Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Post-Procedural Neck Pain

Overseen By Robert Stenberg, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Disqualifiers: Intubation, CPR, Lidocaine allergy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of a superficial cervical plexus block (a type of local anesthesia for the neck) in reducing pain after inserting a catheter into the jugular vein. It compares this method to a standard local infiltrate, another pain relief technique. The trial seeks participants who require this procedure as part of their care at the Akron General Emergency Department. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as allergies to specific anesthetics or neck problems, cannot participate. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to important research that could enhance pain management techniques.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that the Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) is generally safe. Many studies and reports have found complications from this procedure to be rare. In one study, patients experienced significant pain relief with few issues after receiving the block. Most patients felt better and had fewer symptoms like nausea afterward. This suggests that SCPB is well-tolerated and could be a safe option for managing neck pain after procedures. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB) for post-procedural neck pain because it offers a targeted approach that could provide pain relief with potentially fewer side effects compared to systemic pain medications like opioids or NSAIDs. Unlike these traditional treatments that affect the whole body, SCPB specifically targets the nerves in the neck area, which might lead to quicker and more localized pain relief. Additionally, SCPB could reduce the reliance on oral painkillers, which often come with risks of dependency and other side effects. By focusing directly on the affected nerves, SCPB may enhance recovery and improve patient comfort after neck procedures.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for post-procedural neck pain?

Research shows that the Superficial Cervical Plexus Block (SCPB), a treatment under study in this trial, reduces pain after surgery. Studies have found that SCPB lessens the need for pain medication during and after surgery. In one study, 71% of patients reported good pain relief with SCPB. Additionally, SCPB reduced the need for extra pain relief in the first 24 hours after surgery. This treatment also tends to have fewer complications compared to similar methods. Participants in this trial may receive either SCPB or the alternative treatment, Local Infiltrate, to assess their effectiveness in managing post-procedural neck pain. ^{1 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Robert Stenberg, MD

Principal Investigator

Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who visit the Akron General Emergency Department between March 1, 2021 and December 1, 2022, and need an internal jugular vein central line (IJVC). It's not for those who are intubated or have had CPR, allergies to local anesthetics like lidocaine or bupivacaine, skin infections near the neck veins, abnormal neck anatomy or prior surgeries in that area.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients who present to the Akron General Emergency Department (Main) between March 1, 2021 and December 1, 2022

I need an internal jugular vein catheter for my treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who have an allergy to lidocaine or bupivacaine

I cannot have a neck nerve block due to skin infection, abnormal neck structure, or previous neck surgery.

I have undergone CPR.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either the SCPB or local infiltrate during internal jugular venous cannulation

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for pain and complications following the procedure

7 days

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Local Infiltrate
• Superficial Cervical Plexus Block

Trial Overview The study is comparing two methods of pain control after placing a central line in the neck. One group will receive a superficial cervical plexus block (SCPB), while the other will get a standard local infiltrate. The goal is to see which method better reduces patient pain during this procedure.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SCPB Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Local Infitrate Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Lead Sponsor

Trials

8

Recruited

480+

Akron General Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

7

Recruited

280+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12371962/

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Postoperative Pain ... Clinical evidence shows the block is effective in reducing acute postoperative pain after occipital craniotomy and diminishes opioid ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10281613/

Evaluating the Analgesic Efficacy of Superficial Cervical ... Conclusion: SCPB provides better perioperative analgesia by decreasing intraoperative as well as postoperative systemic analgesic requirements ...

3. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/21/6310

Unlocking the Potential of the Superficial Cervical Plexus ... Overall, 10 of the 14 cases (71%) reported satisfactory pain relief at their follow-up visit, with these outcomes being equally distributed ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04442009

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Orthognathic Surgery It has lower complication rate compared to the deep cervical plexus block. Postoperative pain management is important in patients underwent orthognathic surgery ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091217540787

Analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus ... The primary outcome data from this meta-analysis demonstrate reduction in the requirement for rescue analgesia in the first 24 h in patients who have received ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01662219

Effect of Superficial Cervical Plexus Block on the ... This study is designed to find out if an injection of freezing on the side of neck around the nerves (superficial cervical plexus block) improves the quality ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0736467925001040

A Case Series: Ultrasound-Guided Superficial Cervical ... All 5 patients received significant pain relief from the SCPNB. The average preblock pain score was 9.3 and the average postblock pain score was 1.5. No ...

8. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pne2.70002

A Retrospective Analysis of Superficial Cervical Plexus ... The primary outcome was PONV as measured by antiemetic use or documented nausea or vomiting among patients who received a SCPB compared to ...