Ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block for analgesia in patients undergoing craniotomy via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

IntroductionScalp nerve block has been proven to be an alternative choice to opioids in multimodal analgesia. However, for the infratentorial space-occupying craniotomy, especially the suboccipital retrosigmoid craniotomy, scalp nerve block is insufficient.Methods and analysisThe study is a prospective, single-centre, randomised, paralleled-group controlled trial. Patients scheduled to receive elective suboccipital retrosigmoid craniotomy will be randomly assigned to the superficial cervical plexus block group or the control group. After anaesthesia induction, superficial cervical plexus nerve block will be performed under the guidance of ultrasound. The primary outcome is the cumulative consumption of sufentanil by the patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump within 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include the cumulative consumption of sufentanil at other four time points and numerical rating scale pain severity score.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol (version number: 2.0, 10 April 2019) has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee of China Registered Clinical Trials (Ethics Review No. ChiECRCT-20190047). The findings of this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberNCT04036812

The Efficacy of Scalp Nerve Block in Postoperative Pain Management after Microvascular Decompression: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The skin was sterilized with 2% chlorhexidine after protecting the patient’s eye with gauze. An ultrasound-guided or blinded scalp nerve block using a 26-gauge needle was performed [ 21 ] ( Figure 1 ). For the local anesthetic, 0.5% ropivacaine was prepared.…”

Ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block reduces opioid consumption in patients undergoing craniotomy via suboccipital retrosigmoid approach: a randomized controlled trial

“…The trial was registered in www.ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04036812) on July 30, 2019, with principal investigator YP. The treatment protocol for this study was published previously 21. The participants were recruited 1 day before surgery and provided written informed consent before enrollment.…”

“…After anesthesia induction and before skull pin fixation, SCPB was performed with ultrasound (Noblus, Hitachi Company, Tokyo, Japan) guidance by one of two anesthesiologists who did not participate in intraoperative anesthesia management and had at least 10-year experience using nerve blocks. The procedure is shown in online supplemental figure S1 and the details were presented in a previously published protocol 21…”