Supraclavicular vs Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Surgery

Institutional Review Board, Hospital for Special Surgery

January 14, 2008

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Principal Investigator

Christopher A DiMeo, MD

Co-Investigators

Victor M Zayas, MD
Andrew JD Cameron, MBChB
Carey E Ford, BA

Summary

60 patients undergoing shoulder surgery within a one year period will be randomized to one of two different ultrasound guided nerve block techniques to study the related side effect profile.  All follow up will be completed on the operative day.

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria; 
• Age 18 – 80
• Patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery undergoing shoulder surgery.

Exclusion criteria; 
• Patients with documented evidence of preoperative hemidiaphragmatic paresis (ie on CXR)
• Patients with preoperative hoarseness.
• Patients with preoperative ptosis
• Patients with preoperative brachial plexopathy
• Patients with a perceived need for a long acting anesthetic, such that the local anesthetic agents described in the study protocol would not be appropriate.
• Contraindication to regional blockade (local cellulitis, coagulopathy, allergy to local anesthetic agents).
• Patients undergoing total shoulder joint replacement surgery.

Contact Information

Christopher A DiMeo, MD
212.606.1206
dimeoc@hss.edu

Carey E Ford, BA
212.606.1206
fordc@hss.edu

Andrew JD Cameron, MBChB
212.606.1206
camerona@hss.edu

Victor Zayas, MD
212.606.1206
zayasv@hss.edu