Skip to content

Local Anesthetic Concentration and Nerve Block Duration

Local Anesthetic Concentration and Nerve Block Duration: A Randomized, Blinded Study in Healthy Volunteers

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03326609
Enrollment
60
Registered
2017-10-31
Start date
2017-10-04
Completion date
2018-01-05
Last updated
2018-01-08

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

Conditions

Peripheral Nerve Block

Brief summary

Background: Local anesthetic (LA) concentration and nerve block duration is sparsely described in a heterogenic study mass. Aim: To investigate the effect of LA concentration on peripheral nerve block duration in healthy volunteers. Methods: Randomization of 60 healthy volunteers who will receive 1 of 5 different volumes of LA (ropivacaine) using a constant dose. Primary endpoint: Sensory nerve block defined by insensitivity towards cold.

Detailed description

Background: Important factors for a safe and successful nerve block include volume, dose and concentration of local anesthetic (LA). Knowing the duration of peripheral nerve blocks is important to prevent pain breakthrough. With the advancements in ultrasound (US)-guided nerve block techniques it has been possible to substantially reduce the amount of LA required to perform a successful nerve block. This has reduced the risk of systemic toxicity. However, lowering LA volume may reduce nerve block duration, but the extent of this is sparsely described in a heterogenic study mass. Diluted and large volumes of LA seem to correlate with nerve block duration. Furthermore, increasing LA concentration seems to increase the level of motor block, but not the block duration. A long-lasting nerve block without dense motor block is preferable for optimized pain control and better opportunities to rehabilitate/ambulate. Aim: To investigate the effect of LA concentration on common peroneal nerve block duration in healthy volunteers. Methods: Randomization of 60 healthy volunteers who will receive 1 of 5 different volumes of LA (ropivacaine) using a constant dose (10mg). Primary outcome: Duration of sensory nerve block defined by insensitivity towards cold. Secondary outcome: Duration of motor nerve block defined by either paresis or paralysis. Explorative outcomes: Degrees of sensory and motor nerve block; Onset times of sensory and motor nerve block; Length of neural exposure to LA.

Interventions

DRUGRopivacaine

Perineural injection using a peripheral nerve block catheter and a constant infusion rate (10mL/h)

Sponsors

Innovation Fund Denmark
CollaboratorINDIV
Nordsjaellands Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female from and above 18 years of age 2. ASA classification ≤ II

Exclusion criteria

1. BMI below 18 kg/m2 2. Former surgery to the lower extremity in which intervention is planned and surgery which may have caused neural damage to the common peroneal nerve/affected the sensory distribution area of the common peroneal nerve 3. Peripheral nerve disease 4. Allergy to LA 5. Pregnancy or breastfeeding 6. Enrolment in other investigational drug studies or recent clinical trials that may interfere with this study 7. Habitual use of any kind of analgesic treatment 8. Anatomic abnormalities preventing successful US-guided peripheral nerve catheter insertion

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Duration of sensory nerve block1-24 hoursInsensitivity towards cold. Testing will start after onset of sensory nerve block and will be done in intervals of 60 minutes hereafter and continue until return of normal sensation.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Duration of motor nerve block1-24 hoursParesis or paralysis of ankle dorsiflexion. Testing will start after onset of sensory nerve block and will be done in intervals of 60 minutes hereafter and continue until return of normal sensation.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Onset of motor nerve block10-180 minutesParesis or paralysis of ankle dorsiflexion. Testing will start 10 minutes after end of LA infusion and continue every 5 minutes until onset of sensory nerve block is apparent.
Length of neural exposure to local anesthetic10 minutesUltrasound-guided measurement of the perineural spread of local anesthetic. From the most distal to the most proximal point. Measured in millimetres.
Degree of motor nerve block1-24 hoursGrading system using a 3-level scale and compared to the contralateral leg: 1) normal; 2) paresis; 3) paralysis. Testing will start after onset of sensory nerve block and will be done in intervals of 60 minutes hereafter and continue until return of normal sensation.
Degree of sensory nerve block1-24 hoursGrading system using a 4-level scale and compared to the contralateral leg: 1) normal; 2) different; 3) warmth; 4) no sensation. Testing will start after onset of sensory nerve block and will be done in intervals of 60 minutes hereafter and continue until return of normal sensation.
Onset of sensory nerve block10-180 minutesInsensitivity towards cold. Testing will start 10 minutes after end of LA infusion and continue every 5 minutes until onset is apparent.

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 19, 2026