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Post Operative PainPhase 3NCT05763667

Pilot: Intraoperative TAP Block and Post-operative Pain Control for Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

A Phase 3 study testing Liposomal bupivacaine and Bupivacain in people with Post Operative Pain and Gynecologic Cancer, run by Tufts Medical Center 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

Modern postoperative pain management aims to optimizing pain relief while minimizing opiate usage. While opiates are effective for pain relief, they result in common adverse effects such as nausea, constipation, and urinary retention, and most importantly present a long-term risk of abuse and dependency. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years, women only
Conditions the study is for
Post Operative Pain, Gynecologic Cancer
What is being tested?
Liposomal bupivacaine and Bupivacain
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
15 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jan 2024to 9 Sep 2024
Phase
Phase 3
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 18 to 80 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-80
  • Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy; may include other procedures (e.g. lymph node removal)
  • Endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
  • Able to consent to study

Who cannot join

  • Known clinically significant allergy to bupivacaine or liposomal bupivacaine
  • ASA IV or V
  • Emergency surgery
  • Current chronic opiate use
  • Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Severe hepatic or renal impairment
  • Hysterectomy is not for endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Tufts Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02111

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-blinded Pilot Trial of Laparoscopic Large Volume, Multisite Transversus Abdominal Plane (TAP) Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

Modern postoperative pain management aims to optimizing pain relief while minimizing opiate usage. While opiates are effective for pain relief, they result in common adverse effects such as nausea, constipation, and urinary retention, and most importantly present a long-term risk of abuse and dependency. Commonly used approaches include non-opiate pain medications such as acetominophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, as well as regional nerve blocks such as epidurals.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a fascial plane block performed by injecting local anesthetic into the plane superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle where the anterior rami of the spinal nerves course to provide sensory innervation to the abdominal wall. The injections are generally placed either subcostally or at the midaxillary line bilaterally. The TAP block has been shown to be effective in reducing pain scores and opiate usage in some randomized studies but not others in patients undergoing various abdominal surgeries. There is great variation in method of administration, sites injected, and local anesthetics used, which may in part account for the heterogeneity of trial results.

Read the detailed description

The investigators believe that the disappointing results thus far with TAP blocks in minimally invasive hysterectomy may relate to several factors. A combination of short and long-acting anesthetic agents may provide the optimal analgesic effect. Large volumes of injection may promote spread of the anesthetics for better coverage, especially as long-acting agents are known to diffuse minimally. Lastly, multiple injections may provide better coverage of the nerves that innervate the abdominal wall.

The investigators also believe that laparoscopic TAP blocks, administered by the surgeon, have advantages over the more commonly used ultrasound-guided approach typically performed by anesthesiologists. The laparoscopic approach is quick, on the order of a few minutes, whereas the ultrasound approach can be time-consuming. There is also less risk of visceral injury since the injection is performed under direct laparoscopic view. There are now 2 randomized studies suggesting that the laparoscopic approach is equivalent to the ultrasound approach.

An additional potential reason why most studies have been negative is that patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy do not generally experience severe pain, making it more difficult to demonstrate pain reduction with any given intervention. However, the studies to date do indicate that these patients experience moderate pain and do use opiates. An intervention that markedly reduces or even eliminates opiate use would be of potential benefit.

The investigators have used a TAP block technique that is performed intraoperatively by the surgeon under direct laparoscopic view. The investigators use a mixture of plain and liposomal bupivacaine injected at multiple sites and in large volume to distribute the drugs widely, potentially resulting in longer and improved efficacy. This method has not been previously studied in a randomized trial. The investigators propose to demonstrate that this technique markedly decreases opiate usage and pain scores in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Being tested
Liposomal bupivacaine, Bupivacain
Keywords
hysterectomy, minimally invasive surgery, TAP block, endometrial cancer, endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
Medical subject headings
Pain, Postoperative, Endometrial Neoplasms, Endometrial Hyperplasia

What participants receive

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

  • Liposomal bupivacaineDrug

    Also called Exparel

    Liposomal bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use single-dose infiltration in adults to produce postsurgical local analgesia and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block to produce postsurgical regional analgesia.

    The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.

  • BupivacainDrug

    Also called Bupivacaine

    Bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use as a local or regional anesthetic for surgery. It is widely used in TAP blocks.

    The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.

Study groups in NCT05763667
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
No TAP blockNo interventionNot described
TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaineActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: Liposomal bupivacaine; Drug: Bupivacain
TAP block with plain bupivacaine aloneActive comparatorNot described
Receives: Drug: Bupivacain

What is being measured

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

  1. Reduced opiate use in both TAP block arms.

    Demonstrate a statistically significant change in postoperative opiate use as measured in oral morphine milligram equivalents on postoperative days 0-7.

    Measured: 7 days

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Increase in opiate-free participants by day 7

    Demonstrate a change in proportion of subjects that are opiate-free on postoperative days 0-7.

    Measured: 7 days

  2. Reduction in post-operative resting pain scores

    Demonstrate a statistically significant change in maximum resting numeric rating scale (NRS) at the following time points in postoperative days: 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 0-7.

    Measured: 7 days

  3. Improvement in patient satisfaction regarding pain control

    Demonstrate change in patient satisfaction with regard to pain control (very satisfied, satisfied, unsatisfied).

    Measured: 7 days

  4. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

    Specific AEs measured will be nausea, headache, rash, itching, hematoma, ecchymosis, seizures

    Measured: 7 days

Timeline

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

  1. First posted10 Mar 2023
  2. Study start1 Jan 2024
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion9 Sep 2024

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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Potential subjects will be identified in the GYN specialty clinics at Tufts Medical Center and approached for possible study participation. Eligibility criteria will be assessed by the PI or co-I. Eligible subjects who wish to participate in the study will be consented for the study by the PI or co-I. Informed consent for the study may be obtained up to the day of the surgery, prior to anesthesia induction. The following demographics will be collected from the medical record and de-identified: age, race, ethnicity, height, weight, ASA class. On the day of surgery, the subject will be randomized using a random number generator to one of 3 groups: 1. No TAP block 2. TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaine: 20 mL liposomal bupivacaine, 30 mL 0.25% bupivacaine, 150 mL normal saline (200 mL total) 3. TAP block with plain bupivacaine alone: 60 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, 140 mL of normal saline (200 mL total)
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
15 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05763667
Sponsor's protocol ID
Pending
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
28 Feb 2023
Last updated
24 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Clarke H, Soneji N, Ko DT, Yun L, Wijeysundera DN. Rates and risk factors for prolonged opioid use after major surgery: population based cohort study. BMJ. 2014 Feb 11;348:g1251. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1251.

    PubMed 24519537
  • Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Goesling J, Moser S, Lin P, Englesbe MJ, Bohnert ASB, Kheterpal S, Nallamothu BK. New Persistent Opioid Use After Minor and Major Surgical Procedures in US Adults. JAMA Surg. 2017 Jun 21;152(6):e170504. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0504. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

    PubMed 28403427
  • Babazade R, Saasouh W, Naylor AJ, Makarova N, Udeh CI, Turan A, Udeh BL. The cost-effectiveness of epidural, patient-controlled intravenous opioid analgesia, or transversus abdominis plane infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative pain management. J Clin Anesth. 2019 Mar;53:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

    PubMed 30326379
  • Rafi AN. Abdominal field block: a new approach via the lumbar triangle. Anaesthesia. 2001 Oct;56(10):1024-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2001.02279-40.x. No abstract available.

    PubMed 11576144
  • Hebbard P, Fujiwara Y, Shibata Y, Royse C. Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Aug;35(4):616-7. No abstract available.

    PubMed 18020088
  • Tsai HC, Yoshida T, Chuang TY, Yang SF, Chang CC, Yao HY, Tai YT, Lin JA, Chen KY. Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: An Updated Review of Anatomy and Techniques. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:8284363. doi: 10.1155/2017/8284363. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

    PubMed 29226150
  • Baeriswyl M, Kirkham KR, Kern C, Albrecht E. The Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Adult Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Anesth Analg. 2015 Dec;121(6):1640-54. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000967.

    PubMed 26397443
  • Ilfeld BM, Viscusi ER, Hadzic A, Minkowitz HS, Morren MD, Lookabaugh J, Joshi GP. Safety and Side Effect Profile of Liposome Bupivacaine (Exparel) in Peripheral Nerve Blocks. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Sep-Oct;40(5):572-82. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000283.

    PubMed 26204387
  • Hamilton TW, Athanassoglou V, Trivella M, Strickland LH, Mellon S, Murray D, Pandit HG. Liposomal bupivacaine peripheral nerve block for the management of postoperative pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 25;2016(8):CD011476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011476.pub2.

    PubMed 27558150
  • Ji YD, Harris JA, Gibson LE, McKinley SK, Phitayakorn R. The Efficacy of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Opioid and Pain Reduction: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Surg Res. 2021 Aug;264:510-533. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.02.024. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

    PubMed 33862580
  • Wong KA, Cabrera AG, Argiroff AL, Pechman DM, Parides MK, Vazzana JT, Moran-Atkin EM, Choi JJ, Camacho DR. Transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine and its effect on opiate use after weight loss surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jul;16(7):886-893. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.03.031. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

    PubMed 32402732
  • Truong A, Fleshner PR, Mirocha JM, Tran HP, Shane R, Zaghiyan KN. A Prospective Randomized Trial of Surgeon-Administered Intraoperative Transversus Abdominis Plane Block With Bupivacaine Against Liposomal Bupivacaine: The TINGLE Trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 Jul 1;64(7):888-898. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002008.

    PubMed 34086002
  • Sandhu HK, Miller CC 3rd, Tanaka A, Estrera AL, Charlton-Ouw KM. Effectiveness of Standard Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine and Liposomal Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Truncal Incisions: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Mar 1;4(3):e210753. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0753.

    PubMed 33724391
  • Fidkowski CW, Choksi N, Alsaden MR. A randomized-controlled trial comparing liposomal bupivacaine, plain bupivacaine, and the mixture of liposomal bupivacaine and plain bupivacaine in transversus abdominus plane block for postoperative analgesia for open abdominal hysterectomies. Can J Anaesth. 2021 Jun;68(6):773-781. doi: 10.1007/s12630-020-01911-1. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

    PubMed 33432496
  • Hutchins J, Delaney D, Vogel RI, Ghebre RG, Downs LS Jr, Carson L, Mullany S, Teoh D, Geller MA. Ultrasound guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for patients undergoing robotic assisted hysterectomy: A prospective randomized controlled study. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Sep;138(3):609-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.06.008. Epub 2015 Jun 6.

    PubMed 26056753

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Liposomal bupivacaine and Bupivacain in people with Post Operative Pain and Gynecologic Cancer, run by Tufts Medical Center 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 4 inclusion and 7 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 Apr 2025. 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. 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 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

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

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?

Reduced opiate use in both TAP block arms. (time frame: 7 days). 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 NCT05763667, which also lists 30 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 Apr 2025.

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