Clinical And Anatomic Study Of An Ultrasound-Guided Superior Trunk Of The Brachial Plexus

Clinical And Anatomic Study Of An Ultrasound-Guided Selective Block Of The Superior Trunk Of The Brachial Plexus. Description Of A New Approach

Introduction

Interscalene brachial plexus block is the most commonly performed regional anesthesia technique to promote analgesia for shoulder surgeries. However, one of limitations is the risk of phrenic nerve palsy despite injection of low volumes, being contraindicated in patients with limited pulmonary reserve.

Burckett-St.Laurent et al described an alternative approach to avoid phrenic block - the superior trunk approach.

In this case series, the investigators suggest a modification of Burckett-St.Laurent's technique. The objective of this study is to evaluate efficacy, phrenic nerve function and contrast dispersion in cadavers after performing this new approach.

Materials and methods

The study was approved by Institutional Review Board of our institution. To perform the superior trunk approach described by Burckett-St.Laurent, C5 and C6 nerve roots are identified within the interscalene groove and traced distally to where they coalesce into the superior trunk, proximal to the takeoff of the suprascapular nerve. Burckett-St.Laurent et al suggest spreading local anesthetic around superior trunk at this point.

The investigators suggest an injection more distally, where superior trunk is in costoclavicular space below omohyoid muscle, proximal to the suprascapular outlet. The needle is advanced below the prevertebral layer of deep cervical fascia, avoiding that the tip of the needle lies in the fascial plane between investing layer of deep vertebral fascia and prevertebral layer, a loose fascial plane where lymph node chain is located and may allow postero-anterior dispersion toward phrenic. To guarentee right position of the tip the investigators suggest an intracluster pattern of spread.

Patients scheduled for rotator cuff surgery will receive 6 mL of 0,5% bupivacaine in this new approach. Successful block is defined as motor score of ≤ 2 on modified Bromage scale in the deltoid and bíceps; absent sensation to cold and pinprick sensation in C5 and C6 dermatomes within 30 minutes of injection.

To evaluate phrenic nerve, diaphragmatic excursion will be assessed by ultrasonography of ipsilateral hemidiaphragm and impedance tomography. Pain scores and analgesic consumption will be assessed in PACU.

Moreover, 6 mL of methylene blue will be injected into cadavers to evaluate if dispersion is restricted to fibers of the superior trunk and don't reach phrenic nerve.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Brachial Plexus Block; Shoulder Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Bupivacaine - Superior Trunk Block

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04024002
    • Recruiting
    • Federal University of São Paulo

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA I or II
• BMI < 35 kg/m²
• Patients scheduled for rotator cuff surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• cognitive impairment or active psychiatric condition
• infection at the puncture site of the blockade
• coagulopathy
• history of allergy to bupivacaine

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Bupivacaine - Superior Trunk Block; Patients scheduled for rotator cuff surgery received 6 mL of 0,5% bupivacaine in the superior Trunk. 6 mL of methylene blue will be injected into cadavers with the same technique.	Procedure: Bupivacaine - Superior Trunk Block; It will be performed the superior trunk approach with local anesthestic in patients and methylene blue in cadavers.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Superior Trunk Successful Block	Evaluate the efficacy of the block: Successful block was defined as motor score of ≤ 2 on modified Bromage scale in the deltoid and bíceps; absent sensation to cold and pinprick sensation in C5 and C6 dermatomes	within 30 minutes of injection

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Phrenic nerve Block	Evaluate the phrenic function after the block: To evaluate phrenic nerve, diaphragmatic excursion was assessed by ultrasonography of ipsilateral hemidiaphragm	at 30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Federal University of São Paulo

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Tran DQ, Elgueta MF, Aliste J, Finlayson RJ. Diaphragm-Sparing Nerve Blocks for Shoulder Surgery. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2017 Jan/Feb;42(1):32-38. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000529.
• Wiegel M, Moriggl B, Schwarzkopf P, Petroff D, Reske AW. Anterior Suprascapular Nerve Block Versus Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Surgery in the Outpatient Setting: A Randomized Controlled Patient- and Assessor-Blinded Trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2017 May/Jun;42(3):310-318. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000573.
• Franco CD, Williams JM. Ultrasound-Guided Interscalene Block: Reevaluation of the "Stoplight" Sign and Clinical Implications. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 Jul-Aug;41(4):452-9. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000407.
• Burckett-St Laurent D, Chan V, Chin KJ. Refining the ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block: the superior trunk approach. Can J Anaesth. 2014 Dec;61(12):1098-102. doi: 10.1007/s12630-014-0237-3. Epub 2014 Sep 11.
• Franco CD. The Ultrasound Images of the Proximal Interscalene Space: A Reply to Dr Gabriel and Dr Sandhu. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2017 Jan/Feb;42(1):119-120. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000533. No abstract available.
• Siegenthaler A, Moriggl B, Mlekusch S, Schliessbach J, Haug M, Curatolo M, Eichenberger U. Ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block, description of a novel supraclavicular approach. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2012 May-Jun;37(3):325-8. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e3182409168.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 9, 2018
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): September 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 10, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): May 1, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Brachial Plexus Block; Superior Trunk; Phrenic Nerve
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics; Anesthetics, Local; Bupivacaine
• Other Study ID Numbers: Superior Trunk

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No