Spinal anesthesia blocks acute pain in older patients with femur fracture. Delirium is a common complication seen after femur fracture, affecting approximately 10-16% of patients. It is associated with increased mortality at 1st year, delayed rehabilitation efforts, prolonged length of hospital stay, poorer functional outcomes, and increased risk of nursing home placement. Intrathecal dexamethasone administration improves quality of anesthesia in patients with femur fracture compared to conventional spinal anesthesia.
The aim of this research was to establish the influence of intrathecal dexamethasone administration in spinal anaesthesia with levobupivacaine on postoperative pain and changes of consciousness, values of cortisol levels and quality of treatment for patients with femoral fractures compared to spinal anaesthesia with only local anaesthetic. The study was planned as a prospective, observational, randomised clinical trial. A total of 60 patients ASA2 and ASA3 status, scheduled for surgical procedures were sorted into two groups and underwent surgery in spinal anesthesia with levobupivacaine with or without dexamethsone.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Effect of intrathecally administered dexamethasone in spinal anaesthesia for surgical correction of the hip fracture.
Local anaesthetic standardly used in spinal anaesthesia for surgical correction of the hip fracture by the particular hospital's protocol.
University Hospital "Sveti Duh"
Zagreb, Croatia
postoperative cognitive change
Assessed using a simplified Confusion Assessment Method scoring scale, a clinical instrument for delirium assessment used by non-psychiatric medical staff after surgery for excluding delirium. Delirium is defined in terms of 4 possible diagnostic criteria (1. acute onset or fluctuating course; 2- inattention; 3- disorganised thinking; 4- altered level of consciousness (may be defined as alert, lethargic, stupor or coma cognitive state)) and is defined as present when 1 plus 2 and either 3 or 4 diagnostic criteria are positive.
Time frame: Confusion Assessment Method scoring was assessed in 4 measure points: 1. one hour after surgery, 2. on the 3rd postoperative day at 9 am, 3. on the 5th postoperative day at 9 am, 4. on the 10th postoperative day at 9 am
cortisol concentrations changes
Determined from patient's blood plasma assessed by Roche Elecsys Immunoassay System and defined from the laboratory reference points (185-624)nmol/L equal for each measure point; for single measuring 0,5 ml of patient's blood was taken
Time frame: Measured in 5 measure points: 1. one hour before surgery, 2. one hour after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day at 6 am, 4. on the 5th postoperative day at 6 am, 5. on the 10th postoperative day at 6 am
perioperative pain intensity: Visual Analogue Scale score
Assessed using Visual Analogue Scale score and establishing postoperative analgesic requirements
Time frame: Visual Analogue Scale scoring (scores: 0-10) was assessed in 5 measure points every 3 hours when patient was awake: 1. 1 h before surgery, 2. 1 h after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day, 4. on the 5th postoperative day, 5. 10th postoperative day
glucose concentrations changes
Determined form patient's blood plasma assessed by Beckman Coulter AU400 and AU680 orbOlympus Glucose Analyzer 2 devices defined from the laboratory reference points (4,4-6,4)mmol/L equal for each measure point; for single measuring 0,2 ml of patient's blood was taken
Time frame: Measured in 5 measure points (units: mmol/L): 1. one hour before surgery, 2. one hour after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day at 6 am, 4. on the 5th postoperative day at 6 am, 5. on the 10th postoperative day at 6 am
Blood loss
Determinated by intraoperative blood loss in mililitres, amount of blood in drainage systems in mililitres, transfusion of homologous blood in mililitres
Time frame: During the surgical repairment and up to the removal of drainage systems (2nd postoperative day)
Number of Participants with pulmonary embolism
Established by noted pulmonary embolism in the operating room or at the traumatology ward by the ward staff
Time frame: During surgical reconstruction and during postoperative follow-up of up to ten postoperative days
Number of Participants with heart failure
Established by noted heart failure in the operating room or at the traumatology ward by the ward staff
Time frame: During surgical reconstruction and during postoperative follow-up of up to ten postoperative days
Platelets changes
Determined from laboratory values of platelets data in reference points (158-424)10\^9/L equal for each measure point
Time frame: Assessed in 5 measure points: 1.one hour before surgery, 2. one hour after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day at 6 am, 4. on the 5th postoperative day at 6 am, 5. on the 10th postoperative day at 6 am
Haemoglobin changes
Determined from laboratory values of haemoglobin data measured reference points (119-157)g/L equal for each measure point
Time frame: Assessed in 5 measure points: 1.one hour before surgery, 2. one hour after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day at 6 am, 4. on the 5th postoperative day at 6 am, 5. on the 10th postoperative day at 6 am
Haematocrit changes
Determined from laboratory values of haematocrit data in reference points (0,356-0,470)L/L equal for each measure point
Time frame: Assessed in 5 measure points: 1.one hour before surgery, 2. one hour after surgery, 3. on the 3rd postoperative day at 6 am, 4. on the 5th postoperative day at 6 am, 5. on the 10th postoperative day at 6 am
Hospitalisation
Calculated by number of days preoperatively from the day of admission to the day of surgical treatment and postoperatively from the day of surgical treatment to the day of hospital discharge
Time frame: In the time period of up to 30 days
Number of Participants who underwent surgical procedure during first 48 hours from admission
It was defined if surgical procedure was performed in first 48 hours from admission to the hospital's Emergency Department or later reflecting morbidity and/or mortality
Time frame: Calculated in hours after the patient's admission to the hospital's Emergency Department to the point of surgical reconstruction in the time period up to 48 hours
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