The Impact of Chloroprocaine 3% for Ambulatory Foot Surgery on Perioperative Process Costs

Can the Choice of the Local Anesthetic Have an Impact on Ambulatory Surgery Perioperative Costs? Chloroprocaine for Popliteal Block in Outpatient Foot Surgery

Background and Objectives Short acting regional anesthetics have already been successfully employed for peripheral nerve blocks in an ambulatory surgery setting. However, the impact on direct and indirect perioperative costs comparing two different short-acting local anesthetics has not been performed, yet.

Methods In an observational study including 50 patients per group, patient undergoing popliteal block with chloroprocaine 3% or mepivacaine 1.5% for ambulatory minor foot surgery were compared. The primary outcome was the saving of both direct and indirect perioperative costs. Secondary outcomes were block success, onset time and block duration, patient satisfaction and unplanned outpatient visits or readmissions after discharge.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Impact of Anesthetic Choice on Costs
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Mepivacaine; Drug: Chloroprocaine

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 100

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

ASA I-III scheduled for elective, unilateral, ambulant minor foot surgery (percutaneous hallux valgus correction, osteotomies, tenotomies, mallet and hammer toes correction, screws and/or plaques removal)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA I-III scheduled for elective, unilateral, ambulant minor foot surgery (percutaneous hallux valgus correction, osteotomies, tenotomies, mallet and hammer toes correction, screws and/or plaques removal)

Exclusion Criteria:

• known allergy to drugs used in the study;
• coagulopathies, known neuropathy;
• pregnancy;
• chronic pain;
• drug or alcohol abuse;
• psychiatric disease or lack of competence affecting compliance and evidence of ongoing sepsis or local skin / subcutaneous tissues infections in the popliteal fossa.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Chloroprocaine; Patient undergoing popliteal block with chloroprocaine	Drug: Chloroprocaine
Mepivacaine; Patient undergoing popliteal block with mepivacaine	Drug: Mepivacaine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Cost minimization analysis	6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): April 2, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2020
• Last Verified: March 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: local anesthesia; regional anesthetic
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics; Anesthetics, Local; Mepivacaine; Chloroprocaine
• Other Study ID Numbers: BLV07