Regional Changes in Upper Limb Perfusion Following Brachial Plexus Block: A Pilot Study

Completed

• Conditions: Nerve Block; Sympathectomy; Regional Blood Flow; Anesthesia, Conduction
• Interventions: Other: Monitoring

• Registration Number: NCT02589054
• Lead Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute

Brief Summary

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is increasingly being used in the modern surgical environment to provide specific intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. Infiltration of local anesthesics around peripheral nerves firs blocks sympathetic, then sensory, then motor nerve function. Sympathectomy-induced vasodilation following brachial plexus block results in increased skin temperature and arterial flow within minutes.

Although it has not been shown to reliably increase diameter or cross-sectional area of distal arteries, brachial plexus block does change the pattern and quantity of blood flow to the hand. Given that the magnitude of change of flow cannot be attributed to vessel radius, the investigators suspect that the more laminar fluid dynamics are due to vascular tone.

The investigators study aims to quantify alterations in physiology and peripheral vasodilator response. The investigators anticipate that axially block will significantly improve regional blood flow.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2015-10
• Study First Submitted: 2015-10-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-10-26
• Study First Posted: 2015-10-28
• Study Start: 2015-11
• Primary Completion: 2016-01
• Study Completion: 2016-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-03-29
• Last Update Posted: 2017-03-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 18

Inclusion Criteria

• ASA physical status I, II, III
• BMI less than or equal to 39
• Presenting for elective upper limb surgery
• Does not meet any exclusion criteria

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Exclusion Criteria

• Age over 80
• ASA physical status IV or V
• BMI greater or equal to 40
• Language barrier precluding ability to give informed consent
• History of coagulopathy
• INR < 1.4
• Platelet count < 100
• Allergy to local anesthetics
• Known peripheral vascular disease of the upper limbs
• Amputation of one or both upper limbs, not including digits
• Peripheral neurological disease
• Does not consent to participate in study

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Patients	Monitoring	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in regional blood flow and perfusion characteristics in the upper arm arteries from baseline to 20 minutes after unilateral axillary block.	30 minutes	Physiologic parameter

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in skin temperature between hands from baseline to 20 minutes after unilateral axillary block.	30 minutes	Physiologic parameter
Motor weakness in radial, ulnar, and median nerve distributions between hands from baseline to 20 minutes after unilateral axillary block	30 Minutes	Physical examination
Changes in the caliber of the arteries of the arm between arms from baseline to 20 minutes after unilateral axillary block.	30 minutes	Physiologic parameter
Sensory loss in radial, ulnar, and median nerve distribution between hands from baseline to 20 minutes after unilateral axillary block.	30 minutes	Physical examination