Two Numbing Aids Compared for Pain After Brain Tumor Surgery
Original title: Ketamine Versus Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant in Scalp Block in Supratentorial Brain Tumor Excision Surgeries
How far along is this research?
This is a trial that is enrolling or has been updated. It is not a finding yet.
No phase is given for this study, so it is still a test in people and not standard care.
Status: Recruiting. It is looking for patients now. Talk to your care team about whether it fits you.
The trial team last updated this record on . Always check the trial page for the latest.
The short version
This trial tests which of two added medicines gives better pain relief during and after surgery for a brain tumor near the top of the brain.
Who this trial is for. This trial is for adults having surgery to remove a supratentorial brain tumor, meaning a tumor in the upper part of the brain. Doctors give a scalp block, which is a numbing shot around the scalp. One group gets the numbing medicine bupivacaine with ketamine added. The other group gets bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine added. The trial involves 80 patients, split evenly into the two groups.
Where it stands. This trial has not reported results. The team is looking at pain scores after surgery, how much pain medicine patients need, and how steady the heart rate and blood pressure stay during surgery. Neither the patients nor the doctors know which group a patient is in. The answer about which added medicine works better is not in yet.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Pain after brain surgery is a real problem, and this work is about making it easier to manage. If you or someone you care for is scheduled for this kind of surgery, you can ask the care team about scalp blocks and how they plan to handle pain. A person who fits the description could ask their care team whether a trial like this is worth looking into.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean either medicine has been shown to be better. A trial is a test, not proven treatment. Being in a trial is not a guarantee that it will help you. This is about pain control during and after surgery. It is not a treatment for the tumor itself, and it is not a promise of a cure.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, July 13, 2026 · Read the original
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