Breast NeoplasmsNCT06490718
Comparing Quality of Recovery Between ESPB and IV Lidocaine After Major Breast Cancer Surgery
A study testing USG ESPB and Intravenous Infusion in people with Breast Neoplasms, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 2 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is gaining popularity as a regional anesthetic technique for major breast cancer surgery. Although there is controversy about its mechanism of action, emerging evidence suggests that clinical analgesia observed after ESPB in breast surgery may be due to rapid and sustained local… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Breast Neoplasms
- What is being tested?
- USG ESPB and Intravenous Infusion
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- 25 Oct 2024to 20 Jul 2025
- 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 18 to 75 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- ASA I-III patients
- 18 to 75 years of age
- Patients scheduled for primary breast cancer surgery-mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy and breast conservation surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy +/- axillary dissection will be included in this study.
Who cannot join
- Patient refusal,
- Local skin site infection,
- Coagulopathy,
- History of allergy to local anaesthetics, and
- Patients with hepatic, renal and cardiac dysfunction
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 2 countries.
2 sites in 2 countries
About this study
Official title: Quality of Recovery After Major Breast Cancer Surgery: a Prospective Multicentre Randomized Triple Blinded Trial Comparing Erector Spinae Plane Block and Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion
The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is gaining popularity as a regional anesthetic technique for major breast cancer surgery. Although there is controversy about its mechanism of action, emerging evidence suggests that clinical analgesia observed after ESPB in breast surgery may be due to rapid and sustained local anesthetic absorption from the injection site. Hence intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period could offer an effective alternative to invasive ESPB.
Read the detailed description
Major Breast Cancer Surgery (BCS), including mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy (MRM), is a globally prevalent procedure. Unfortunately, it is associated not only with significant acute postoperative pain but also a high incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (30-50%) . To improve outcomes, regional anesthetic techniques have been explored, including thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) and ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB). While TPVB is considered the gold standard, it carries potential complications such as pleural puncture and pneumothorax. In contrast, ultrasound-guided (USG) ESPB is gaining popularity due to its technical simplicity and safety. However, controversy surrounds its mechanism of action, particularly the variable cutaneous sensory loss over anterior thoracic dermatomes. An emerging theory suggests that ESPB's clinical analgesia results from rapid and sustained local anesthetic (LA) absorption from the injection site. As an alternative, intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period may offer equivalent analgesia without the invasiveness of ESPB. IV lidocaine, known for its substantial analgesic properties, persists beyond its typical duration of action, likely through mechanisms beyond sodium channel blockade. Although IV lidocaine has been established as part of multimodal analgesia in various perioperative settings, data specific to major BCS remain scarce. In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blind trial, the investigators aim to compare quality of recovery (assessed using the validated Quality of Recovery 15 [QoR15] score) between USG ESPB and IVLI. The investigator's hypothesis is that the quality of recovery after major breast cancer surgery with IVLI will be comparable to that achieved with USG ESPB.
- Conditions
- Breast Neoplasms
- Being tested
- USG ESPB, Intravenous Infusion
- Keywords
- Erector spinae plane block, Intravenous lidocaine infusion, Breast cancer surgery, Quality of recovery
- Medical subject headings
- Breast Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
USG ESPBDrug
After obtaining the appropriate sonographic window, under strict aseptic precautions, the block needle is inserted in the plane of the US beam in a caudad to cranial direction until the tip is in contact with the transverse process (TP) at its lateral aspect. A test bolus of 0.9% saline (1-2 ml) is injected and sonographic evidence of erector spinae muscle displacement (posterior) from the underlying TP is sought to ensure that the tip of the block needle is indeed at the erector spinae muscle plane. The study drug from the 25 ml syringe with the label 'study drug for ESPB' (containing either 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline or 0.9% saline depending on the group allocation) is injected in small aliquots over a minute. The anaesthesiologist performing the block and the patient is blinded to the group allocation.
Successful injection reveals a clearly delineated posterior displacement of the erector spinae muscle.
Intravenous InfusionDrug
Following ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (USG ESPB), patients will be transferred to the operating room. General anesthesia (GA) will be administered according to a standardized protocol.
Study Drug Infusion:
Immediately after securing the airway, an intravenous infusion from a 50 ml syringe labeled "study drug for IVI" will commence. The study drug contains either 30 ml of 2% lidocaine or 0.9% saline, depending on group allocation. The infusion begins with a bolus rate of 0.1 ml/kg over 10 minutes and continues at 0.1 ml/kg/hr until surgical wound closure.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group ESPB | Active comparator | For USG ESPB, 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline will be drawn in a 25 ml syringe with a sterile label (available in a sterile package) displaying 'study drug for ESPB'.
For IV infusion, 30 ml 0.9% saline will be drawn in a 50 ml syringe with a sterile label displaying 'study drug for IVI'. Both these syringes will be stored under strict aseptic precautions in a sterile tray until administration. Receives: Drug: USG ESPB |
| Group IVLI | Experimental | For USG ESPB, 25 ml of 0.9% saline will be drawn in a 25 ml syringe with a sterile label (available in a sterile package) displaying 'study drug for ESPB'.
For IV infusion, 30 ml 2% lidocaine will be drawn in a 50 ml syringe with a sterile label displaying 'study drug for IVI'. Both these syringes will be stored under strict aseptic precautions in a sterile tray until administration. The 30 ml volume for 2% lidocaine is decided as it can cover for a 70kg patient for a 3-hour surgical period. Receives: Drug: Intravenous Infusion |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Quality of Recovery
Quality of Recovery-15: a minimum score of 0 (poor recovery) and a maximum score of 150 (excellent recovery)
Measured: At 24 hours post surgery
Area under the curve of postoperative pain
Area under the curve of postoperative pain numerical rating score at rest and movement
Measured: Over the first 24 hours post surgery
Secondary outcomes (1)
Postoperative opioid consumption
Total postoperative morphine equivalent consumption
Measured: At 24 and 48 hour post surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jul 2024
- Study start25 Oct 2024
- Primary completion17 Jul 2025
- Study completion20 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Breast NeoplasmsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blind trial
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Prof Manoj K Karmakar, Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Manoj K Karmakar, MD, FRCA, Principal investigator, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06490718
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CREC 2024.055-T
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Jun 2024
- Last updated
- 8 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Quality of Recovery After Major Breast Cancer Surgery: a Prospective Multicentre Randomized Triple Blinded Trial Comparing Erector Spinae Plane Block and Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06490718
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CREC 2024.055-T
- Conditions
- Breast Neoplasms
- Keywords
- Erector spinae plane block, Intravenous lidocaine infusion, Breast cancer surgery, Quality of recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is gaining popularity as a regional anesthetic technique for major breast cancer surgery. Although there is controversy about its mechanism of action, emerging evidence suggests that clinical analgesia observed after ESPB in breast surgery may be due to rapid and sustained local anesthetic absorption from the injection site. Hence intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period could offer an effective alternative to invasive ESPB.
Detailed description
Major Breast Cancer Surgery (BCS), including mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy (MRM), is a globally prevalent procedure. Unfortunately, it is associated not only with significant acute postoperative pain but also a high incidence of chronic postsurgical pain (30-50%) . To improve outcomes, regional anesthetic techniques have been explored, including thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) and ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB). While TPVB is considered the gold standard, it carries potential complications such as pleural puncture and pneumothorax. In contrast, ultrasound-guided (USG) ESPB is gaining popularity due to its technical simplicity and safety. However, controversy surrounds its mechanism of action, particularly the variable cutaneous sensory loss over anterior thoracic dermatomes. An emerging theory suggests that ESPB's clinical analgesia results from rapid and sustained local anesthetic (LA) absorption from the injection site. As an alternative, intravenous LA infusion (IVLI) during the perioperative period may offer equivalent analgesia without the invasiveness of ESPB. IV lidocaine, known for its substantial analgesic properties, persists beyond its typical duration of action, likely through mechanisms beyond sodium channel blockade. Although IV lidocaine has been established as part of multimodal analgesia in various perioperative settings, data specific to major BCS remain scarce. In this prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blind trial, the investigators aim to compare quality of recovery (assessed using the validated Quality of Recovery 15 [QoR15] score) between USG ESPB and IVLI. The investigator's hypothesis is that the quality of recovery after major breast cancer surgery with IVLI will be comparable to that achieved with USG ESPB.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Prospective, multicenter, randomized, triple-blind trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group ESPB | Active comparator | Drug: USG ESPBFor USG ESPB, 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline will be drawn in a 25 ml syringe with a sterile label (available in a sterile package) displaying 'study drug for ESPB'. For IV infusion, 30 ml 0.9% saline will be drawn in a 50 ml syringe with a sterile label displaying 'study drug for IVI'. Both these syringes will be stored under strict aseptic precautions in a sterile tray until administration. |
| Group IVLI | Experimental | Drug: Intravenous InfusionFor USG ESPB, 25 ml of 0.9% saline will be drawn in a 25 ml syringe with a sterile label (available in a sterile package) displaying 'study drug for ESPB'. For IV infusion, 30 ml 2% lidocaine will be drawn in a 50 ml syringe with a sterile label displaying 'study drug for IVI'. Both these syringes will be stored under strict aseptic precautions in a sterile tray until administration. The 30 ml volume for 2% lidocaine is decided as it can cover for a 70kg patient for a 3-hour surgical period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- ASA I-III patients
- 18 to 75 years of age
- Patients scheduled for primary breast cancer surgery-mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy and breast conservation surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy +/- axillary dissection will be included in this study.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Patient refusal,
- Local skin site infection,
- Coagulopathy,
- History of allergy to local anaesthetics, and
- Patients with hepatic, renal and cardiac dysfunction
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| USG ESPBAfter obtaining the appropriate sonographic window, under strict aseptic precautions, the block needle is inserted in the plane of the US beam in a caudad to cranial direction until the tip is in contact with the transverse process (TP) at its lateral aspect. A test bolus of 0.9% saline (1-2 ml) is injected and sonographic evidence of erector spinae muscle displacement (posterior) from the underlying TP is sought to ensure that the tip of the block needle is indeed at the erector spinae muscle plane. The study drug from the 25 ml syringe with the label 'study drug for ESPB' (containing either 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline or 0.9% saline depending on the group allocation) is injected in small aliquots over a minute. The anaesthesiologist performing the block and the patient is blinded to the group allocation. Successful injection reveals a clearly delineated posterior displacement of the erector spinae muscle. | Drug | Group ESPB |
| Intravenous InfusionFollowing ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (USG ESPB), patients will be transferred to the operating room. General anesthesia (GA) will be administered according to a standardized protocol. Study Drug Infusion: Immediately after securing the airway, an intravenous infusion from a 50 ml syringe labeled "study drug for IVI" will commence. The study drug contains either 30 ml of 2% lidocaine or 0.9% saline, depending on group allocation. The infusion begins with a bolus rate of 0.1 ml/kg over 10 minutes and continues at 0.1 ml/kg/hr until surgical wound closure. | Drug | Group IVLI |
Primary outcome
Quality of Recovery
Time frame: At 24 hours post surgery
Quality of Recovery-15: a minimum score of 0 (poor recovery) and a maximum score of 150 (excellent recovery)
Area under the curve of postoperative pain
Time frame: Over the first 24 hours post surgery
Area under the curve of postoperative pain numerical rating score at rest and movement
1 secondary outcome
Postoperative opioid consumption
Time frame: At 24 and 48 hour post surgery
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Sep 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Breast Neoplasms
Active, not recruiting
Streamlined Geriatric and Oncological Evaluation Based On IC Technology
Breast Cancer, Comorbidities and Coexisting Conditions
RecruitingPhase 2
Gene Signatures to Guide HR+MBC Therapy in a Diverse Cohort
Invasive Mammary Carcinoma, Metastatic Breast Cancer
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Comparison of Reliability, Time Cost, and Participant Comfort of Lymphedema Assessments in Upper Extremity
Lymphedema, Upper Extremity Lymphedema
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study of Camrelizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Combination With or Without Famitinib as Neoadjuvant Therapy in Participants With Triple Negative Breast Cancer (BCTOP-T-N01)
TNBC - Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
RecruitingPhase 3
Testing Whether Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib is as Effective as Chemotherapy Followed by Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib for the Treatment of High Anatomic Stage Breast Cancer With Low Recurrence Risk, The RxFINE-Low Trial
Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Manoj K Karmakar, MD, FRCA principal investigator
Chinese University of Hong Kong
2 sites in 2 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing USG ESPB and Intravenous Infusion in people with Breast Neoplasms, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 2 sites in 2 countries.
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 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 8 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in China, Hong Kong. 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?
Quality of Recovery (time frame: At 24 hours post surgery). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 8 Sep 2025.