Ultrasound Guidance for Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2009-11-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study has been designed to assess the possible advantages of using ultrasound imaging to block the brachial plexus (i.e., nerves of the upper limb) in patients undergoing shoulder surgery.

The ultrasound technique will be compared with the current gold standard, electrical nerve stimulation.

The aim of this study is to define which technique is better in terms of time to onset of anesthesia.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Parma
• Treatments: Acetaminophen; Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Anesthetics; Anesthetics, Local; Fentanyl; Morphine; Narcotics; Ropivacaine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA Physical Status Class I-III

• Elective surgery of the shoulder

• Informed consent to regional anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to effectively communicate

• Chronic opioid use

• Absence of informed consent to participation to the study

• Ipsilateral upper limb neurological deficits

• Known allergy to study medications

• Contraindications to continuous block placement