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NCT Number: NCT04266665

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Brain Homeostasis and Neurocognitive Outcome

Brain tumor surgery is commonly associated with different degrees of preoperative intracranial hypertension and surrounding tumor edema, elicited by tumor underlying pathophysiology. During craniotomy for brain tumor resection maintenance of hemodynamic stability and intracranial homoeostasis is of paramount importance. Disordered hemodynamics or adverse stress may activate the immune inflammation or neuroendocrine responses and lead to a surge of inflammatory mediators and stress hormones, which are implicated in secondary brain insults.

Adverse physiological responses caused by intraoperative disordered hemodynamics or surgery-related damage, may lead to some secondary brain injury (such as cerebral edema or cerebral hemorrhage), aggravating damage to brain tissue and affecting the recovery from anesthesia, cognition and prognosis in patients.

Prevention of secondary brain injury is a key-endpoint to improve clinical outcomes in glioma patients undergoing craniotomy.

Alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists have been widely used for sedation, analgesia and anti-sympathetic actions for many years, but the definite evidence of their potential use as neuroprotectants has so far been confined to animal studies, yet the findings are inconsistent.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been demonstrated to be a new type a2 adrenergic receptor (a2-AR) agonist, which can selectively bind with the a1 and a2 adrenergic receptor, and playing a dual role by restraining the activity of sympathetic nervous and stimulating the vagus nerve. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) also plays an important role in in inhibiting inflammatory and neuroendocrine responses. Animal experiments showed that the right must have a dexmedetomidine neuro-protective effect. However, the brain-protective effect of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia of craniotomy resection of glioma has not been reported.

Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of dexmedetomidine on perioperative brain protection, as well as cerebral oxygenation and metabolic status aiming to provide a basis for clinical rational drug use in patients undergoing craniotomy resection of glioma.

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Key information

Conditions

Brain Tumor Brain Diseases Brain Neoplasms Central Nervous System Diseases Central Nervous System Neoplasms Hypoxia Inflammation Inflammatory Response Metabolic Disturbance Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Neoplasms Neuroinflammatory Diseases Oxygen Deficiency Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

AHEPA University Hospital

Thessaloniki, 54636, Greece

About this study

Each participant will receive standard monitoring (ECG, SpO2, SBP, BIS, urine output, temperature). More detailed hemodynamic monitoring will be obtained by Edwards Lifesciences ClearSight system (CO, CI, SV, SVI, SVV, SVR, SVRI).

TCI Propofol and Remifentanil will be the agents of choice for induction and maintenance in anesthesia and cisatracurium will be used for neuromuscular blockade for intubation.

Protective mechanical ventilation will be chosen (7ml/kg IBW) with a respiratory rate to obtain a PaCO2 of 35-40 mmHg. PEEP will be changed for the best PaO2/FiO2 ratio and FiO2 of choice will be 0.5.

The radial artery catheterization will be applied for direct blood pressure measurement and arterial blood gas sampling (pH, PaO2, PaCO2, HCO3, BE, osmolality, lactic acid, Hb, glucose, Na and K will be measured).

The jugular bulb ipsilateral to the craniotomy site will be catheterized for receiving blood samples for blood gas analysis. The following oxygenation and metabolic parameters / derivates will be measured or calculated: SjvO2, pH, PjvO2, PjvCO2, HCO3, BE, Osmolality, Lactic acid jv, Hb, Glucose, Na, K, AjvDO2, AjvCO2, O2ERbr, eRQbr, AjvDL, and LOI.

Dexmedetomidine or normal saline (placebo) administration will start 10 minutes after anesthesia induction and maintained throughout the surgical procedure.

Phases

  • T0: 5 minutes before administration of either DEX or placebo
  • T15: 10 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
  • T30: 30 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
  • T60: 60 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
  • T120: 120 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
  • T240: 240 minutes after administration of either DEX or placebo
  • End of surgical procedure Blood samples for measuring S-100b, NSE, cortisol, TNF-a and IL-6 will be obtained at phases T0, end of surgery and 24 hours after administration of either DEX or placebo.

Neurocognitive testing will be performed before surgery, 1 week and 1 month later using Karnofsky Performance Status (KFS), Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III).

Intraoperative consumption of propofol and remifentanil will also be recorded

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • ASA-PS 1-3 (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification)
  • Scheduled for elective or semi-elective craniotomy for brain tumor resection
  • Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • History of craniotomy at the same site
  • Morbid obesity
  • Delirious person before surgery
  • Preoperative heart rate (HR) <45 beats/min or second or third degree AV block
  • Treatment with a-methyldopa, clonidine or other a2-adrenergic agonist
  • Pregnancy
  • Liver or renal failure

Treatment and study plan

Dexmedetomidine

Drug

Dexmedetomidine 2 μg/ml will be given as bolus 1mg/kg for 10 minutes with a maintenance dose of 0.8μg/kg/h until surgery completion

Other names: Dexdor

Normal Saline

Other

Equivalent doses for a solution containing 2mcg/ml of the tested drug calculating for a bolus 1mg/kg for 10 minutes with a maintenance dose of 0.8μg/kg/h until surgery completion

Other names: NaCl 0.9%

Primary outcomes

  1. Changes in S-100b protein

    Time frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively

    Alterations in S-100b (μg/L) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in NSE

    Time frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively

    Alterations in NSE (ng/ml) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  2. Changes in brain oxygen extraction ratio (O2Erbr)

    Time frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in brain oxygen extraction ratio (O2Erbr [%]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  3. Changes in jugular venous oxygen saturation

    Time frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in jugular venous oxygen saturation (%), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  4. Changes in arterio-jugular carbon dioxide difference (AjvCO2)

    Time frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in arterio-jugular carbon dioxide difference (AjvCO2 [mmHg]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  5. Changes in arterio-jugular oxygen difference (AjvDO2)

    Time frame: 10, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after commencing the infusion of the tested agent and end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in arterio-jugular oxygen difference (AjvDO2 [ml/dl]), after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  6. Changes in serum cortisol

    Time frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively

    Alterations in serum cortisol (μg/dl) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  7. Changes in serum TNF-a

    Time frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively

    Alterations in serum TNF-a (pg/ml) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  8. Changes in serum IL-6

    Time frame: End of surgical procedure and 24 hours postoperatively

    Alterations in serum IL-6 (pg/ml) levels after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

Other outcomes

  1. Changes in Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)

    Time frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  2. Changes in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III)

    Time frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in Addenbrooke's Cognitive Exam (ACE III) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

  3. Changes in Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: 1 week and 1 month after the end of surgical procedure

    Alterations in Μontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) after intravenous infusion of equivalent doses of dexmedetomidine or placebo (normal saline)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Georgia Tsaousi

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Brain Homeostasis and Neurocognitive Outcome of Patients Undergoing Brain Tumor Exclusion

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Feb 12, 2020
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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