Proof-of-Concept: A Device to Determine Return of Sensation After a Regional Anesthetic Block

Regional anesthesia investigators have always shown interest in measuring the specific duration of neuraxial or peripheral nerve blocks, and how variations in block technique or medications affect that duration. Although ostensibly a simple concept, there are many sensory modalities available for block testing (light touch, cold or hot temperature, pain, pressure, etc.) and there is no consensus in the anesthesia literature on how best to measure the duration of nerve block (. Sensory testing is repetitive, and must be practical and consistent. Pinprick and cold sensation are commonly employed, and these modalities share the same afferent fibers (C-delta) so there is close overlap in the sensory loss mapping after regional block. With respect to pinprick sensation there can be variability in the sharpness, pressure, and reproducibility of a pinprick test. Testing for cold sensation may be more consistent, using a controlled stimulus temperature and duration, and there are different methods of testing such as a cooled glass vial (5℃) or Rolltemp (25℃).

Testing for long-acting blocks overnight adds an additional challenge since it requires repetitive subject awakening for assessment, and the interval for testing is a compromise between test specificity and sleep disruption. Again, there is no consensus on the proper interval for testing recovery from regional block.

Cold therapy is a commonly applied modality following strenuous exercise or during recovery from extremity surgery, and is expected to reduce tissue damage and relieve pain. There is some evidence of benefit but little consensus on the optimum interval and duration of therapy, and there are many approved medical devices available for use.

This investigation proposes an adaptation of an approved cold therapy device to administer automated, periodic cold stimulus at a location made insensate by regional block. When the subject perceives cold at that site, they will press a stop switch to discontinue cooling which will also stop a timer and give an accurate duration of the time to recovery of sensation at that site.

The concept will be tested by comparing the duration measured to the standard measurement of recovery from nerve block (spinal) employed by post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses who will use pinprick (toothpick) testing of lumbar dermatomes every thirty minutes. If the device shows acceptable agreement with standard block recovery testing, a follow-up study would be its evaluation for long-duration block testing as an alternative to research assistant repeated testing overnight.