Ultrasound Guidance Versus Electrical Stimulation for Perineural Catheter Insertion

University of California San Diego

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Postoperative Pain

Treatments: Procedure: perineural mepivicaine catheter placed via ultrasound or electrical stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00877266

US vs. NS Perineural Catheter

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research study is to determine the relative times for perineural catheter placement with the use of ultrasound versus electrical stimulation. The perineural catheter is placed next to the nerves through which local anesthetic is placed to provide pain control following surgery. This study may determine if one method is associated with increased success rate and patient comfort.

Full description

Primary Specific Aim: To determine if the relative times for perineural catheter placement with the use of ultrasound versus electrical stimulation.

Hypothesis: Compared with the use of electrical stimulation, the use of ultrasound guidance when inserting a perineural catheter is associated with a decreased time of placement.

Secondary Specific Aim: To determine if other possible benefits of perineural catheter placement associated with the use of ultrasound guidance versus electrical stimulation.

Hypothesis: Compared with the use of electrical stimulation, the use of ultrasound guidance when inserting a perineural catheter is associated with an increased surgical block success rate and catheter-placement success rate, as well as decreased patient discomfort and incidence of venous puncture.

Enrollment: 180 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• undergoing surgery with a planned perineural catheter for postoperative analgesia
• catheter in the interscalene, infraclavicular, popliteal, or femoral anatomic location
• age 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy
• inability to communicate with the investigators and hospital staff
• incarceration

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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180 participants in 2 patient groups

1. Ultrasound

Active Comparator group

Description:

Ultrasound is randomly chosen by use of a computer program. The time for catheter placement will begin with the ultrasound probe touches the patient. Patients will be asked their discomfort on a 0-10 scale (0=no discomfort and 10=worst discomfort imaginable) and will be called the next day by the research staff.

Treatment:

Procedure: perineural mepivicaine catheter placed via ultrasound or electrical stimulation

2. Electrical Stimulation

Active Comparator group

Description:

Nerve Stimulation (electrical stimulation) is randomly chosen using a computer program. Time of placement begins when the catheter-placement first touches the patient. After catheter placement patient is asked their discomfort on a 0-10 scale (0=no discomfort and 10=worst discomfort imaginable) and called the day after surgery by the research staff.

Treatment:

Procedure: perineural mepivicaine catheter placed via ultrasound or electrical stimulation