ED95 bupivacaine and supraclavicular block

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  What is the ED95 dose for bupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block using ultrasound?

• IRAS ID

  5560

• Sponsor organisation

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Eudract number

  2009-011829-13

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Research summary

  A supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve block is an injection of local anaesthetic into the base of the neck. An injection here numbs the nerves that go to the arm and hand. The supraclavicular brachial plexus block is used as part of an anaesthetic for operations involving the arm and hand and we routinely perform this block for surgery in this part of the body. Availability of ultrasound has made it possible to see exactly where the local anaesthetic is going and we believe this will allow us to find the optimal starting dose of local anaesthetic agent for this block without the risk of toxicity. There is a published study in the literature which looks at the dose which will be effective in 50 patients if used in 100 patients. We aim to find the dose which will be successful in 95 out of 100 patients. This dose, which is called the ED95 dose, is clinically more relevant and useful to the anaesthetists. There is no credible published evidence in the literature in this area.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  09/H1306/98

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Nov 2009

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion