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Gender DysphoriaPhase 4NCT04474366

The Effect of Pectoral Blocks on Perioperative Pain in Gender Affirmation Top Surgery

A Phase 4 study testing Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution and Saline (0.9%) in people with Gender Dysphoria and Opioid Use, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.

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

Despite recent advancements with regional and local anesthesia, postoperative pain continues to be a major concern for patients undergoing breast surgery. Opioids, often in combination with NSAIDS and/or gabapentioids, have been the main pharmacologic pain control strategy in the postoperative period. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Gender Dysphoria, Opioid Use, Pain, Postoperative
What is being tested?
Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution and Saline (0.9%)
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
50 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
16 Jun 2020to 30 Apr 2022
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I-III
  • Ages 18-65
  • Undergoing gender confirmation breast reduction surgery by a single surgeon at a single center

Who cannot join

  • Previous breast surgeries
  • Current breast cancer or history of treatment for breast cancer
  • Current chronic pain syndromes
  • Coagulopathy
  • Allergy to local anesthetics
  • Infection at the injection site

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94143

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: The Effect of Pectoral Blocks on Perioperative Pain in Simple Mastectomy and Breast Reduction in Gender Affirmation Surgery

Despite recent advancements with regional and local anesthesia, postoperative pain continues to be a major concern for patients undergoing breast surgery. Opioids, often in combination with NSAIDS and/or gabapentioids, have been the main pharmacologic pain control strategy in the postoperative period. The pectoral nerve block is a regional anesthetic technique, which is effective at providing postoperative anesthesia in breast surgeries. However, this has only been studied in oncologic-related breast operations. It is our aim to study the effects of pectoral regional nerve blocks in patients undergoing breast reduction for gender affirmation. The overall goal is to establish an effective pain control regimen utilizing regional anesthetic techniques in this patient population. The specific objective of this proposal is to evaluate the effectiveness of these blocks on perioperative and postoperative analgesia. The hypothesis is that participants undergoing gender-affirmation breast surgery who receive a pectoral nerve block will have less perioperative and postoperative pain as well as reduced opioid consumption compared to those receiving a placebo. Participants who are undergoing gender affirmation breast reduction surgery will be randomized to either receive a preoperative nerve block or to receive a placebo. Intraoperative and postoperative opioid requirements will be compared in addition to post-operative pain scores. Participants will be asked to fill out a pain diary during their first week postoperatively. They will also be asked to document if, and when, narcotic pain medication was required for pain control. The two groups will be compared to determine if there was any difference in pain scores as well as narcotic medication requirements.

Read the detailed description

All participants will be seen in clinic with the attending surgeon anywhere from two weeks to a few months prior to the date of surgery. Participants will also have a pre-op visit with anesthesia a few weeks before surgery. They will undergo a standard anesthesia preoperative evaluation, which will include a medical chart review, physical exam, and appropriate laboratory studies. The preoperative evaluation will be identical for those participating in the study and those who do not. If no contraindications to the Pectoralis Nerve Block (PECS I and II block) are identified by the surgeon and/or anesthesiologist, participants will be approved to participate. The participants will be introduced to the study either during their clinic visit prior to surgery or over the telephone a few days prior to surgery. All questions will be answered by one of the study investigators. A study consent will be obtained from the participants and they will then will be randomized into either control (sham block) or experimental (PECS I and II block) group.

On the day of surgery, as per standard of care, each participant will undergo a general anesthetic in the same manner with conventional perioperative management. During induction of anesthesia, up to 2mg of midazolam and/or up to 100mcg of fentanyl will be given. The above protocol will be followed regardless of study participation and study group (if participating). After induction of anesthesia, the nerve blocks, or control blocks, will be performed. The regional anesthesia team will be involved in all patients, whether in the control or intervention group. All patients will be come and go regardless of group.

Group 1 (control) will receive an injection of 20ml of saline between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles bilaterally and 10ml of saline between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscles bilaterally.

Group 2 (treatment) will receive an injection of 20ml of 0.2% Ropivacaine between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles bilaterally and 10ml of 0.2% Ropivacaine between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscles bilaterally. (Not to exceed 225mg or 3.5mg/kg).

PECS I and II Block Technique: Performed in the supine position with the arms abducted 90 degrees at the shoulder. Using an ultrasound transducer in the parasagittal plane, the axillary artery and vein are identified just inferior to clavicle and medial to coracoid process. Additionally, the 2nd rib is identified and the transducer is slid inferiorly until the 3rd and 4th rib are identified. At this point the pectoralis major, minor, and serratus anterior muscles are seen. Then the block needle is inserted through the skin and advanced into the fascial plane between pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles. After negative aspiration, the anesthetic is injected into the plane watching for hydrodissection of the muscles. A total volume of 20ml is injected. Then the needed is withdrawn until the tip is located in the fascial plane between the pectoralis major and minor muscles. 10ml of anesthetic is injected into this plane.

General anesthesia is maintained in the standard fashion. The anesthesiologist will administer Fentanyl as he or she feels necessary during the operation. Post operatively, in the PACU, participants will be given IV hydromorphone as needed for pain. Pain scales will be documented at set time points post operatively and participants will be given pain diaries to document these pain scores as well as their opioid consumption. All patients will be sent home with a prescription for 20 tablets of Norco 5mg/325mg. Participants will be asked to document their pain scores at the following post op time points: 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 1 week. Participants will return their pain diaries at the 1 week post operative visit. This visit is a standard of care follow up visit.

Being tested
Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution, Saline (0.9%)
Medical subject headings
Gender Dysphoria, Pain, Postoperative

What participants receive

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

  • Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable SolutionDrug

    Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution injected as part of the Pectoralis Nerve Block

  • Saline (0.9%)Other

    Saline injection as sham block in identical fashion as Pectoralis Nerve Block

Study groups in NCT04474366
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
SalineSham comparatorControl group will receive an injection of 20ml of saline between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles bilaterally and 10ml of saline between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscles bilaterally.
Receives: Other: Saline (0.9%)
RopivacaineExperimentalIntervention group will receive an injection of 20ml of 0.2% Ropivacaine between the pectoralis minor and serratus anterior muscles bilaterally and 10ml of 0.2% Ropivacaine between the pectoralis minor and pectoralis major muscles bilaterally (Not to exceed 225mg or 3.5mg/kg).
Receives: Drug: Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution

What is being measured

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

  1. Comparison of Post Operative Pain Scores

    Participant recorded Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores post operatively. Scale ranges from 0 to 10. 0 represents no pain at all. 10 represents most severe pain.

    Measured: 1 week post operative

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Comparison of Intra Operative Narcotic Requirements

    Intraoperative narcotic administration will be compared. Narcotic administration will be acquired through chart review. Total dose of IV hydromorphone intraoperatively will be collected.

    Measured: Intraoperative

  2. Comparison of Post Operative Narcotic Requirements

    Self reported narcotic intake postoperatively. Number of pills taken will be recorded. Each group's number of pills will be averaged.

    Measured: 1 week post operative

Timeline

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

  1. First posted16 Jul 2020
  2. Study start16 Jun 2020
  3. Primary completion28 Feb 2022
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2022

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 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider
Enrolment
50 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04474366
Sponsor's protocol ID
19-28267
Status last verified
Jun 2023
First submitted
29 Jun 2020
Last updated
3 Jul 2023
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification.

Publications

  • Bashandy GM, Abbas DN. Pectoral nerves I and II blocks in multimodal analgesia for breast cancer surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Jan-Feb;40(1):68-74. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000163.

    PubMed 25376971
  • M N, Pandey RK, Sharma A, Darlong V, Punj J, Sinha R, Singh PM, Hamshi N, Garg R, Chandralekha C, Srivastava A. Pectoral nerve blocks to improve analgesia after breast cancer surgery: A prospective, randomized and controlled trial. J Clin Anesth. 2018 Mar;45:12-17. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2017.11.027. Epub 2017 Dec 11.

    PubMed 29241077
  • Benotsch EG, Zimmerman R, Cathers L, McNulty S, Pierce J, Heck T, Perrin PB, Snipes D. Non-medical use of prescription drugs, polysubstance use, and mental health in transgender adults. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2013 Sep 1;132(1-2):391-4. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.02.027. Epub 2013 Mar 17.

    PubMed 23510637
  • Day JK, Fish JN, Perez-Brumer A, Hatzenbuehler ML, Russell ST. Transgender Youth Substance Use Disparities: Results From a Population-Based Sample. J Adolesc Health. 2017 Dec;61(6):729-735. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.06.024. Epub 2017 Sep 21.

    PubMed 28942238
  • Wallace AB, Song S, Yeh P, Kim EA. The Effect of Pectoral Nerve Blocks on Opioid Use and Postoperative Pain in Masculinizing Mastectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2024 Mar 1;153(3):570-577. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010707. Epub 2023 May 23.

    PubMed 37220393

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Ropivacaine 0.2% Injectable Solution and Saline (0.9%) in people with Gender Dysphoria and Opioid Use, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.

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 3 inclusion and 6 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 3 Jul 2023. 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 United States. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 26 Jun 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Comparison of Post Operative Pain Scores (time frame: 1 week post operative). 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 NCT04474366, which also lists 5 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 3 Jul 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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