NCT03677778

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Washout to Reverse Inadvertent Phrenic Nerve Blockade

Completed NA Last updated 2 August 2022

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Normal saline injected via interscalene nerve catheter in Anesthesia, Local in 43 participants. Completed in 7 July 2022.

Timeline

22 October 2018

Primary endpoint
7 July 2022

7 July 2022

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Stanford University
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	double
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	43
Start date	22 October 2018
Primary completion	7 July 2022
Estimated completion	7 July 2022
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• Normal saline injected via interscalene nerve catheter
• Placebo

Conditions studied

• Anesthesia, Local — all drugs for Anesthesia, Local →
• Phrenic Nerve Paralysis — all drugs for Phrenic Nerve Paralysis →
• Upper Extremity Injury — all drugs for Upper Extremity Injury →
• Phrenic Nerve Palsy on the Left — all drugs for Phrenic Nerve Palsy on the Left →

Sponsor

Stanford University

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Anesthesia, Local or Phrenic Nerve Paralysis. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

One of the most frequently performed peripheral nerve blocks (the injection of local anesthetic near nerves to block sensation/ movement to a specific part of the body) is the interscalene brachial plexus block for upper extremity surgeries. This type of block can unmask underlying respiratory issues such as shortness of breath due to a well-known and typically insignificant side effect of temporary diaphragmatic paralysis.

The nerve block may be able to use saline solution to wash out the local anesthetic and potentially reverse this respiratory side effect. Specifically, the goal of this study is to determine if the injection of saline through the nerve block catheter reverses blockade of the phrenic nerve supplying the diaphragm, without affecting the ability of the nerve block to provide pain control after surgery.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Clinical effect of normal saline injectate into interscalene nerve block catheters given within one hour of local anesthetic bolus on analgesia and hemidiaphragmatic paralysis.
   Gerber LN, Sun LY, Ma W, Basireddy S, et al · · 2021 · cited 7× · PMID 33184166 · DOI 10.1136/rapm-2020-101922