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PECS Block: Plasma Bupivacaine Level

Early Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Nerve Blocks
Interventions
Procedure: Unilateral PECS I and II block
Procedure: Bilateral PECS I and II block
Drug: Bupivacaine
Registration Number
NCT03059498
Lead Sponsor
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine peak plasma bupivacaine concentrations in a similar fashion for PECS I/II blocks. The investigators hypothesis is that the mean peak plasma levels for patients undergoing PECS I/II blocks will be less than the levels reported to cause early neurotoxicity of \[2.2 (0.9) micrograms/ml\]6 in patients receiving intravenous bupivacaine infusions.

Detailed Description

Regional anesthesia techniques are common modalities used to provide analgesia following both upper and lower extremity surgeries. It is also often used for truncal procedures for the same purpose. A relatively new truncal block, first described in 2012 by Blanco, called the pectoralis nerve block (PECS I and II block) has been used successfully for breast surgery1-3. Despite its description and success in clinical practice, the extent of systemic absorption from this truncal plane block has not been described to date. However, in a study published in the British Journal of Anesthesia, this has been done for another truncal plane block, the transverse abdominus plane (TAP) block where the local anesthetic was noted to peak and had a mean total concentration of ropivacaine occurring at 30 minutes after the block4. During this study, samples were taken at 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes. The investigators anticipate that since this is a similar truncal plane block, absorption will be comparable in terms of timing. However, the concentration of drug absorbed may be different given the proximity to the ribs, intercostal and thoracic vasculature, and a higher concentration of local given the smaller plane for local anesthetic spread. Given that the investigators want to find the peak of the curve and the peak concentration of bupivacaine from the PECS block, the investigators feel will need 5 samples at the times outlined below. This number of samples was chosen to approximate a study published in 2004 where ten subjects received ropivacaine for scalp blocks and serum ropivacaine levels were measured at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes5. The investigators feel that the 120 minute measurement is well beyond the peak plasma level of bupivacaine given the findings in the TAP and scalp studies. Therefore,the investigators will collect the following samples at these times after the block is completed: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 minutes. The purpose of this study is to determine peak plasma bupivacaine concentrations in a similar fashion for PECS I/II blocks. The investigators hypothesis is that the mean peak plasma levels for our patients undergoing PECS I/II blocks will be less than the levels reported to cause early neurotoxicity of \[2.2 (0.9) micrograms/ml\]6 in patients receiving intravenous bupivacaine infusions.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients receiving a unilateral PECS I and II block for any surgery being provided by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Subjects with contraindications to regional anesthesia, such as a history of allergy to amide local anesthetics,
  • presence of a progressive neurological deficit,
  • a pre-existing coagulopathy,
  • infection at site of injection.
  • or the following conditions:
  • patient receiving any other additional local anesthetic from another procedure
  • infection over site of block
  • patient refusal
  • significant renal or liver dysfunction on laboratory analysis
  • weight <60 kg
  • pregnancy
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
unilateral PECS block patientsUnilateral PECS I and II blockunilateral PECS I and II block using bupivacaine
bilateral PECS block patientsBilateral PECS I and II blockbilateral PECS I and II block using bupivacaine
unilateral PECS block patientsBupivacaineunilateral PECS I and II block using bupivacaine
bilateral PECS block patientsBupivacainebilateral PECS I and II block using bupivacaine
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Peak plasma bupivacaine concentration90 minutes after dose

Will be determined by samples collected at these times after the block is completed: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 minutes

Bupivacaine mean concentration90 Minutes after dose

Calculated from samples at these times after the block is completed: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 minutes

Standard deviations of plasma bupivacaine concentrations90 minutes after dose

Will be calculated using samples at these times after the block is completed: 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of block success30 minutes after block

As assessed by pin prick at the mid-clavicular line overlying the pectoralis major in between the dermatomes of T2 to T4.

Rates of adequate ultrasound success of appropriate separation of the muscular layers for each block.At the end of the block placement, 0 minutes timepoint.

be rated clinically on a 3 point scale: 0 = very poor spread with possible block failure, 1 = initially poor spread, but layers separated appropriately with high chance for successful block, 2 = spread clearly seen to separate muscular layers and successful block anticipated.

Rates of symptoms of local anesthetic systemic toxicity90 minutes after block

Presence of symptoms from the end of the block to 90 minutes after the block.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

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Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

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