Optimizing Local Anesthetic Concentration for Continuous Popliteal-Sciatic Nerve Blocks
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
A continuous peripheral nerve block-also termed "perineural local anesthetic
infusion"-involves the insertion of a tiny tube (a "catheter") through the skin and adjacent
to a peripheral nerve, followed by local anesthetic (numbing medicine) administration via the
catheter, providing pain control following surgery. Continuous peripheral nerve blocks may be
provided in the hospital setting, but the use of lightweight, portable pumps permits infusion
at home as well. However, it remains unknown if the concentration of the local anesthetic
influences the block effects; or, is it rather simply the total dose of medication that is
important. If it is the latter, then the concentration of local anesthetic could be
increased, allowing a decreased basal infusion rate, which would allow patients at home to
receive twice the duration of potent pain control since their infusion pump local anesthetic
reservoir would last twice as long as current practice. In addition, if one
concentration/dose combination results in less muscle weakness, but with at least equivalent
analgesia, then the risk of falling might be decreased as well.
The investigators will test the hypothesis that providing ropivacaine at different
concentrations and rates (0.1% at 8 mL/hour vs. 0.4% at 2 mL/hour)-but at an equivalent total
basal (8 mg/hour)-produces comparable effects when used in a continuous popliteal-sciatic
nerve block.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of California, San Diego
Collaborators:
Baxter Healthcare Corporation Baxter Healthcare International