Assessing the Enhanced Precision: The Value of Impedance in Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks (Axillary, Interscalene, Popliteal Sciatic), an Exploratory Prospective Observational Study

Assessing the Enhanced Precision: The Value of Impedance in Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks, an Exploratory Prospective Observational Study

Impedance can have an impact on nerve block during loco-regional anesthesia, particularly when using techniques such as nerve stimulation or ultrasound guidance to locate and block specific nerves. Impedance refers to the resistance to electrical current flow within tissue, and it can affect the ability to stimulate nerves or visualize them using ultrasound. The aim of this research is to assess the impedance across different tissue type during an axillary peripheral nerve block (skin, fat, fascia, muscle, nerve proximity). The results of this study would help clinicians performing nerve block to enhance the precision of needle placement, thus increase the success rate of nerve block and reduce adverse events such as intraneural or intravascular injections.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Impedance; Axillary Nerve Block; Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block; Interscalene Nerve Block; Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks

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

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Assaf, M.D. Anesthesiology; Phone Number: +961 3 970 762; Email: georges.assaf@laumcrh.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Michel Youssef Akiki, M.D. anesthesiology resident; Phone Number: + 961 71159586; Email: michel.akiki@lau.edu

Study Locations

• Lebanon
  • Beirut
    • Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
      • Recruiting
      • Lebanese American University Rizk Hospital
      • Contact: Assaf, M.D. Anesthesiology; Phone Number: +961 3 970 762; Email: georges.assaf@laumcrh.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Community sample

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals aged 18 years to 90 years old
• No infection at the injection site
• Patient signed the study consent form
• No contraindications for nerve block
• No allergies to any of the drugs used
• Patient able to communicate effectively

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients not meeting the inclusion criteria
• Patients with bleeding disorders or undergoing anticoagulation therapy
• Pregnant patients
• Patients with mental incapacity
• Any medical conditions posing severe risks during the procedure

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assess the impedance across different type of tissue during axillary, popliteal and interscalene nerve block	Measure impedance at different locations, different tissue types and different distances from the nerve (as recorded on the nerve stimulator)	Two years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lebanese American University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 10, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 21, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 28, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: LAUGPNB5372

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No