Ketamine Versus Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant in Scalp Block in Supratentorial Brain Tumor Excision Surgeries

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Regional Anesthesia Morbidity, Supratentorial Brain Tumor, Acute Pain

In brief

Supratentorial brain tumor surgeries are associated with significant nociceptive stimulation and postoperative pain, which may adversely affect patient outcomes. Scalp block has emerged as an effective regional anesthetic technique to improve analgesia and reduce opioid consumption. Objective: To compare efficacy of ketamine versus dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in scalp blocks for supratentorial brain tumor surgeries, focusing on analgesia, opioid consumption, and hemodynamic stability. Methods: This randomized double-blinded controlled trial included 80 patients undergoing supratentorial tumor excision, allocated equally into two groups: Group K received bupivacaine with ketamine (2 mg/kg), and Group D received bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg). Intraoperative hemodynamics, fentanyl consumption, postoperative pain scores (NRS), analgesic requirements, and complications were assessed.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07698665

Run by

Cairo University

People needed

90

Starts

2026-01-01

Expected to finish

2026-07-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-13

Who can join

Age: 20 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age from 20 to 60 years, both sexes, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II-III, Supratentorial tumor excision, Supine Position.
• and operation time: less than 6 hours.

You may not qualify if…

• Patient refusal, disturbed consciousness level (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] < 15). Patients who required reintubation during the study period, those not extubated. immediately after surgery, or those who awoke with neurological deficits impairing. pain assessments were excluded from the final analysis, history of psychotic disorders or previous surgeries, Poor cognitive function.
• Postictal state or uncontrolled/recurrent seizures, known allergy to dexmedetomidine or ketamine, difficult intubation (Mallampati score > III) or multiple intubation attempts, operation duration > 6 hours, renal dysfunction (creatinine > 1.2 mg/dL, BUN > 20 mg/dL), heart block and patients with chronic headache disorders or those receiving chronic analgesic therapy (for >3 months) were excluded.

Where it is running

• Cairo university — Cairo, Governorate, Egypt (enrolling)
• Cairo university Hospitals. kasralainy — Cairo, Egypt (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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