Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)NCT07532681
Effect of Early Versus Late Surgical Intercostal Block on Postoperative Pain Relief Following Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)
A study testing Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%), Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum) and ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%) in people with Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and Intercostal Nerve Block, run by Erasme University Hospital at 1 site in Belgium.
Trial summary
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is associated with significant postoperative pain despite lower morbidity compared with thoracotomy. Adequate pain management is essential within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways to preserve respiratory function and facilitate postoperative recovery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS), Intercostal Nerve Block
- What is being tested?
- Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%), Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum) and ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 140 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBelgium
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2026to 30 Sep 2027
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Scheduled for single-port or two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
- ASA classification 1 to 3
- Able to understand the study, describe their pain and provide valid informed consent
Who cannot join
- Neurological or psychiatric conditions that compromise the reliable assessment of pain(dementia, cognitive impairment, severe communication disorders)
- Chronic opioid use or regular use (> 3 months) of strong analgesics for chronic pain
- History of allergy or known hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics
- Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy precluding the safe performance of an intercostal block
- Local infection at the injection site or active systemic infection
- Bilateral thoracic surgery or intraoperative conversion to thoracotomy
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- Second surgery at the same site.
- Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Inability to understand postoperative instructions or a language barrier preventing a validated assessment of pain
- Simultaneous participation in another clinical trial involving analgesia or thoracic surgery
- Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent at any time
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Belgium1 site
HUB Erasme
Brussels
Celine Boudart, +3225553919, celine.boudart@hubruxelles.be
About this study
Official title: Effect of Early Versus Late Surgical Intercostal Block on Postoperative Pain Relief Following Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS): a Randomised, Double-blind Study
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is associated with significant postoperative pain despite lower morbidity compared with thoracotomy. Adequate pain management is essential within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways to preserve respiratory function and facilitate postoperative recovery. Surgical intercostal block performed under direct vision is a simple and effective regional analgesic technique commonly used following VATS. However, the optimal timing of intercostal block administration during surgery remains uncertain.
This prospective randomized double-blind study will compare surgical intercostal block performed at the beginning versus the end of the surgical procedure. The study aims to evaluate the effect of block timing on postoperative pain intensity and postoperative opioid consumption. The results may help optimize multimodal analgesic strategies in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
- Being tested
- Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%), Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum), ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%), ICNB after (physiological serum)
- Keywords
- VATS, Intercostal Nerve Block, Pain
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%)Procedure or surgery
All patients will receive two intercostal nerve blocks using the same injection volume and technique. Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure.
In both study groups, one injection will contain ropivacaine 0.375% and the other will contain normal saline. In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic.
Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum)Procedure or surgery
All patients will receive intercostal nerve blocks using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure.
In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic.
ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%)Procedure or surgery
All patients will receive intercostal nerve blocks using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, and the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, and the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic.
ICNB after (physiological serum)Procedure or surgery
All patients will receive an intercostal nerve block using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). ICNB will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In the interventional arm, the ICNB before surgery will contain the local anesthetic, and the ICNB after surgery will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the ICNB before surgery will contain normal saline, and the ICNB after surgery will contain the local anesthetic.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ICNB before incision | Experimental | Not described Receives: Procedure: Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%); Procedure: ICNB after (physiological serum) |
| ICNB at the end of surgery | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum); Procedure: ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 24 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Measured: At 24 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity during the first hour following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Measured: At 1 hour postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 6 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Measured: At 6 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 12 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Measured: At 12 hours postoperatively
Secondary outcomes (7)
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 48 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensit
Measured: At 48 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 72 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensit
Measured: At 72 hours postoperatively
incidence of chronic postoperative pain 3 months after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
Chronic postoperative pain will be defined as pain developing after surgery and persisting for at least 3 months, not attributable to other causes and assessed by patient interview.
Measured: At 3 months after surgery
Intraoperative blood pressure stability
Variations in blood pressure during the procedure and need for vasopressors or corrective interventions.
Blood pressure will be measured in mm Hg using an arterial catheter.
Measured: During video-assisted thoracic surgery
Intraoperative opioid consumption during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
Intraoperative opioid consumption will be defined as the total cumulative dose of opioids administered between induction of anesthesia and the end of surgery. For remifentanil, consumption should be recorded as the total cumulative dose administered during the procedure.
Measured: From induction of anesthesia to the end of surgery
Incidence of postoperative complications during hospitalization.
Postoperative complications occurring during hospitalization will be recorded and categorized according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. Higher grades correspond to more severe postoperative complications.
Measured: During hospitalization, up to 30 days
Incidence of adverse effects and complications related to intercostal block administration.
Adverse effects and complications related to intercostal block administration occurring during surgery and hospitalization will be recorded.
Measured: From intercostal block administration until hospital discharge, up to 30 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)Studies 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
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Erasme University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Céline Boudart, Erasme University Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07532681
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P2026/145
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Apr 2026
- 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 16 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Early Versus Late Surgical Intercostal Block on Postoperative Pain Relief Following Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS): a Randomised, Double-blind Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07532681
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P2026/145
- Keywords
- VATS, Intercostal Nerve Block, Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 140 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Erasme University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Apr 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.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is associated with significant postoperative pain despite lower morbidity compared with thoracotomy. Adequate pain management is essential within Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways to preserve respiratory function and facilitate postoperative recovery. Surgical intercostal block performed under direct vision is a simple and effective regional analgesic technique commonly used following VATS. However, the optimal timing of intercostal block administration during surgery remains uncertain.
This prospective randomized double-blind study will compare surgical intercostal block performed at the beginning versus the end of the surgical procedure. The study aims to evaluate the effect of block timing on postoperative pain intensity and postoperative opioid consumption. The results may help optimize multimodal analgesic strategies in patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ICNB before incision | Experimental | Procedure: Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%), Procedure: ICNB after (physiological serum) |
| ICNB at the end of surgery | Active comparator | Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum), Procedure: ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Scheduled for single-port or two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
- ASA classification 1 to 3
- Able to understand the study, describe their pain and provide valid informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Neurological or psychiatric conditions that compromise the reliable assessment of pain(dementia, cognitive impairment, severe communication disorders)
- Chronic opioid use or regular use (> 3 months) of strong analgesics for chronic pain
- History of allergy or known hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics
- Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy precluding the safe performance of an intercostal block
- Local infection at the injection site or active systemic infection
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%)All patients will receive two intercostal nerve blocks using the same injection volume and technique. Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In both study groups, one injection will contain ropivacaine 0.375% and the other will contain normal saline. In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic. | Procedure or surgery | ICNB before incision |
| Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum)All patients will receive intercostal nerve blocks using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, whereas the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic. | Procedure or surgery | ICNB at the end of surgery |
| ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%)All patients will receive intercostal nerve blocks using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). Intercostal nerve blocks will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In the interventional arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic, and the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the pre-incision intercostal nerve block will contain normal saline, and the end-of-procedure intercostal nerve block will contain the local anesthetic. | Procedure or surgery | ICNB at the end of surgery |
| ICNB after (physiological serum)All patients will receive an intercostal nerve block using the same local anesthetic (ropivacaine 0.375%). ICNB will be performed twice: before surgical incision and at the end of the procedure. In the interventional arm, the ICNB before surgery will contain the local anesthetic, and the ICNB after surgery will contain normal saline. In the comparator arm, the ICNB before surgery will contain normal saline, and the ICNB after surgery will contain the local anesthetic. | Procedure or surgery | ICNB before incision |
Primary outcome
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 24 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 24 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Postoperative pain intensity during the first hour following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 1 hour postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 6 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 6 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 12 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 12 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a patient-reported pain scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores represent greater pain intensity.
7 secondary outcomes
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 48 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 48 hours postoperatively
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 72 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: At 72 hours postoperatively
incidence of chronic postoperative pain 3 months after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
Time frame: At 3 months after surgery
Intraoperative blood pressure stability
Time frame: During video-assisted thoracic surgery
Intraoperative opioid consumption during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).
Time frame: From induction of anesthesia to the end of surgery
Incidence of postoperative complications during hospitalization.
Time frame: During hospitalization, up to 30 days
Incidence of adverse effects and complications related to intercostal block administration.
Time frame: From intercostal block administration until hospital discharge, up to 30 days
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 16 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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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.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intercostal nerve block before (ropivacaine 0.375%), Intercostal Nerve Bloc before (physiological serum) and ICNB after (ropivacaine 0.375%) in people with Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and Intercostal Nerve Block, run by Erasme University Hospital at 1 site in Belgium.
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 11 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 16 Apr 2026. 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 Belgium. 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?
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?
Contact Celine Boudart (+3225553919, celine.boudart@hubruxelles.be), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Postoperative pain intensity during the first 24 hours following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (time frame: At 24 hours postoperatively). The study lists 4 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 16 Apr 2026.