Continuous Infusions vs Scheduled Bolus Infusions

December 4, 2025 updated by: Jean-Louis Horn, Stanford University

A Prospective Comparison of Pain and Analgesia in Patients With Continuous Peripheral Nerve Block Catheters Using Continuous Infusion or Scheduled Bolus Infusion

The goal of the study is to compare continuous infusions and scheduled bolus infusions for peripheral nerve blocks and their effect on post-surgical pain.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Regional anesthetic techniques are an integral part to many anesthetic approaches, providing both intraoperative and postoperative anesthesia and analgesia. Regional anesthesia peripheral nerve blocks have been shown to reduce postoperative pain and improve measures such as opioid requirements and readiness for discharge. By using a catheter technique for continuous peripheral nerve blocks, analgesia can be extended well into post-operative days 2 and 3, further extending these benefits. Historically these catheters have implemented a continuous dosing regimen of local anesthetic, but increasingly there is evidence of improved analgesic outcomes without adverse effects by using a scheduled bolus dosing regimen. Many institutions have implemented this new protocol for catheter dosing. The beneficial effect of scheduled bolus dosing has not been studied in all blocks and all surgical procedures.

The study will consist of three independent arms, each designed to evaluate a different nerve block site: interscalene, adductor canal, and infraclavicular. A total of 60 patients will be enrolled in each arm.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
240

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
        • Recruiting
        • Stanford University
        • Contact:
          • Archana Verma
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jean Louis-Horn, MD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients presenting for nerve block catheters for post-operative analgesia
  • ASA physical status I, II, or III.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Incarceration
  • Age <18
  • BMI >35
  • Pre-operative opioid use >30 mg morphine equivalents per day
  • Inability to communicate with investigators by telephone
  • Pre-existing neuropathy of the operative extremity.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Continuous Infusion
Local anesthetic medication (Ropivacaine 0.2%) is provided at a continuous basal rate.
Drug: Ropivacaine
Patient will be given a continuous infusion of local anesthetic.
Other Names:
  • Continuous infusion
Drug: Ropivacaine
Patient will be given a scheduled intermittent bolus of local anesthetic.
Other Names:
  • Bolus Infusion
Active Comparator: Intermittent Bolus Infusion
Local anesthetic medication (Ropivacaine 0.2%) is provided in scheduled, intermittent boluses.
Drug: Ropivacaine
Patient will be given a continuous infusion of local anesthetic.
Other Names:
  • Continuous infusion
Drug: Ropivacaine
Patient will be given a scheduled intermittent bolus of local anesthetic.
Other Names:
  • Bolus Infusion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Post-surgical pain
Time Frame: Post-operative day 0, 1, and 2
Pain scores will be collected using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) from 0-10, where 0 is the lowest and 10 is the highest pain level.
Post-operative day 0, 1, and 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Opioid consumption
Time Frame: Post-operative day 0, 1, and 2
The amount of opioid analgesics (converted to total morphine milligram equivalents) taken by patients will be recorded.
Post-operative day 0, 1, and 2
Local anesthetic use
Time Frame: Post-operative day 1 and 2
The amount of supplemental local anesthetic boluses self-administered by patients will be recorded (in mL).
Post-operative day 1 and 2
Quality of recovery
Time Frame: Post-operative day 1 and 2
Quality of recovery will be assessed using a Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) questionnaire. The QoR15 scores range from 0 to 150, where 0 is poor recovery and 150 is excellent recovery.
Post-operative day 1 and 2
Evidence of diaphragmatic paralysis
Time Frame: Post-operative day 1 and 2
Ability to breathe will be assessed as a part of QoR-15 questionnaire on 11-point scale, where 0 is never being able to breathe easily and 10 is always being able to breathe easily.
Post-operative day 1 and 2
Patient satisfaction
Time Frame: Post-operative day 1 and 2
Patients will be asked to assess their satisfaction with pain management (Yes/No).
Post-operative day 1 and 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Stanford University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jean Louis-Horn, MD, Stanford University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 24, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 25, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 26, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
December 8, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 4, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 41434

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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