SynthesisPloS one2020
Effects of dexmedetomidine as a perineural adjuvant for femoral nerve block: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04642651 (Impacts of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant for Femoral Nerve Block on Functional Recovery in Aged Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Impacts of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant for Femoral Nerve Block on Functional Recovery in Aged Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Randomized, Double-blinded, Controlled Trial
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Investigating the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthesia in dentistry: systematic review and meta-analysis.Systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to peripheral nerve blocks in pediatric patients.World journal of pediatrics : WJP · 2022Pooled it
- Boosting Bupivacaine: The Role of Adjuvant Perineural Dexmedetomidine in Femoral Nerve Blocks.Cureus · 2026Article
- Effect of dexmedetomidine on the median effective concentration of ropivacaine for postoperative analgesia in transversus abdominis plane block: an up-down sequential allocation study.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFemoral nerve block (FNB) is one of the first-line analgesic methods for patients following lower extremity surgery. However, FNB with local anesthetics alone exert limited potency and supplemental opioids are often required. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been used to improve the analgesic effects of FNB. The present systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of DEX as an adjuvant to local anesthetics for FNB.
methodsRandomized controlled trials comparing the effects of DEX versus sham control in combination with local anesthetics for FNB were included in this meta-analysis. Postoperative pain scores, duration of analgesic effects, and postoperative narcotic consumption were outcomes of interest. This research was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements.
resultsA total of 9 studies encompassing 580 participants were included for data synthesis after critical evaluation. DEX as an adjuvant with local anesthetics for FNB significantly relieved pain intensity at 12, 24 and 48 hours after surgery, both at rest (standardized mean difference -1.34 [95% CI -1.87 to -0.82], P<0.00001 at 12 h; -1.26 [-1.90 to -0.0.63], P<0.0001 at 24 h; and -1.34; [-2.18 to -0.50], P = 0.002 at 48 h) and with movement (-1.30 [-2.17 to -0.43], P = 0.004 at 12 h; -1.02 [-1.31 to -0.72], P<0.00001 at 24h; and -1.33 [-2.03 to -0.63], P = 0.0002); it also significantly prolonged analgesic duration (mean difference 7.23 h [95% CI 4.07 to 10.39], P<0.00001) and decreased opioid consumption (mean difference of morphine equivalent -12.13 mg [95% CI -23.36 to -0.89], P<0.00001). Regarding safety, DEX use increased the rate of hypotension (odds ratio 4.10, 95% CI 1.40 to 12.01, P = 0.01).
conclusionDEX as an adjuvant to local anesthetics for FNB improves analgesia, prolongs analgesic duration and reduces supplemental opioid consumption; but increases hypotension.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.