Anesthesia; Functional, Anesthesia, Local, Spinal Cord
Conditions
Brief summary
The investigators hypothesize an alternative way to perform thoracic paravertebral block, by placing the needle tip over and behind the transverse process of vertebra, via the thoracic intervertebral foramen. This anesthetic procedure is called thoracic intervertebral foramen block. The study aims to verify the spread of dye on to the the nervous structures of retropleural space (the ventral rami, the communicating rami, and the sympathetic trunk), and into the thoracic paravertebral space and epidural space. To accomplish this, a prospective cadaveric study was designed.
Detailed description
This is a prospective cadaveric study. The anesthetic procedure is performed on 2 corpses for which autopsy is requested, in accordance with Italian Low. Before performing the autopsy, the corps is placed in the left and then in the right lateral position, to perform bilateral block. The anesthetic procedure is performed at second (T2), fifth (T5), ninth (T9), and twelfth (T12) thoracic vertebra. The ultrasonography is performed by using a high-frequency linear-array US transducer. A Tuohy needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a lateral-to-medial direction gently to contact the spinous process, into the skeletal muscle plane of the erector spinae muscle. Then, the needle tip is moved to reach the angle between the transverse process and spinous process. Subsequently, the needle tip is gently inserted and advanced for 2 mm along with the superior limit of the vertebral pedicle, until losing contact with the bone. Five ml methylene blue 1% dye (MB) were subsequently injected. The anesthetic procedure is bilaterally performed. Two continuous catheter sets are used and threaded 1 cm from the needle tip, for a bilateral continuous block. The catheters are inserted from the caudal to the cephalic direction. At the end of the anesthetic procedure, a second look ultrasound scan of thoracic paravertebral space was performed. Subsequently, the corps is put in supine position, and autopsy is started.
Interventions
The thoracic intervertebral foramen block is performed by placing the needle tip over and behind the transverse process of vertebra, via the thoracic intervertebral foramen.
Sponsors
San Salvatore Hospital of L'Aquila
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* corps for which autopsy is required
Exclusion criteria
* corps under Legal custody of Italian Low
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Retropleural spread | During autopsy | Assess mL of dye on to the nervous structures of retropleural space (the ventral rami, the communicating rami, and the sympathetic trunk) |
| Thoracic paravertebral spread | During autopsy | Assess mL of dye on to the thoracic paravertebral space |
| Epidural spread | During autopsy | Assess mL of dye on the epidural space |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Iatrogenic damages | During autopsy | Number of punctures of vertebral blood vessels, spinal nerve roots, and pleura |
| Distance (mm) between the catheter tip and the thoracic intervertebral foramen content is also evaluated | During autopsy | Distance (mm) between the catheter tip and the thoracic intervertebral foramen content is evaluated |
| Second look ultrasound scan | After the anesthetic procedure | Area (square cm) of anechoic shadow on the paravertebral space |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed