The intercostobrachial nerve underlies many anatomical variations. For surgery of the upper arm the axilla is usually not anaesthetized by a brachial plexus block, which therefore needs to be completed by an intercostobrachial nerve block. The optimal access for an ultrasound guided block of the intercostobrachial nerve is not yet known. The investigators compare a proximal and a more distal approach to the nerve referred to onset time, sensory blocked area and duration.
The participants will be randomized into two groups: Group one receives a modified PECS 2 (thoracic wall) block above the second intercostal space with injection between the Musculus serratus anterior and Musculus pectoralis minor. Group 2 receives a subpectoral block under the pectoralis major muscle at the medial boarder of the axillary triangle.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
29
Ultrasound guided nerve block
Marienhospital Stuttgart, Dpt. of Anaesthesiology
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Blocked area in squared cm
Area of sensory loss to pin prick test
Time frame: Assessment 30 minutes after intervention
Block onset time in minutes
Onset time of complete analgesia. Assessment by pin prick test in the middle of the axilla
Time frame: Complete timeframe of 45 minutes with testing every 5 minutes
Block duration in minutes
Complete analgesia to pin prick in the middle of the axilla
Time frame: Assessment every 30 minutes for 8 hours after nerve block
The pain numeric rating scale (NRS) during surgical manipulation in the axilla
Time frame: From beginning to end of surgery. Estimated mean duration of 90 minutes.
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