Can a single injection numb the chest or belly? a nerve block under the microscope
NCT ID NCT04401007
First seen Jul 31, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Summary
This study tests a newer nerve block technique called the erector spinae plane (ESP) block, which involves injecting local anesthetic near the spine to numb the chest or abdominal wall. Healthy volunteers will receive the block with two different doses of lidocaine on separate visits to see how long and how completely it blocks sensation. The goal is to understand how well the block works and whether the dose affects its coverage, which could improve pain management after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Erector spinae plane (ESP) block with lidocaine and epinephrine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help refine the ESP block technique, leading to more consistent and effective pain relief after surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to patients. The block may not provide consistent coverage, and there are risks like infection or nerve damage.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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12 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2021
- Finished
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Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * ASA 1 (normal healthy) volunteers * 18 - 50 years of age * 60- 100 kg weight * English speaking * female volunteers of childbearing potential will be required to provide a negative pregnancy test before being allowed to participate, females of child bearing potential must be willing to use medically acceptable birth control methods for a minimum of 2 weeks following the nerve block. Exclusion Criteria: * weight \< 60 kg (limited by the maximum lidocaine dose 7 mg/kg) * medical disorders (including bleeding disorders) * any recreational drug use * allergy to local anesthetic (lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine) * contraindication to regional anesthetic block * inability to provide informed consent * baseline abnormality of chest, abdominal and back sensation * pregnancy / breast feeding * individuals with mental health disorders (for example bipolar disorder or depression).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University Health Network
Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada
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