Thoracic Surgery, Video AssistedNCT07387484
Effect of Patient Position on Erector Spinae Plane Block in Thoracic Surgery
A study testing Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting position and Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral position in people with Thoracic Surgery, Video Assisted and Postoperative Pain, run by Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital.
Trial summary
The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a widely used regional anesthesia technique for postoperative analgesia in thoracic surgery. The block can be performed in different patient positions, most commonly sitting or lateral decubitus, but the effect of patient position on dermatomal sensory spread and analgesic… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Thoracic Surgery, Video Assisted, Postoperative Pain
- What is being tested?
- Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting position and Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral position
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Feb 2026to May 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 to 75 years
- ASA physical status II-IV
- Scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracic surgery
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Known allergy to local anesthetics
- Chronic opioid use
- Preexisting chronic pain
- Severe cognitive impairment
- Technical difficulty with positioning
- Emergency surgery
- Refusal to participate
About this study
Official title: Effect of Patient Position on Dermatomal Spread and Analgesic Outcomes of Erector Spinae Plane Block in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial
The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a widely used regional anesthesia technique for postoperative analgesia in thoracic surgery. The block can be performed in different patient positions, most commonly sitting or lateral decubitus, but the effect of patient position on dermatomal sensory spread and analgesic efficacy has not been clearly established.
This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial aims to compare the effects of ESP block performed in sitting versus lateral decubitus position on dermatomal sensory distribution and postoperative analgesic outcomes in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Read the detailed description
Adult patients scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracic surgery will be randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block either in the sitting position or in the lateral decubitus position. In both groups, the block will be performed at the same thoracic level using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance.
Dermatomal sensory spread will be assessed 15 minutes after block placement using cold sensation (alcohol-soaked cotton) and pin-prick testing. Postoperative analgesia will be standardized in all patients using patient-controlled analgesia with tramadol. Pain scores and opioid consumption will be recorded during the first 24 postoperative hours.
The primary outcome is the extent of dermatomal sensory spread. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, time to first rescue analgesic, and total opioid consumption within 24 hours.
- Being tested
- Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting position, Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral position
- Keywords
- video assisted thorachoscopic surgery, erector spinae plane block
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting positionDrug
Erector spinae plane block-sitting position
Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral positionDrug
Erector Spinae Plane Block-Lateral position
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting Position Group | Active comparator | Intervention: Erector Spinae Plane Block Ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block performed in the sitting position using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. Receives: Drug: Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting position |
| Lateral Decubitus Position Group | Experimental | Intervention: Erector Spinae Plane Block Ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block performed in the lateral decubitus position (operative side up) using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. Receives: Drug: Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral position |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dermatomal sensory spread
Cranial and caudal sensory limits and total number of dermatomes affected, assessed by cold sensation and pin-prick testing.
Measured: 15 minutes after the block application
Secondary outcomes (2)
Postoperative pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale)
Numeric Rating Scale, 0-10 points, 0=no pain, 10= worst pain imaginable
Measured: Postoperative 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours
Total opioid consumption
Measured: First 24 postoperative hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Feb 2026
- Study startFeb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionApr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Thoracic Surgery, Video AssistedStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ekin Guran, MD, Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387484
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ESP_position
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Patient Position on Dermatomal Spread and Analgesic Outcomes of Erector Spinae Plane Block in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07387484
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ESP_position
- Keywords
- video assisted thorachoscopic surgery, erector spinae plane block
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Feb 2026 (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 (ESP) block is a widely used regional anesthesia technique for postoperative analgesia in thoracic surgery. The block can be performed in different patient positions, most commonly sitting or lateral decubitus, but the effect of patient position on dermatomal sensory spread and analgesic efficacy has not been clearly established.
This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial aims to compare the effects of ESP block performed in sitting versus lateral decubitus position on dermatomal sensory distribution and postoperative analgesic outcomes in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery.
Detailed description
Adult patients scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracic surgery will be randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block either in the sitting position or in the lateral decubitus position. In both groups, the block will be performed at the same thoracic level using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance.
Dermatomal sensory spread will be assessed 15 minutes after block placement using cold sensation (alcohol-soaked cotton) and pin-prick testing. Postoperative analgesia will be standardized in all patients using patient-controlled analgesia with tramadol. Pain scores and opioid consumption will be recorded during the first 24 postoperative hours.
The primary outcome is the extent of dermatomal sensory spread. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, time to first rescue analgesic, and total opioid consumption within 24 hours.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sitting Position Group | Active comparator | Drug: Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting positionIntervention: Erector Spinae Plane Block Ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block performed in the sitting position using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. |
| Lateral Decubitus Position Group | Experimental | Drug: Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral positionIntervention: Erector Spinae Plane Block Ultrasound-guided unilateral erector spinae plane block performed in the lateral decubitus position (operative side up) using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 to 75 years
- ASA physical status II-IV
- Scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracic surgery
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Known allergy to local anesthetics
- Chronic opioid use
- Preexisting chronic pain
- Severe cognitive impairment
- Technical difficulty with positioning
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting positionErector spinae plane block-sitting position | Drug | Sitting Position Group |
| Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral positionErector Spinae Plane Block-Lateral position | Drug | Lateral Decubitus Position Group |
Primary outcome
Dermatomal sensory spread
Time frame: 15 minutes after the block application
Cranial and caudal sensory limits and total number of dermatomes affected, assessed by cold sensation and pin-prick testing.
2 secondary outcomes
Postoperative pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale)
Time frame: Postoperative 0, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours
Total opioid consumption
Time frame: First 24 postoperative hours
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
Related trials for Thoracic Surgery, Video Assisted
Recruiting
ITPB 1 vs 3 in VATS
Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions
Not yet recruiting
TBLC vs NIVATS in Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD)
RecruitingObservational study
Sensory Anesthesia Achieved Through Different Paravertebral Block Approaches for Post-Op Pain Management After VATS Lung Resection
Thoracic Surgery, Video-assisted
Not yet recruiting
Post-operative Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet May Reduce Hospital Stay Following Lung Resection
Thoracic Neoplasms
Recruiting
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Midpoint Transverse Process to Pleura (MTP) Block and Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) at RS Ngoerah
Pain, Postoperative Pain
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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) sitting position and Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®) lateral position in people with Thoracic Surgery, Video Assisted and Postoperative Pain, run by Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital.
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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Dermatomal sensory spread (time frame: 15 minutes after the block application). 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 6 Feb 2026.