Trial reportEuropean journal of anaesthesiology2021
Ultrasound-guided supraclavicular vs. retroclavicular block of the brachial plexus: comparison of ipsilateral diaphragmatic function: A randomised clinical trial.
Trial report in European journal of anaesthesiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02631122 (Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block vs Retroclavicular Brachial Plexus Block), which is not on this map. Cited by 11 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block vs Retroclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: Comparison of Impact on Ipsilateral Diaphragmatic Function
Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Optimal Dose of Butorphanol Combined with Ropivacaine for Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block in Patients Undergoing Upper Limb Fracture Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Trial
- Early Detection and Temporal Progression of Hemidiaphragmatic Paralysis After Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block with 20 mL vs 30 mL Ropivacaine: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Trial
- Optimal analgesia after laparoscopic total hysterectomy with pre-pneumoperitoneum phrenic nerve block using different ropivacaine concentrations: randomized controlled trial.BMC anesthesiology · 2025Trial
- Addition of Liposomal Bupivacaine to Standard Bupivacaine versus Standard Bupivacaine Alone in the Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Anesthesiology · 2024Trial
- Effectiveness of Brachial Plexus Blocks in Obesity: Secondary Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2024Trial
- Effects of the costoclavicular block versus interscalene block in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under monitored anesthesia care: a randomized, prospective, non-inferiority study.Korean journal of anesthesiology · 2023Trial
- Comparison of Interscalene Brachial Plexus, Anterior Suprascapular Nerve, and Costoclavicular Brachial Plexus Blocks in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Retroclavicular approach of infraclavicular brachial plexus block for regional anaesthesia for upper limb surgeries: A systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.Indian journal of anaesthesia · 2026Article
- Efficacy and Safety of Retroclavicular Brachial Plexus Block for Pain Management after Shoulder Surgeries: a Narrative Review.Current pain and headache reports · 2025Review
- Just the facts: brachial plexus blocks for upper extremity injuries in the emergency department.CJEM · 2024Article
- Statistical fragility of reporting hemidiaphragmatic paralysis after brachial plexus blocks in randomized controlled trials: a systematic review.Anesthesiology and perioperative science · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe ultrasound-guided retroclavicular block (RCB) is a recently described alternative approach to brachial plexus blockade at the level of the cords. Although more distal blockade of the brachial plexus is thought to be associated with a lower incidence of phrenic nerve block, the impact of RCB on ipsilateral diaphragmatic function has not been formally investigated.
objectiveTo compare the effects of supraclavicular and retroclavicular brachial plexus block on diaphragmatic function.
settingA single tertiary hospital, study period from December 2017 to May 2019.
designDouble-blinded, randomised study. PATIENTS: A total of 40 patients undergoing upper extremity surgery below the axilla. Exclusion criteria included significant pulmonary disease, BMI more than 40 and contra-indication to peripheral nerve block.
interventionsPatients were randomised to supraclavicular or retroclavicular brachial plexus block with ropivacaine 0.5%. OUTCOME MEASURES: Phrenic block was assessed by measuring changes in diaphragmatic excursion using M-mode ultrasound, and maximum inspiratory volume on incentive spirometry from baseline, at 15 and 30 min postblock, and postoperatively. Comparative assessment of block characteristics included timing and distribution of sensory and motor block onset in the upper extremity, and scanning and block performance times.
resultsThe incidence of phrenic block in the supraclavicular group was higher by ultrasound imaging (70 vs. 15%) and also by pulmonary function testing (55 vs. 5%), with both diaphragmatic excursion and maximum inspiratory volume decreasing to a greater extent after supraclavicular block (SCB) compared with RCB at 15, 30 min and postoperative time points (repeated measures analysis of variance, P < 0.001). There was no difference in timing and extent of distal arm block, but suprascapular and axillary nerves were more consistently blocked after SCB than after RCB.
conclusionThe current study confirms the hypothesis that a RCB is significantly less likely to affect ipsilateral diaphragmatic function than a SCB.
trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02631122.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.