Cardiovascular response to nasal local anaesthetic infiltration
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An observational study of the cardiovascular response to infiltration of local anaesthetic into the nasal septum in patients undergoing trans-sphenoidal resection of a pituitary lesion
IRAS ID
161465
Contact name
Matthew Wiles
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
The pituitary is a small gland about the size of a pea found at the base of the brain that is responsible for making hormones. Some people develop tumours within the pituitary that need to be surgically removed. The pituitary gland is accessed by the surgeons through the nose, (whilst the patient is under a general anaesthetic) using a camera in a similar way to the “keyhole surgery” that is done for removal of gall bladders and to look in the knee joint.
In order to decrease bleeding during the operation and to give pain relief afterwards, local anaesthetics (similar to the sort used by dentists for fillings) are injected into the inside of the patient’s nose prior to the start of the operation. In some patients this can result in a drop in their blood pressure. We are not sure exactly why this happens and this study aims to try and find out why the local anaesthetics cause this effect. A monitor will be connected to a special drip that is in an artery in the patient’s wrist. This drip is routinely put in for all patients having this sort of surgery. The monitor is able to determine what the blood pressure is, and how well, and how fast the heart is beating. We will observe what happens to these measurements after the routine local anaesthetic is injected into the nose. The surgery will then take place as usual.
There are no extra procedures necessary and the study will not effect how the surgery or anaesthetic is done.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1315
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion