Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant for Suprazygomatic Maxillary Nerve Block in Children's Adenotonsillectomy

Launched by MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE/RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE MCGILL UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE · Jun 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the use of a medication called dexmedetomidine to help manage pain in children who are having a specific surgery called adenotonsillectomy, which involves removing the tonsils and adenoids. The researchers want to see if using dexmedetomidine alongside a local anesthetic (ropivacaine) can lead to less pain after surgery and improve how well the children recover at home without needing opioids, which are strong pain medications.

To be eligible for the trial, children must be scheduled for this type of surgery and show signs of significant sleep-related breathing issues. Parents must speak either French or English to participate. During the study, children will receive the nerve block during surgery and will be monitored afterward for their pain levels, how much pain medication they need, and their overall recovery. They will also answer questions about their pain and recovery for a week after the surgery. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to help improve pain management strategies for children undergoing this common procedure.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Scheduled for elective partial adenotonsillectomy,
• • STUBR score ≥ 3, indicating significant sleep-disordered breathing
• • Patients whose parents are fluent in French of English will be enrolled
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Scheduled to undergo total extracapsular adenotonsillectomy or adenoidectomy-only procedures
• • Patient requires prolonged intubation postoperatively
• • the anesthesiologist does not adhere to the standardized anesthesia protocol
• • Patients with neurological or cardiac congenital deficits, with cardiac arrhythmias (non-sinus rhythm), implanted pacemakers, on chronic therapy with drugs that have known effects on sympathetic and parasympathetic activity (antimuscarinics, beta-2 adrenergic agonists, alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists or antiarrhythmic agents, tricyclic antidepressants)
• • ASA physical status III or higher
• • Parent/legal guardians refuses to participate
• • Patients scheduled for surgery without an appointment at the Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) Preoperative Clinic will not be enrolled in the study.