Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
A commonly used technique to help provide pain relief is performing a nerve block. This technique involves a local anaesthetic (numbing) fluid being injected into the area that is painful in order to relieve pain by blocking pain signals sent by nerves. Elderly patients with hip fractures admitted to East Surrey Hospital (ESH) routinely receive a type of nerve block called a Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB). The nerve block is performed shortly after admission and involves injecting a local anaesthetic called levobupivicaine into an area at the top of the thigh to provide pain relief. Over time local anaesthetic is absorbed from the site of injection into the blood. Currently there is very little research describing how long it takes for the local anaesthetic to reach the best concentration levels in the plasma (fluid part of blood), and even fewer studies focusing on an elderly population. The aim of this study is to identify a technique for monitoring plasma local anaesthetic concentration after FICB in elderly patients with hip fractures.
Who can participate?
Patients over the age of 80 years with confirmed hip fractures who receive FICB as part of routine care.
What does the study involve?
All participants receive a FICB are per the standard care protocol at East Surrey Hospital. This involves injection of 30ml of local anaesthetic (0.25% levobupivacaine) into a specific point in the groin on the same side as the hip fracture. The local anaesthetic spreads to affect multiple nerves supplying sensation to the hip and leg, thereby providing effective pain relief. Participants have an intravenous catheter (thin tube inserted into a vein) put in place which is used to take samples of blood 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 240 minutes after the FICB. Pain levels are assessed at the same time as blood samples are taken using a scale from 0-10 when at rest and when raising the affective hip slightly. After the 4 hour study period is complete and the final blood sample has been taken, there are no further requirements for participants. The intravenous catheter is then removed and usual care continues.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct potential benefits to participants for participating in this study however routine care will not be disadvantaged in any way. There is a minor risk of temporary and mild discomfort on insertion of the catheter, bruising and phebilitis (inflammation around the vein) from the intravenous catheter. In addition, a number of rare complications may occur. These complications only tend to occur when catheters remain in situ for several days or weeks. In this study the catheter will only be in place for 4 hours, therefore it would be extremely unlikely that a participant will encounter any of the following, but they still remain as potential risks: catheter blockage or blood clots, damage to the catheter, infection at the catheter insertion site or air embolism (blockage in the vein caused by an air bubble).
Where is the study run from?
East Surrey Hospital (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2015 to November 2017
Who is funding the study?
Regional Anaesthesia - UK (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Peter Odor
peter.odor@nhs.net
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Peter Odor
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4642-2703
Contact details
East Surrey Hospital
Canada Avenue
Redhill
RH1 5RH
United Kingdom
+44 7746 399221
peter.odor@nhs.net
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
32449
Study information
Scientific title
Pilot study of a plasma local anaesthetic monitoring regime after fascia iliaca block in elderly patients
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The aim of this study is to identify an optimised sampling strategy for monitoring plasma local anaesthetic concentration after Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) in elderly patients with hip fractures.
Ethics approval
London - Central Research Ethics Committee, 31/09/2016, ref: 16/LO/1321
Study design
Non-randomised; Interventional; Design type: Process of Care, Management of Care
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Specialty: Anaesthesia, perioperative medicine and pain management, Primary sub-specialty: Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management; UKCRC code/ Disease: Injuries and Accidents/ Injuries to the hip and thigh
Intervention
All patients recruited into the study are admitted to hospital with a fractured neck of femur and will receive an analgesic nerve block, called a fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) prior to surgery. The intervention in the study is to place an intravenous catheter for sampling blood following injection of local anaesthetic during the nerve block. Blood sampling involves removal of less than 5ml of blood on each occasion and occurs at the following time intervals following FICB: 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 240 minutes. Pain scores at rest and on 15 degree passive straight leg raise will be recorded using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) system.
Blood samples will be tested using a validated GC-MS and ELISA assays to produce data on plasma levobupivacaine and alpha-1 glycoprotein concentration.
Investigators will review patient records to obtain relevant data on patient age, weight, height, gender, renal function, albumin and concurrent medication, intravenous fluid administration and supplemental analgesia provided.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Pharmacokinetic profile of levobupivacaine is measured through blood testing on samples taken at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 240 minutes after the FICB.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Relationship between time and pain after fascia iliaca compartment block is measured through blood testing and visual analogue scale (VAS) on samples taken at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 240 minutes after the FICB
2. Range of alpha-1 glycoprotein plasma concentration in elderly patients with hip fracture is measured through blood testing on samples taken at baseline and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 240 minutes after the FICB
3. Patient demographics, renal function, intravenous fluid administration, supplemental analgesia requirements are measured using medical record review at baseline
Overall trial start date
01/08/2015
Overall trial end date
01/11/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Informed consent: signed written informed consent before inclusion in the study
2. Radiologically-confirmed fractured neck of femur
3. Age 80 years and over
4. Scheduled to receive fascia iliaca compartment block (to be done by anaesthetic team, as per standard local care protocol)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Senior
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 8; UK Sample Size: 8
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Patient refusal or incapacity
2. Patient on anticoagulation medication
3. INR > 3.0
4. Platelets < 50
5. Allergy or contraindication to local anaesthetics
6. Local infection to site of FICB injection or blood sampling
7. Creatinine >300 or receiving renal replacement therapy or dialysis
8. Patients requiring Level 2 or 3 care
9. Estimated weight < 40kg or > 120kg
Recruitment start date
14/11/2016
Recruitment end date
15/05/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
East Surrey Hospital
Canada Avenue
Redhill
RH1 5RH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Sponsor details
East Surrey Hospital
Canada Avenue
Redhill
RH1 5RH
United Kingdom
+44 1737 768511 ext. 6843
research.office@sash.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Regional Anaesthesia - UK (RA-UK)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned presentation at the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia Meeting 2018. Publication in high-impact, peer reviewed journal within one year of the overall trial end date.
IPD Sharing plan:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from the chief investigator.
Intention to publish date
01/11/2018
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list