Patients scheduled for mastectomy and suitable for paravertebral block will be randomized to one of 2 groups. Group 1 will have the nerve block performed using a standard non-echogenic needle and catheter under ultrasound guidance. Group 2 will have the block performed using the control needle and an echogenic catheter, all under ultrasound (US) guidance. The clinician will be blinded to the catheter type and will assess the quality of catheter visualisation of the US image during the procedure, along with adequacy of spread of local anesthetic. The primary outcome will be needle visibility, and secondary outcomes will be block success rate and block quality. An assessment of the patient's pain levels after the procedure will also be conducted.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
Catheter used for a paravertebral anesthesia block
Nerve Block Catheter
University College Hospital
London, United Kingdom
RECRUITINGVisibility of entire catheter length
Demonstrate superior ultrasound visibility of the entire length of the test catheter compared to the control, as graded by a blinded investigator
Time frame: Day 1, time of procedure
Visibility of catheter tip
Demonstrate superior ultrasound visibility of the test catheter tip compared to the control, as graded by a blinded investigator
Time frame: Day 1, time of procedure
Quality of the block
Mean rating of block quality as assessed by the clinician on a 4 point scale per treatment group
Time frame: Day 1, time of procedure
Block failure rate
Number of failed blocks per treatment group
Time frame: Day 1, time of procedure
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