The effect of dextrose 5% in water on peripheral nerve stimulation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION When performing regional anesthesia a small volume of local anesthetic or normal saline abolishes a motor response induced by a low current (0.5 mA). In contrast, the injection of a non-conducting solution (dextrose 5% in water (D5W)) has been demonstrated to maintain a motor response in a porcine model by decreasing the conductive surface area and increasing the current density at the needle tip. This study examines the hypothesis that D5W will maintain an elicited motor response in a clinical setting.