The Effect of Ketamine and Dexamethasone in Combination with Lidocaine on the Onset and Duration of Axillary Block in Hand and Forearm Soft Tissue Surgery

Effectiveness of Adding Dexamethasone to Lidocaine in Upper Limbs Nerve Blocks: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

The use of perineural dexamethasone as an adjuvant drug to peripheral nerve block for postoperative pain is controversial. This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of adding dexamethasone to lidocaine in upper limb nerve blocks.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

This review used a comprehensive search strategy to retrieve relevant published randomized trial articles that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, without time limits, (until December 2023) that assessed the effects of a combination of dexamethasone to lidocaine in upper limb nerve blocks. The databases used for the electronic literature search included PubMed, Embase, and Clinical Trials.gov, dbGaP, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar. There was no language, gender, or age limitation. This systematic review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement.

FINDINGS

Of 3,926 articles identified by the initial search, 8 studies that met our inclusion criteria. All articles were original research studies. All eight articles were clinical trials. The sample size in the selected studies ranged from 30 to 90 people. Studies demonstrated that combining dexamethasone with lidocaine significantly improved the quality of peripheral nerve blocks, increased the analgesia period, and decreased analgesic consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

This review supported that the combination of dexamethasone (dose of 4 to 10 mg) and lidocaine (concentration of 1.5% to 2%) for upper limb block was more effective and beneficial without any side effects. However, further clinical trials in this regard with more data, various regions, and larger sample sizes to support our hypothesis are recommended.

Effectiveness of perineural administration of dexamethasone with lidocaine on onset time of sensory block and early postoperative analgesia in axillary brachial plexus block: a prospective cohort study, Ethiopia

Introduction

The axillary brachial plexus block is a popular nerve block for forearm, wrist, and hand surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of perineural administration of dexamethasone as an adjunct to lidocaine with adrenaline on the onset of sensory block and early postoperative analgesia in trans-arterial axillary brachial plexus block.

Methodology

This single-centered prospective cohort study recruited 68 adult patients, 34 in each groups. The frequently used 8 mg dexamethasone combined with 1% lidocaine and adrenaline was investigated. The normality of the data was checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test. An independent t-test was used to compare the mean values of symmetric numeric data. Categorical variables between the two groups were analyzed using χ2. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kaplan-Meier method using the log-rank test were used to compare asymmetric numeric data, and a P-value of <0.05 was considered as significant.

Results

The median onset time of sensory block was comparable between the nonexposed (24(6) min) and exposed group (24(6) min) (P=0.068). However, the duration of sensory block was significantly longer in the exposed group (235.5±37.51 min) than the nonexposed group (172.76±28.19 min) (P<0.001). The time to the first analgesic request was significantly longer in the exposed than the nonexposed group (P<0.01). Postoperative pain scores were significantly lower at 4 and 8 h in the exposed group (P<0.05).

Conclusion and recommendations

The addition of 8 mg dexamethasone to 1% lidocaine with adrenaline solution in trans-arterial axillary brachial plexus block for ambulatory elective hand, wrist, and forearm surgeries prolonged the duration of sensory blockade and the first analgesic request time but did not reduce the onset time of sensory block. The authors recommend the addition of 8 mg dexamethasone to 1% lidocaine with adrenaline solution to prolong the duration of sensory block and the first analgesic request time.

The effect of adjuvants added to local anaesthetics for single-injection upper extremity peripheral regional anaesthesia: A systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Peripheral regional anaesthesia is frequently used for upper extremity surgery. To prolong the duration of analgesia, adjuvants can be added to single-injection local anaesthetics. Despite attempts to compare several adjuvants in pairwise meta-analyses, a comprehensive comparison is still missing.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this network meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of adjuvants in upper extremity peripheral nerve blocks.

DESIGN

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials with network meta-analyses.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search in Embase, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Web of Science was performed up to March 2023.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomised trials comparing different adjuvants injected perineurally in peripheral upper extremity nerve blocks were eligible. Frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted using a random effects model with physiological saline as the comparator. The primary endpoint was the ratio of means (ROM) of the duration of analgesia.

RESULTS

The review included 242 randomised controlled trials with a total of 17 391 patients. Twenty-eight adjuvants were compared in the largest networks. Most network estimations consisted of a high proportion of direct evidence. Fourteen adjuvants increased the duration of analgesia significantly by the following factors, ROM [95% confidence interval (CI)]: dexamethasone 1.95 (1.79 to 2.13), buprenorphine 1.83 (1.51 to 2.24), butorphanol 1.84 (1.41 to 2.39), potassium chloride 1.89 (1.15 to 3.11), dexmedetomidine 1.70 (1.59 to 1.81), sufentanil 1.70 (1.27 to 2.29), ketorolac 1.68 (1.24 to 2.27), midazolam 1.55 (1.24 to 1.94), tramadol 1.52 (1.32 to 1.75), nalbuphine 1.50 (1.30 to 1.72), morphine 1.43 (1.09 to 1.88), magnesium sulfate 1.42 (1.20 to 1.67), clonidine 1.36 (1.24 to 1.50) and fentanyl 1.23 (1.08 to 1.40). Inconsistency in network meta-analysis was substantial. Overall side effect rates were low with all adjuvants.

CONCLUSION

The best interventions to prolong the duration of analgesia were dexamethasone, followed by dexmedetomidine, opioids, electrolytes, ketorolac and midazolam. There are general concerns about the quality of underlying studies and the risk of publication bias.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018115722.

Comparison of the Effect of Intercostobrachial Nerve Block with and Without Ultrasound Guidance on Tourniquet Pain After Axillary Block of Brachial Plexus: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

A tourniquet is used to control bleeding in the surgical field. Because part of the inner arm is innervated by the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN), a tourniquet can cause intolerable pain.

Objectives

The present study aimed to compare the effect of ICBN block with and without ultrasound (US) guidance on tourniquet pain after axillary block.

Methods

This study was performed on 60 patients who were candidates for surgery. The patients were divided into 3 groups: the control group (n = 22), the traditional ICBN (TICBN) blockade group (n = 19), and the US-guided ICBN blockade group (n = 19). After the intervention, the duration of the onset and intensity of pain was recorded for all patients according to the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results

No significant differences were observed in demographic variables between the 3 groups (P > 0.05). The pain intensity in the TICBN blockade (P = 0.001) and US-guided ICBN blockade (P = 0.001) groups was significantly less than in the control group. The mean duration of pain onset was significantly higher in the TICBN blockade (P = 0.021) and US-guided ICBN blockade (P = 0.013) groups than in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the mean of pain intensity (P = 0.48) and the mean duration of pain onset (P = 0.44) between the US-guided ICBN blockade and TICBN blockade groups.

Conclusions

The pain caused by a tourniquet can be managed by ICBN block during hand and forearm surgery. It is recommended to use US guidance for more success and safety.

Efficacy of Ketamine versus Magnesium Sulphate as Adjuvants to Levobupivacaine in Ultrasound Bilevel Erector Spinae Block in Breast Cancer Surgery (a Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Study)

Purpose

Breast surgeons seek simple, safe, effective, and novel regional anesthesia techniques for postoperative analgesia. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a new ultrasound-guided technique. We aimed to explore the analgesic effect of adding ketamine and magnesium sulfate as adjuvants to levobupivacaine in ESP.

Patients and Methods

Sixty female patients (aged 18-60 years) with breast cancer, weighing 50-90 kg who were scheduled for modified radical mastectomy (MRM) were randomly allocated into three groups (20 patients each) to receive an ESP block with 20 mL 0.25% levobupivacaine with adjuvants according to the following groups: group C: levobupivacaine; group K: levobupivacaine + 2 mg/kg ketamine; and group M: levobupivacaine + 2 mg/kg magnesium sulfate. The block was administered preoperatively before anesthesia induction. Postoperatively, hemodynamics, visual analog scale scores, the first request for analgesia, total analgesic consumption, and side effects were observed for 48 hours.

Results

The total amount of Morphine rescue analgesia was significantly lower in groups M (7.00 ± 0.61 mg) and K (7.50 ± 0.58 mg) than in group C (14.40 ± 3.47 mg) during the first 48 h postoperatively. Nine (45%) patients in group M and 13 (65%) patients in K, compared with 20 (100%) patients in group C, requested analgesia. The time to first request of analgesia was significantly longer in groups M (30 h) and K (24 h) than in group C (7 h). No hemodynamic changes or serious side effects were observed.

Conclusion

Magnesium sulphate and ketamine seem to be both effective adjuvants to levobupivacaine in ESP blocks for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing MRM, with slightly better analgesia provided by magnesium sulphate.

Advantages of ketamine in pediatric anesthesia

Although ketamine is primarily used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, it also presents sedative, amnestic, anesthetics, analgesic, antihyperalgesia, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulant, and antidepressant effects. Its unique pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties allow the use of ketamine in various clinical settings including sedation, ambulatory anesthesia, and intensive care practices. It has also adopted to manage acute and chronic pain management. Clinically, ketamine produces dissociative sedation, analgesia, and amnesia while maintaining laryngeal reflexes, with respiratory and cardiovascular stability. Notably, it does not cause respiratory depression, maintaining both the hypercapnic reflex and the residual functional capacity with a moderate bronchodilation effect. In the pediatric population, ketamine can be administered through practically all routes, making it an advantageous drug for the sedation required setting such as placement of difficult vascular access and in uncooperative and oppositional children. Consequently, ketamine is indicated in prehospital induction of anesthesia, induction of anesthesia in potentially hemodynamic unstable patients, and in patients at risk of bronchospasm. Even more, ketamine does not increase intracranial pressure, and it can be safely used also in patients with traumatic brain injuries. This article is aimed to provide a brief and practical summary of the role of ketamine in the pediatric field.

Adjuvant Drugs for Peripheral Nerve Blocks: The Role of Alpha-2 Agonists, Dexamethasone, Midazolam, and Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Adjuvant drugs for peripheral nerve blocks are a promising solution to acute postoperative pain and the transition to chronic pain treatment. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) are used in the brachial plexus, lumbar plexus, femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, and many other anatomic locations for site-specific pain relief. However, the duration of action of a PNB is limited without an adjuvant drug. The use of non-opioid adjuvant drugs for single-shot peripheral nerve blocks (sPNB), such as alpha-2 agonists, dexamethasone, midazolam, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can extend the duration of local anesthetics and reduce the dose-dependent adverse effects of local anesthetics. Tramadol is a weak opioid that acts as a central analgesic. It can block voltage-dependent sodium and potassium channels, cause serotonin release, and inhibit norepinephrine reuptake and can also be used as an adjuvant in PNBs. However, tramadol's effectiveness and safety as an adjuvant to local anesthetic for PNB are inconsistent. The effects of the adjuvants on neurotoxicity must be further evaluated with further studies to delineate the safety in their use in PNB. Further research needs to be done. However, the use of adjuvants in PNB can be a way to help control postoperative pain.

Analgesic Effect of the Topical Use of Dexamethasone in Ultrasound-Guided Axillary Brachial Plexus Blockade: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Introduction

Increasing the duration of regional anesthesia in orthopedic surgery is of vital importance, as it prolongs postoperative analgesia, allowing faster rehabilitation of patients. Dexamethasone has been found to extend the block duration in animal and human studies. The aim of this study is the assessment of the effect of the addition of dexamethasone to ropivacaine on the onset and duration of axillary brachial plexus block, along with the intensity of postoperative pain.

Methods

Forty patients undergoing below-elbow surgery under ultrasound-guided axillary brachial plexus block were randomly allocated to receive either 30 mL ropivacaine 0.75% with 2 mL of saline (Group A, n = 20) or 30 mL ropivacaine 0.75% with 2 mL of dexamethasone (4 mg) (Group B, n = 20). Sensory and motor blockade were assessed, with the use of the pinprick test and the modified Bromage scale, at five, 10, 15, and 20 min after the block. The duration of analgesia, intensity of postoperative pain, postoperative opioid consumption, overall satisfaction, and perioperative complications were compared between the two groups.

Results

We found no difference at the mean onset time of the sensory and motor block between the two groups. The mean duration of postoperative analgesia was three hours higher in the dexamethasone group (15.85 ± 4.82 versus 11.75 ± 6.81, p-value = 0.035). Pain intensity was lower in the dexamethasone group, at six and 12 hours after surgery (3.45 ± 1.79 versus 4.65 ± 1.79, p-value = 0.040). Postoperative opioid consumption, patient overall satisfaction, and perioperative complications were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusions

Dexamethasone prolongs the duration of ropivacaine in an axillary brachial plexus block and decreases postoperative pain in patients subjected to below-elbow surgery.

Utilization of Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion for the Treatment of Refractory Chronic Pain

Context

Chronic pain accounts for one of the most common reasons patients seek medical care. The financial burden of chronic pain on health care is seen by direct financial cost and resource utilization. Many risk factors may contribute to chronic pain, but there is no definite risk. Managing chronic pain is a balance between maximally alleviating symptoms by utilizing a therapeutic regimen that is safe for long-term use. Currently, non-opioid analgesics, NSAIDs, and opioids are some of the medical treatment options, but these have numerous adverse effects and may not be the best option for long-term use. However, Lidocaine can achieve both central and peripheral analgesic effects with relatively few side effects, which may be an ideal compound for managing chronic pain.

Evidence Acquisition

This is a Narrative Review.

Results

Infusion of lidocaine (2-(diethylamino)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)acetamide), an amino-amide compound, is emerging as a promising option to fill the therapeutic void for treatment of chronic pain. Numerous studies have outlined dosing protocols for lidocaine infusion for the management of perioperative pain, outlined below. While there are slight variations in these different protocols, they all center around a similar dosing regimen to administer a bolus to reach a rapid steady state, followed by infusion for up to 72 hours to maintain the therapeutic analgesic effects.

Conclusions

Lidocaine may be a promising pharmacologic solution with a low side effect profile that provides central and peripheral analgesia. Even though the multifaceted mechanism is not entirely understood yet, lidocaine may be a promising novel remedy in treating chronic pain in various conditions.

Comparison of Magnesium Sulfate and Ketamine with Ropivacaine in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block offers good operating conditions with limited postoperative analgesia. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) and ketamine block peripheral nociception mediated via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MgSO₄ and ketamine on the duration of analgesia in brachial block.

Settings and Design:

This was a prospective, randomized, controlled double-blind study.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and five adult patients were randomly divided into three groups: Group I = 27 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine; Group II = 27 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine + 250 mg MgSO₄; and Group II = 27 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine + 2 mg.kg⁻¹ ketamine. Normal saline was added to make a total volume of 30 mL. The onset and duration of the sensorimotor blockade, quality and duration of postoperative analgesia, and adverse effects were assessed.

Statistical Analysis:

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, version 17.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Chi-square test was used for nonparametric and ANOVA for parametric data. Post hoc Student's paired t-test was applied wherever indicated. The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation or numbers (%). P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

The duration of analgesia was significantly longer in Group II (8.78 ± 0.97 h) compared to Group I (6.76 ± 0.92 h; P < 0.001) and Group III (7.1 ± 0.89 h; P < 0.001). Intervention groups had lower postoperative visual analog scores at 8, 12, and 24 h compared to the control group. Sedation, nystagmus, and hallucinations were observed in Group III.

Conclusion:

The addition of MgSO₄ to ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia. MgSO₄ improves the quality of postoperative analgesia with lesser incidence of side effects when compared to ketamine.

Comparison of the Ketamine-Lidocaine and Fentanyl-Lidocaine in Postoperative Analgesia in Axillary Block in Upper Limb Fractures By Ultrasound Guidance

Background

Regional anesthesia provides safe anesthesia for upper extremity surgery. Axillary plexus block approach for hand and forearm surgery is commonly used. The use of adjuvants in combination with local anesthetics for peripheral nerve blocks enhances the quality and duration of anesthesia and postoperative analgesia.

Methods

This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 60 patients who were candidates for the surgery of upper extremity fractures with ASA I and II classes. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups (n = 30). The intervention group 1 received 4 mg/kg lidocaine 1% and 50 µg fentanyl and the intervention group 2 received 4 mg/kg lidocaine 1% and 30 mg ketamine during the axillary block. After the necessary monitoring, a pinprick test was performed to evaluate sensory block, and a three-point scale test for the motor block was performed for median, ulnar, radial and musculocutaneous nerves. The duration of postoperative analgesia, the time of the first request for a painkiller, and the amount of opioid received were compared in the two groups.

Results

Onset of sensory and motor block was shorter in the fentanyl group but did not differ significantly. The sensory and motor block length was slightly higher in the fentanyl group, but no significant difference was observed. The severity of pain (VAS) and the mean of received opioid (pethidine) were significantly lower in the fentanyl group 24 hours after the surgery (P < 0.0001). The duration of postoperative analgesia and the time of the first request for painkiller were longer in the fentanyl group, but there was no significant difference.

Conclusions

The severity of pain and analgesic intake in the fentanyl group decreased significantly. Therefore, fentanyl is a better drug than ketamine for using as an adjuvant in the axillary block.