes: Measured by the incidence of chronic pain three months post-surgery using the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) questionnaire. Safety Outcome: Measured by the incidence of bradycardia. Correlations: To prove the correlation between the change in Interleukin-6 levels with 24-hour pain scores and the incidence of chronic pain.Study Design and Intervention: This is a true experimental study with a double-blinded randomized pre- and post-control group design. Group P1 (Intervention): Patients receive SCPB with 0.375% Bupivacaine plus 0.5 mcg/kgbw Dexmedetomidine (total volume 20 mL, injected 10 mL on each side). Group P2 (Control): Patients receive SCPB with 0.375% Bupivacaine only (total volume 20 mL, injected 10 mL on each side).All procedures are performed under general anesthesia with Ultrasound guidance. Analgesia management includes PCA Fentanyl and combination analgesics (Paracetamol and Ibuprofen). The minimum required sample size is 58 subjects.

02

Conditions studied

  • Thyroid Cancer
  • Goiter
  • Hyperthyroidism

Keywords

  • Superficial Cervical Plexus Block
  • SCPB
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Thyroidectomy
  • Postoperative Pain
  • Chronic Pain
03

In context

Thyroid Neoplasms

785 studies on the registry are indexed under Thyroid Neoplasms; 204 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 58 is close to the median of 53 across 520 interventional studies indexed under Thyroid Neoplasms.

Browse Thyroid Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Udayana University is the lead sponsor of 34 studies on the registry; 8 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
30 Years to 59 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

  • Patients aged 30-59 years.
  • Patients with classification I-III.
  • Patients with (BMI) between 18 and 25 kg/m

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with for regional anesthesia.
  • Patients with a history of disease.
  • Presence of infection in the puncture area.
  • Patients with allergies and contraindications to the use of dexmedetomidine.
  • Patients on routine medication, including beta-blockers, anti-depressants, or anti-seizure medications.
  • Prolonged opioid use.
  • Patients unable to be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) or unable to operate the Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device.
  • Patients who refuse to participate in the study.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

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.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

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.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
58 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    SCPB with Dexmedetomidine Adjuvant

    Patients receive Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) with Bupivacaine 0.375% and Dexmedetomidine 0.5 mcg/kgbw

    Drug: Dexmedetomidine & Bupivacaine.

  • Active comparator
    SCPB with Placebo/No Adjuvant

    Patients receive Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) with Bupivacaine 0.375% only (without Dexmedetomidine adjuvant).

    Drug: Bupivacain

Interventions

  • DrugDexmedetomidine & Bupivacaine.

    Drug pages: Dexmedetomidine · Bupivacaine

    Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) performed under ultrasound guidance (in-plane technique). The regimen consists of Bupivacaine 0.375% with the adjuvant Dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.5 mcg/kgbw. The total volume injected is 20 mL (10 mL on each side) into the fascial space between the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the prevertebral fascia. The block is performed after induction of general anesthesia

    Also known as: Dexmedetomidine, Bupivacaine, BPSS

  • Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) performed under ultrasound guidance (in-plane technique). The regimen consists of Bupivacaine 0.375% only. The total volume injected is 20 mL (10 mL on each side) \[cite\_start\], supplemented with Saline/Placebo to match the volume and appearance of the active drug. The block is performed after induction of general anesthesia.

    Also known as: Bupivacaine, BPSS

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time to First Request for Opioid Analgesia (PCA Button Press)

    From the time of PCA activation in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) until the completion of the first 24 hours post-operation. The cumulative consumption of Fentanyl (in micrograms) is recorded from the PCA device's counter, with the assessment period duration calculated precisely in minutes

    Time frame: up to 24 hours post-operation ( 1440 minutes )

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at 6, 12, and 24 Hours Post-Operation

    Assessment of acute pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-100 mm, where 0 is no pain and 100 is the worst pain imaginable).

    Time frame: 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours post-operation.

  2. Total Fentanyl Opioid Consumption in the First 24 Hours Post-Operation

    The total amount of fentanyl (in mcg) consumed by the patient via the Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) device.

    Time frame: 24 hours post-operation

  3. Change in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Level Post-Operation

    The delta change ($\\Delta$) in plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration (in pg/mL) comparing the pre-operative baseline to the 24-hour post-operative measurement.

    Time frame: Measured as the difference between 24 hours post-operation and pre-general anesthesia.

  4. Incidence of Chronic Pain at 3 Months Post-Operation

    Incidence of Chronic Post-Surgical Pain (CPSP) defined by the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) score (any score \> 0) lasting longer than three months.

    Time frame: 3 months post-operation (90 days)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah Central General Hospital
    Denpasar, Bali 80114, Indonesia
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 10, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07274670
Lead sponsor
Udayana University
Responsible party
Lya Lusyana (Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Specialist Program Resident Doctor, Udayana University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 10, 2025
Start date
Jul 1, 2025
Primary completion
Oct 30, 2025
Completion
Nov 10, 2025
Last update
Dec 10, 2025

Study contacts

Lya Lusyana, dr.
study chair · Universitas Udayana
Pontisomaya Parami, Sp.An
study director · Universitas Udayana
I Gusti Ngurah Mahaalit Arimbawa, Sp.An
study director · Universitas Udayana

Oversight

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

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Discussion

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Studies of the drugs tested here: Dexmedetomidine · Bupivacaine

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