Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Block With vs Without PNS

Launched by AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY · Jul 22, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a type of anesthesia called a supraclavicular block, which helps numb the arm for surgery. The study compares two ways of guiding this nerve block: one uses ultrasound imaging alone to see the nerves, and the other uses ultrasound plus a technique called peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), which helps confirm the nerve’s exact location by causing small muscle movements. The goal is to find out if using both methods together makes the nerve block safer and more successful than using ultrasound alone.

Adults aged 18 and older who are having surgery on the middle to lower arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand may be eligible to join, as long as they are generally healthy enough for regional anesthesia and can communicate clearly about their symptoms. People with nerve problems, bleeding issues, or cognitive difficulties won’t be able to participate. If you join, the team will perform the nerve block using one of the two methods and closely monitor how well it works and how safe it is. This study hasn’t started recruiting yet, but it aims to improve pain control during arm surgeries by finding the best way to guide nerve blocks.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Aged 18 years and older
• • ASA physical status I to IV
• • No contraindications to regional anaesthesia
• • Operative site located at the mid to lower arm, including the elbow, forearm, wrist, or hand
• • Ability to provide informed consent
• • Ability to reliably report symptoms to the research team related to regional anaesthesia
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patient's refusal to participate.
• • Inability to provide first-party consent due to cognitive impairment.
• • Cognitive dysfunction which can lead to difficulties in communication and cooperation of patient.
• • Preexisting neuropathy.
• • Preexisting coagulopathy.
• • Patients who will be shifted to ICU due to post - operative ventilatory support.