Continuous Infraclavicular Blocks: Neurostimulation Versus Ultrasound

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status

Completed

Conditions

Disorder of Upper Extremity

Treatments

Procedure: Ultrasound

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01136447

R-06-101

12208 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether ultrasound guidance or nerve stimulation is the best option for placing continuous peripheral nerve block catheters for upper limb surgery.

Full description

In a multidisciplinary, observer blinded, prospective, single center, randomized study, success rate of US guided versus neurostimulation guided catheter placement for continuous infraclavicular block in patients scheduled for upper limb surgery will be studied. Block effectiveness, time taken, discharge from recovery, postoperative pain and disability and patient acceptance will be studied in 210 patients.

Enrollment

210 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 80 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-80 yrs
Weight 40-100 kg
Either sex
Height >150 cm
American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1-3
Scheduled for hand or elbow surgery under regional anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

Inability to give informed consent
Refusal of treatment randomization
Language barrier
Allergy to any medications being used in the study protocol
Ongoing major medical or psychiatric problems
Chronic pain or narcotic use/abuse
Peripheral neuropathy or major neurological problems
Scarring in area of blockade
Inability to co-operate with post-operative evaluation
Major coagulopathy
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Patients requiring anesthesia of other surgical sites
Obese patients (i.e. BMI >40)
Postoperatively, patients will be excluded if they have had additional operative procedures requiring a change in the usual protocol of care