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Pain, PostoperativeNCT04013815

Erector Spinae Plane Block for Post-thoracotomy Pain

A study testing erector spinae plane block with ropivacaine and Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine in people with Pain, Postoperative, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Post-thoracotomy pain is one of the most severe forms of post-operative pain. Among the most common techniques for the management of post-thoracotomy pain, there are the intercostal nerve block, and a recently described block, the erector spinae plane block (ESP).To date, there are no studies that compare the efficacy… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Pain, Postoperative
What is being tested?
erector spinae plane block with ropivacaine and Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
60 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
1 Aug 2019to 30 Nov 2019
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 45 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients undergoing thoracotomy lung resection surgery between 45 and 80 years

Who cannot join

  • Patients allergic to the drugs used in the study
  • Patients with diabetic neuropathy
  • Patients with severe hepatic or renal insufficiency
  • emergent surgery
  • Age <45 years or> 80 years

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • Sant Andrea Hospital

    Roma, 00189

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Intrapleural Intercostal Plane Block for Post-thoracotomy Pain: a Randomized Trial

Post-thoracotomy pain is one of the most severe forms of post-operative pain. Among the most common techniques for the management of post-thoracotomy pain, there are the intercostal nerve block, and a recently described block, the erector spinae plane block (ESP).To date, there are no studies that compare the efficacy of ESP block with other pain relief methods in acute post-thoracotomy pain. The objective of this randomized study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of these two techniques in the control of acute post-thoracotomy chest pain, block of erector spinae vs intrapleural intercostal block.

Read the detailed description

Post-thoracotomy pain is one of the most severe forms of post-operative pain that can be attributed to muscle incision, rib retraction or resection, and damage to the intercostal nerves. Inadequate control of this post-operative pain can contribute to a deterioration of the respiratory function, with limitation of the ventilation, appearance of atelectasis, ineffective cough, and increased risk of infectious complications. Moreover, recent evidence shows that persistent pain after surgery, in addition to being responsible for chronic post-surgical pain syndrome, is associated with a delay in post-operative recovery and a return to normal daily life activities. The most common techniques for the management of post-thoracotomy pain are in addition to systemic intravenous analgesia, thoracic epidural, paravertebral nerve block and intercostal nerve block. Although the thoracic epidural has been considered for years the gold standard for the control of post-operative pain following thoracotomy, it is not risk-free, requires an expert operator, and can be contraindicated in some categories of patients. The intercostal nerve block, performed through the injection of the local anesthetic in multiple intercostal spaces before performing thoracotomy, may be one of the alternatives to a thoracic epidural in terms of safety and efficacy and is technically easy and quick to perform. This block is found to be particularly effective in reducing post-operative pain when associated with a mini-thoracotomy, helping to improve the outcome of patients undergoing major lung resection. A technique of more recent description (2016) is the erector spinae plane block (ESP) . This interfascial block is performed in the posterior thoracic region homolaterally at the site of the intervention at the level of the T5 transverse process (fifth thoracic vertebra), the ultrasound marker of the block. The ESP block is easy and safe to perform thanks to the ultrasound-guided method and the absence of vascular-nerve structures at risk of damage in the vicinity of the injection site and allows analgesia of the posterior and anterolateral thoracic wall and of the axillary region. In fact, cadaveric studies have shown an anesthetic distribution both in the cranial caudal sense (T2-T8) along the fascia between erector spinae and large rhomboid, and in the anteroposterior direction, with the blockage of the spinal thoracic nerve roots. ESP block was described in the treatment of chronic chest pain in the first place, but was subsequently used as rescue therapy in acute post-thoracotomy pain; it has also been tested in upper abdominal surgery, performed bilaterally. Use in four cases of acute post video thoracoscopy pain management has also been described. Recently, some randomized controlled trials have been carried out that showed: greater analgesic efficacy of ESP compared to intravenous multimodal analgesia standard for the treatment of post-operative pain, with less recourse to rescue doses of morphine following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, mastectomy and cardiac surgery. To date, there are no studies that compare its efficacy with other pain relief methods in acute post-thoracotomy pain. The objective of our study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of these two techniques in the control of acute post-thoracotomy chest pain, blockade of erector spinae vs intrapleural intercostal blockade.

Being tested
erector spinae plane block with ropivacaine, Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine
Keywords
erector spinae plane block, thoracotomy, ultrasound guided nerve block, analgesia
Medical subject headings
Pain, Postoperative, Agnosia

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • erector spinae plane block with ropivacaineProcedure or surgery

    The block is performed immediately before surgery. by an ultrasound guide, with the probe positioned longitudinally, the spinous process of T5 is identified. A peripheral block needle is inserted in the cephalo-caudal direction (caliber 21G and length 10 cm) and 3 ml of physiological solution are injected to confirm the injection site: fascial plane between the erector spinae muscle and the large rhomboid, near the tip of the transverse process of T5. Once the correct position of the needle tip has been confirmed, ropivacaine 0.75% 20 ml is injected.

  • Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaineProcedure or surgery

    The intercostal nerve block will be performed by the surgeon at the time of thoracotomy from the 4th to the 8th intercostal space, by injecting 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine (4 ml for each space). The injection is performed at about 2-3 cm from the spine.

Study groups in NCT04013815
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
group EExperimentalpatients receiving the ESP block
Receives: Procedure: erector spinae plane block with ropivacaine
group IActive comparatorpatients receiving the intercostal nerve block
Receives: Procedure: Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. postoperative pain

    efficacy measured through the evaluation of the NRS score (Numerical Rating Scale) , that ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. " no pain") to '10' representing the other pain extreme

    Measured: 12 hours from surgery

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. opioid consumption

    the amount of opioid used during the surgical procedure (remifentanil, mcg)

    Measured: through surgery completed

  2. function and strength of the respiratory muscle

    respiratory pressure meter measuring MIP (maximal inspiratory pressure) and MEP (maximal expiratory pressure)

    Measured: 12 hours from the surgery

  3. patient satisfaction about the analgesia technique

    Likert satisfaction scale,Satisfaction rate ranged from 5 meaning highly satisfied to 1 meaning highly unsatisfied.

    Measured: 12 hours after surgery

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Jul 2019
  2. Study start1 Aug 2019
  3. Primary completion30 Oct 2019
  4. Study completion30 Nov 2019

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
60 patients will be enrolled to undergo thoracotomy lung resection surgery. The population will be divided into two groups based on the type of block made: Group E: ESP block (n = 30) Group I: Intercostal block (n = 30)
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
60 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04013815
Sponsor's protocol ID
ESP
Status last verified
Mar 2020
First submitted
3 Jul 2019
Last updated
24 Mar 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Loan WB, Morrison JD. The incidence and severity of postoperative pain. Br J Anaesth. 1967 Sep;39(9):695-8. doi: 10.1093/bja/39.9.695. No abstract available.

    PubMed 6051231
  • Sabanathan S, Eng J, Mearns AJ. Alterations in respiratory mechanics following thoracotomy. J R Coll Surg Edinb. 1990 Jun;35(3):144-50.

    PubMed 2203902
  • Nunn JF. Effects of anaesthesia on respiration. Br J Anaesth. 1990 Jul;65(1):54-62. doi: 10.1093/bja/65.1.54. No abstract available.

    PubMed 2200485
  • Joshi GP, Ogunnaike BO. Consequences of inadequate postoperative pain relief and chronic persistent postoperative pain. Anesthesiol Clin North Am. 2005 Mar;23(1):21-36. doi: 10.1016/j.atc.2004.11.013.

    PubMed 15763409
  • Sabanathan S, Smith PJ, Pradhan GN, Hashimi H, Eng JB, Mearns AJ. Continuous intercostal nerve block for pain relief after thoracotomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 1988 Oct;46(4):425-6. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)64657-7.

    PubMed 3178353
  • D'Andrilli A, Ibrahim M, Ciccone AM, Venuta F, De Giacomo T, Massullo D, Pinto G, Rendina EA. Intrapleural intercostal nerve block associated with mini-thoracotomy improves pain control after major lung resection. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2006 May;29(5):790-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2006.01.002. Epub 2006 Feb 14.

    PubMed 16481188
  • Forero M, Rajarathinam M, Adhikary S, Chin KJ. Erector spinae plane (ESP) block in the management of post thoracotomy pain syndrome: A case series. Scand J Pain. 2017 Oct;17:325-329. doi: 10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.08.013. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

    PubMed 28919152
  • Luis-Navarro JC, Seda-Guzman M, Luis-Moreno C, Lopez-Romero JL. The erector spinae plane block in 4 cases of video-assisted thoracic surgery. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2018 Apr;65(4):204-208. doi: 10.1016/j.redar.2017.12.004. Epub 2018 Jan 11. English, Spanish.

    PubMed 29336785
  • Tulgar S, Kapakli MS, Senturk O, Selvi O, Serifsoy TE, Ozer Z. Evaluation of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block for postoperative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. J Clin Anesth. 2018 Sep;49:101-106. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.06.019. Epub 2018 Jun 15.

    PubMed 29913392
  • Gurkan Y, Aksu C, Kus A, Yorukoglu UH, Kilic CT. Ultrasound guided erector spinae plane block reduces postoperative opioid consumption following breast surgery: A randomized controlled study. J Clin Anesth. 2018 Nov;50:65-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.06.033. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

    PubMed 29980005
  • Krishna SN, Chauhan S, Bhoi D, Kaushal B, Hasija S, Sangdup T, Bisoi AK. Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block for Acute Post-Surgical Pain in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2019 Feb;33(2):368-375. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2018.05.050. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

    PubMed 30055991

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing erector spinae plane block with ropivacaine and Intercostal nerve block with ropivacaine in people with Pain, Postoperative, run by University of Roma La Sapienza at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Mar 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

postoperative pain (time frame: 12 hours from surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04013815, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Mar 2020.

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Erector Spinae Plane Block for Post-thoracotomy Pain | AzTrials