Märit Lundblad1,2, Mehdi Trifa3, Olfa Kaabachi4, Sonia Ben Khalifa3, Amjed Fekih Hassen3, Thomas Engelhardt5, Staffan Eksborg6, Per-Arne Lönnqvist1,2. 1. Department of Paediatric Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Section of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Children Hospital Bechir Hamza, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. 4. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Kassab Orthopedic Institute, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia. 5. Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Aberdeen, UK. 6. Childhood Cancer Research Unit Q6:05, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adult meta-analyses have verified that adjunct use of alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists (A2AA) together with local anesthetics (LA) will prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blocks. The standard use of A2AAs for peripheral nerve blockade has recently been recommended also in children, but the evidence base in support of this suggestion has to date been equivocal. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to produce evidence-based data regarding the effect in children. METHODS: Following a thorough literature search, five randomized controlled trials were included in a meta-analysis. Raw data from all studies were gathered and aggregated into patients randomized to receive plain LA (Group PLA) or LA mixed with either adjunct clonidine or dexmedetomidine (Group ADJ). The main outcome parameter was block duration (time to first administration of supplemental analgesic based on predetermined pain scores) analyzed by survival statistics. The total number of supplemental analgesic doses during the first 24 postoperative hours and serious side effects were included as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Pooling of the study data generated 141 patients in Group PLA and 142 patients in Group ADJ (overall n = 283; age: 0.8-13 years; weight 8-47 kg). Block duration was significantly prolonged (9.75 h vs 3.75 h) compared to the use of plain LA. Survival statistics verified a beneficial effect of using adjunct A2AAs [the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test (P = 0.0078), Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test (P = 0.0027), and hazard ratio (1.653; 95% CI: 1.142 to 2.395)]. The number of patients that needed ≥ 2 doses of supplemental analgesics was higher in Group PLA (n = 19) compared to Group ADJ (n = 6) (P = 0.0088). No serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides evidence-based support for the use of adjunct alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists when performing peripheral nerve blocks in children.
BACKGROUND: Adult meta-analyses have verified that adjunct use of alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists (A2AA) together with local anesthetics (LA) will prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blocks. The standard use of A2AAs for peripheral nerve blockade has recently been recommended also in children, but the evidence base in support of this suggestion has to date been equivocal. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to produce evidence-based data regarding the effect in children. METHODS: Following a thorough literature search, five randomized controlled trials were included in a meta-analysis. Raw data from all studies were gathered and aggregated into patients randomized to receive plain LA (Group PLA) or LA mixed with either adjunct clonidine or dexmedetomidine (Group ADJ). The main outcome parameter was block duration (time to first administration of supplemental analgesic based on predetermined pain scores) analyzed by survival statistics. The total number of supplemental analgesic doses during the first 24 postoperative hours and serious side effects were included as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Pooling of the study data generated 141 patients in Group PLA and 142 patients in Group ADJ (overall n = 283; age: 0.8-13 years; weight 8-47 kg). Block duration was significantly prolonged (9.75 h vs 3.75 h) compared to the use of plain LA. Survival statistics verified a beneficial effect of using adjunct A2AAs [the log rank (Mantel-Cox) test (P = 0.0078), Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test (P = 0.0027), and hazard ratio (1.653; 95% CI: 1.142 to 2.395)]. The number of patients that needed ≥ 2 doses of supplemental analgesics was higher in Group PLA (n = 19) compared to Group ADJ (n = 6) (P = 0.0088). No serious side effects were reported. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis provides evidence-based support for the use of adjunct alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists when performing peripheral nerve blocks in children.