MED and Femoral Nerve Block

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  What is the ED95 dose of Prilocaine for femoral nerve block using ultrasound?

• IRAS ID

  17282

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Leeds

• Eudract number

  2008-008177-57

• ISRCTN Number

  n/a

• Research summary

  A femoral nerve block is an injection of local anaesthetic into the groin. The groin is the fold at the top of leg where the abdomen meets either thigh. An injection here numbs the nerves that go to the front of the thigh and the knee. Femoral nerve block is used as part of an anaesthetic for operations on the upper leg, hip or knee. We routinely perform femoral nerve block for taking muscle biopsies from the inside of the thigh for the diagnosis of a condition called Ó?malignant hyperthermia?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 best dose of local anaesthetic agent for this block without the risk of toxicity.There are published studies in the literature which look 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/H1306/53

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 May 2009

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion