Ultrasound Guidance for Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block

NCT ID: NCT00702416

Last Updated: 2009-11-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-05-31

Study Completion Date

2009-11-30

Brief Summary

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This study has been designed to assess the possible advantages of using ultrasound imaging to block the brachial plexus (i.e., nerves of the upper limb) in patients undergoing shoulder surgery.

The ultrasound technique will be compared with the current gold standard, electrical nerve stimulation.

The aim of this study is to define which technique is better in terms of time to onset of anesthesia.

Detailed Description

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The study will compare real-time ultrasound (US) guidance and electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) in terms of onset time for interscalene brachial plexus anesthesia.

The main hypothesis is that direct visualization of neural structures under US guidance will grant better local anesthetic (LA) disposition around the roots of the plexus, thus improving onset times.

Perineural catheters will be used to maintain regional analgesia for 48 hours after surgery. We hypothesize that US guidance may also help physicians place perineural catheters more precisely, thus improving analgesia in the following hours to days.

Finally, we will investigate for possible differences in minor adverse events such as vascular puncture, pain during the anesthetic procedure.

Conditions

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Shoulder Orthopedic Surgery Nerve Block

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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US Group

In this group, the continuous block will be performed under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ultrasound-guided continuous interscalene brachial plexus block

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

With patients in the supine position, a high-frequency (10-12 MHz) ultrasound transducer in a sterile sheath will be applied to explore the interscalene region and locate the brachial plexus. The transducer will be positioned so as to image the C5 and C6 roots in a single view. Visualization of the C7 root in the same scan will be sought, but will not be required.

A 50-mm, 20 G needle will be advanced in-plane from the postero-lateral side of the transducer. Injection of the local anesthetic will be performed in small aliquots while repositioning of the needle in order to optimize spread of the injectate around the nerve roots.

At the end of the injection, a catheter will be threaded through the needle. The catheter will be positioned to lie deep and close to the imaged nerve roots.

Ropivacaine

Intervention Type DRUG

Block induction \[1% (wt/vol) solution\]:

20 ml (200 mg)

Postoperative analgesia \[0.2% (wt/vol) solution\]:

* Background infusion: 4 ml/h (8 mg/h)
* Incremental on-demand dose: 2 ml (4 mg)
* Lockout time: 15 min

Paracetamol

Intervention Type DRUG

1 g iv q8h

Morphine

Intervention Type DRUG

5 mg im prn q1h (in the postoperative period)

Fentanyl

Intervention Type DRUG

50 µg iv prn (in the intraoperative period)

General anesthesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Will be given in case of block failure and/or patient discomfort intractable with fentanyl during the procedure.

The technique will be left at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. Monitored anesthesia care will also be acceptable; the block will be considered as failed in that case as well.

ENS Group

In this group, the continuous block will be performed with an electrical nerve stimulation (ENS) technique.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Continuous interscalene brachial plexus block using electrical nerve stimulation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

With patients in the supine position, the head will be rotated to the contralateral side. The interscalene groove will be palpated.

A 35-mm, 20 G needle will be inserted at the estimated C6 level (cricoid cartilage) with a 30-45° angle to the skin. The needle will be advanced along a line joining the insertion site to the axilla.

An electrical nerve stimulator will be used at an initial intensity of 1.0 mA (frequency: 2 Hz, pulse width: 0.2 ms). A musculocutaneous or axillary-nerve mediated twitch will be sought

Injection of the local anesthetic will start with a visible motor response at a current \<0.5 mA. The catheter will be positioned to as to elicit a motor response at ≤0.4 mA.

Ropivacaine

Intervention Type DRUG

Block induction \[1% (wt/vol) solution\]:

20 ml (200 mg)

Postoperative analgesia \[0.2% (wt/vol) solution\]:

* Background infusion: 4 ml/h (8 mg/h)
* Incremental on-demand dose: 2 ml (4 mg)
* Lockout time: 15 min

Paracetamol

Intervention Type DRUG

1 g iv q8h

Morphine

Intervention Type DRUG

5 mg im prn q1h (in the postoperative period)

Fentanyl

Intervention Type DRUG

50 µg iv prn (in the intraoperative period)

General anesthesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Will be given in case of block failure and/or patient discomfort intractable with fentanyl during the procedure.

The technique will be left at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. Monitored anesthesia care will also be acceptable; the block will be considered as failed in that case as well.

Interventions

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Ultrasound-guided continuous interscalene brachial plexus block

With patients in the supine position, a high-frequency (10-12 MHz) ultrasound transducer in a sterile sheath will be applied to explore the interscalene region and locate the brachial plexus. The transducer will be positioned so as to image the C5 and C6 roots in a single view. Visualization of the C7 root in the same scan will be sought, but will not be required.

A 50-mm, 20 G needle will be advanced in-plane from the postero-lateral side of the transducer. Injection of the local anesthetic will be performed in small aliquots while repositioning of the needle in order to optimize spread of the injectate around the nerve roots.

At the end of the injection, a catheter will be threaded through the needle. The catheter will be positioned to lie deep and close to the imaged nerve roots.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Continuous interscalene brachial plexus block using electrical nerve stimulation

With patients in the supine position, the head will be rotated to the contralateral side. The interscalene groove will be palpated.

A 35-mm, 20 G needle will be inserted at the estimated C6 level (cricoid cartilage) with a 30-45° angle to the skin. The needle will be advanced along a line joining the insertion site to the axilla.

An electrical nerve stimulator will be used at an initial intensity of 1.0 mA (frequency: 2 Hz, pulse width: 0.2 ms). A musculocutaneous or axillary-nerve mediated twitch will be sought

Injection of the local anesthetic will start with a visible motor response at a current \<0.5 mA. The catheter will be positioned to as to elicit a motor response at ≤0.4 mA.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Ropivacaine

Block induction \[1% (wt/vol) solution\]:

20 ml (200 mg)

Postoperative analgesia \[0.2% (wt/vol) solution\]:

* Background infusion: 4 ml/h (8 mg/h)
* Incremental on-demand dose: 2 ml (4 mg)
* Lockout time: 15 min

Intervention Type DRUG

Paracetamol

1 g iv q8h

Intervention Type DRUG

Morphine

5 mg im prn q1h (in the postoperative period)

Intervention Type DRUG

Fentanyl

50 µg iv prn (in the intraoperative period)

Intervention Type DRUG

General anesthesia

Will be given in case of block failure and/or patient discomfort intractable with fentanyl during the procedure.

The technique will be left at the discretion of the attending anesthesiologist. Monitored anesthesia care will also be acceptable; the block will be considered as failed in that case as well.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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Peripheral nerve block Ultrasound Regional anesthesia Peripheral nerve block Electrical nerve stimulation Regional anesthesia Naropin Local anesthetic Amide local anesthetic Acetaminophen Perfalgan Analgesic Opioid Narcotic Analgesic Opioid Narcotic Analgesic Monitored anesthesia care

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* ASA Physical Status Class I-III
* Elective surgery of the shoulder
* Informed consent to regional anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to effectively communicate
* Chronic opioid use
* Absence of informed consent to participation to the study
* Ipsilateral upper limb neurological deficits
* Known allergy to study medications
* Contraindications to continuous block placement
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Parma

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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University of Parma

Principal Investigators

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Giorgio Danelli, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UO II Anestesia, Rianimazione e Terapia Antalgica, AOU Parma

Locations

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University Hospital / Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria

Parma, PR, Italy

Site Status

Countries

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Italy

References

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Casati A, Fanelli G, Aldegheri G, Berti M, Colnaghi E, Cedrati V, Torri G. Interscalene brachial plexus anaesthesia with 0.5%, 0.75% or 1% ropivacaine: a double-blind comparison with 2% mepivacaine. Br J Anaesth. 1999 Dec;83(6):872-5. doi: 10.1093/bja/83.6.872.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10700785 (View on PubMed)

Stevens MF, Werdehausen R, Golla E, Braun S, Hermanns H, Ilg A, Willers R, Lipfert P. Does interscalene catheter placement with stimulating catheters improve postoperative pain or functional outcome after shoulder surgery? A prospective, randomized and double-blinded trial. Anesth Analg. 2007 Feb;104(2):442-7. doi: 10.1213/01.ane.0000253513.15336.25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17242107 (View on PubMed)

Casati A, Borghi B, Fanelli G, Montone N, Rotini R, Fraschini G, Vinciguerra F, Torri G, Chelly J. Interscalene brachial plexus anesthesia and analgesia for open shoulder surgery: a randomized, double-blinded comparison between levobupivacaine and ropivacaine. Anesth Analg. 2003 Jan;96(1):253-9, table of contents. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200301000-00051.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12505962 (View on PubMed)

Casati A, Danelli G, Baciarello M, Corradi M, Leone S, Di Cianni S, Fanelli G. A prospective, randomized comparison between ultrasound and nerve stimulation guidance for multiple injection axillary brachial plexus block. Anesthesiology. 2007 May;106(5):992-6. doi: 10.1097/01.anes.0000265159.55179.e1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17457131 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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ANEST-ORT-01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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