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Dexmedetomidine Use in SZMN Blocks for Pediatric T&A Pain Control

Dexmedetomidine Use in Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve Blocks for Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Pain Control

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05208892
Enrollment
114
Registered
2022-01-26
Start date
2024-01-29
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2026-03-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Opioid Use, Postoperative Pain

Keywords

Suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block, Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, Regional Anesthesia, Dexmedetomidine, Pediatric

Brief summary

The suprazygomatic maxillary nerve (SZMN) block is a well-established, safe and effective regional technique for pain management following cleft palate procedures. However, it has not been studied for patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) procedures. The goal of this study is to determine whether the SZMN block can be utilized to improve pain control and decrease morbidity in pediatric patients undergoing T&A. An additional goal will be to determine whether the use of dexmedetomidine as a local anesthetic adjunct can prolong the analgesic effects of the SZMN block to cover the entire duration of pain experienced.

Detailed description

Patients between 6 months and 18 years undergoing T&A surgical procedures will be reviewed for potential study enrollment. If participants agree to participate, they will be randomized into one of the three groups: * the suprazygomatic maxillary nerve (SZMN) block treatment cohort * the SZMN block with Dexmedetomidine treatment cohort * the control cohort (standard of care). After anesthesia induction, patients randomized into the SZMN-treatment group or SZMN+Dexmedetomidine treatment group will receive bilateral single injection SZMN blocks under general anesthesia in the operating room. Participants enrolled into the control group will receive the standard of care with no changes to their anesthetic or surgical care. This group will not receive the SZMN block. Postoperative pain scores and opioid consumption for all three groups will be collected in the PACU and for each postoperative day for a total of 14 postoperative days. We will also collect the following data: time to discharge readiness, postoperative nausea/vomiting, emergence delirium, oxygen desaturation and respiratory events, ability to tolerate oral intake, bleeding, hospital readmission, and adverse events related to the nerve block.

Interventions

PROCEDURESZMN block

Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve (SZMN) Blocks bilaterally

PROCEDURESZMN block with Dexmedetomidine

Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve (SZMN) Blocks with local anesthetic and Dexmedetomidine bilaterally

Sponsors

Stanford University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Masking description

All three groups will receive a small circular band-aid on their temples (site of suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block placement).

Intervention model description

Patients in the two intervention groups will receive bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block such that 5 mL of local anesthetic is deposited on each side. Patients in the SZMN+Dexmedetomidine group will receive Dexmedetomidine in addition to the local anesthetic with placement of the suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block (0.25 mcg/kg on each side for a total dose of 5 mcg/kg, max 20 mcg total).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Months to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Ages 6 months - 18 years * Give consent/parental consent to participate in study * Patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

Exclusion criteria

* Participants who do not consent or have parental consent * Patients who require urgent/emergent intervention * Patients who undergo additional combined surgical procedures with separate incisions (in addition to the adenotonsillectomy) * Patients with known difficult airway, clinical hemodynamic instability, coagulopathy, chronic pain history, chronic pain medication use, and unrepaired congenital heart disease * Patients under age 6 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative Surgical PainTime Frame: 14 days after surgeryPatients will rate their pain on a 0-10 scale
Postoperative Opioid ConsumptionTime Frame: 14 days after surgeryAmount of pain medications consumed by patients will be recorded

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Post-operative nausea, vomiting, delirium, ability to tolerate oral intake, bleeding, respiratory events, hospital readmission, time to discharge readinessTime Frame: 14 days after surgeryAdverse events following the procedure will be monitored and recorded
Complications from blockTime Frame: 14 days after surgeryNerve block complications will be monitored and recorded

Countries

United States

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORBan CH Tsui, MD

Stanford University

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORStephanie Pan, MD

Stanford University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 11, 2026