Continuous Infraclavicular Blocks: Neurostimulation Versus Ultrasound

Success Rate of Infra-clavicular Blocks: Comparison of Ultrasound Versus Neurostimulation Guided Catheter Placement

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01136447

Enrollment

210

Registered

2010-06-03

Start date

2010-01-31

Completion date

2013-02-28

Last updated

2017-08-30

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

Conditions

Disorder of Upper Extremity

Keywords

Brachial plexus, Ultrasound

Brief summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Interventions

PROCEDUREUltrasound

Block catheter will be introduced using ultraosound

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 80 Years

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Neurostimulation versus ultrasound guided infraclavicular catheter placement	14 days	Comparision of block success with neurostimulation and ultrasound guided placed infraclavicular catheters

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Time taken for complete nerve block	14 days	Procedure time for both techniques

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

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