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Study of Different Concentrations of Epidural Bupivacaine for the Effects on Vasodilatation and Sensory Block

Sympathectomy-Mediated Vasodilatation and Differential Sensory Block After Epidural Bupivacaine: a Randomized Concentration Ranging Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00197353
Enrollment
60
Registered
2005-09-20
Start date
1999-03-31
Completion date
1999-09-30
Last updated
2009-03-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Intraoperative Complications

Keywords

Anesthesia, Epidural, Pharmacology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Sympathectomy, Photoplethysmography

Brief summary

This study aims to compare human subjects receiving epidural bupivacaine local anesthetic at different doses and concentrations and to assess the effect on vasodilatation (sympathectomy), sensory and motor block. The hypothesis is that the drug concentration is more important than drug dose in the determination of the extent and intensity of differential sympathetic, sensory and motor block following epidural local anesthetic.

Detailed description

There is controversy regarding the factors that determine the extent and intensity of epidural drug action. Most studies have focused on the inter-related triad of dose, concentration and volume. We compare three groups: group A: 10ml of 0.5% bupivacaine; group B: 10ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and group C: 40ml of 0.0625% bupivacaine. When comparing these groups, groups A & B have the same volume of epidural drug, and groups B & C have the same total dose. In particular this study compares different methods of assessing the sympathetic block (causing vasodilatation). These methods include skin temperature changes, hemodynamic changes and photoplethysmography.

Interventions

DRUGEpidural bupivacaine (dose/concentration/volume ranging)

Sponsors

Hadassah Medical Organization
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients scheduled for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) under epidural anesthesia between March to September 1999

Exclusion criteria

* graded as ASA 3 or higher, below 18 or above 70 years of age, if they had peripheral vascular disease, baseline neurological deficit, or had any other contraindication for regional anesthesia.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Index of sympathectomy: photoplethysmography derived amplitude-baseline ratio from foot and hand; data measured at time 0, 5, 10 and 20 min following epidural; data expressed as % change from baseline and as area under time effect curve.

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
1. Other indices of sympathectomy:
a. Photoplethysmography derived baseline change (ln (Blepi/Blo));
b. Photoplethysmography derived time lag between pulse reaching hand and foot;
c. Blood pressure (mean, systolic, diastolic);
d. Skin temperature changes (finger and toe temperature change from baseline, toe-thigh and finger-arm temperature gradients).
2. Sensory level (pinprick, touch, cold)
3. Motor block (Bromage scale)
All assessments made at 0, 5, 10 and 20 minutes after epidural drug administration.

Countries

Israel

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026