LA monitoring regime after FICB
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot study of a plasma local anaesthetic monitoring regime after fascia iliaca block in elderly patients
IRAS ID
189632
Contact name
Frederic Sage
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study is a basic science study involving analysis of bloods samples taken from elderly patients following a specific nerve block procedure commonly performed for patients with a hip fracture.
Elderly patients with hip fractures admitted to East Surrey Hospital (ESH) routinely receive a pain relieving nerve block called a Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB), which is performed by the anaesthetic team. The nerve block is performed shortly after admission and involves injecting a local anaesthetic (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 peak concentration levels in the plasma, and even fewer studies focusing on an elderly population. The aim of this study is to identify an optimised sampling strategy for monitoring plasma local anaesthetic concentration after FICB in elderly patients with hip fractures.
Patients over the age of 80 years with confirmed hip fractures, who meet the eligibility criteria, will be invited to take part in the study. They will have a FICB performed as routine care, following this a series of blood samples for levobupivicaine concentration will be taken. The blood samples will be taken at specific time periods (10 samples over a 4 hour period), and will generate a time/concentration curve. From this data we can then identify when the optimal times for sampling are. A blood sample will also be taken to measure levels of a protein called alpha-1 glycoprotein. This protein plays an important part in how levobupivicaine is absorbed within the body.
The pilot will be performed at a single site and plans to recruit a minimum of eight patients which will take approximately four months.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1321
Date of REC Opinion
1 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion