Ultrasound-Guided Axillary or Infraclavicular Nerve Block for Upper Limb Surgery
Condition: Upper Extremity; Orthopedic Surgery; Trauma; Forearm Injuries; Nerve Block
MeSH terms: Forearm Injuries
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 4

Summary: 
      This study aims to detect differences in onset time of brachial plexus (i.e., arm) anesthesia
      using two different nerve block techniques.

      Using ultrasound guidance, axillary (i.e., at the armpit) and infraclavicular (i.e., below
      the collarbone) blocks will be performed to patients undergoing upper limb surgery.

      The investigators will analyze how long it takes for anesthesia to be adequate for pain-free
      surgery, thus determine the optimal technique for this kind of surgery.
    

Detailed description: 
      Real-time ultrasound guidance has substantially reduced the risk of pneumothorax and/or
      vascular puncture during infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks. The role of this technique
      has thus been expanded to overlap those procedures for which an axillary nerve block would be
      commonly considered as first choice.

      A reference block for upper limb surgery thanks to its safety profile and clinical efficacy,
      the axillary approach may be more painful or unpleasant for some patients.

      The investigators aim to determine possible differences in onset time and patient acceptance
      between the two techniques.
    

Intervention name(s): Midazolam; Ropivacaine; Fentanyl; General anesthesia; Axillary brachial plexus nerve block; Infraclavicular brachial plexus block
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Drug; Procedure; Procedure; Procedure
Intervention description(s): Procedural sedation before the execution of the block.
0.03 mg/kg iv bolus; 0.75% (wt/vol) solution, 20 ml perineural injection; 50 µg iv bolus prn for pain during surgery, up to 150 µg; General anesthesia will be induced if pain during surgery develops which is intractable with iv fentanyl ≤150 µg.; Blocks will be performed under high-resolution real-time ultrasound guidance.
Patients will be in the supine position. With the abducted arm flexed 90° at the elbow, the transducer will scan for the axillary artery in its short-axis. Individual nerves will be sought for around the artery.
A 22G, 17°-bevel needle will be advanced in-plane to inject aliquots of local anesthetic around each nerve structure up to the prescribed dose.; Blocks will be performed under high-resolution real-time ultrasound guidance.
Patients will be in the supine position. The linear transducer will be initially positioned between the middle and lateral third of the clavicle, scanning on a parasagittal plane.
The axillary artery and veins will then be sought for. We will try to visualize the three cords of the brachial plexus separately, and to inject local anesthetic around each of them. If this is not possible, the needle will be positioned cranially and posteriorly to the artery, and the injection will be made from there. A 20 G, 17°-bevel needle will be used for all blocks.
Other intervention name(s): Versed; Benzodiazepine; Premedication; Sedation; Naropin; Local anesthetic; Amide local anesthetic; Opioid; Analgesic; Monitored anesthesia care; Peripheral Nerve Block; Regional Anesthesia; Ultrasound; Regional Anesthesia; Peripheral nerve block; Ultrasound
Intervention MeSH terms: Midazolam; Fentanyl; Analgesics; Anesthetics; Ropivacaine; Anesthetics, Local
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Anesthesia; Upper extremity; Nerve block; Ultrasound; Brachial plexus