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Analgesic Effects of Transversus Thoracic Plane (TTP) Block in Cardiac Surgery

Not Applicable
Conditions
Nerve Block
Postoperative Pain
Cardiac Surgery
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03128346
Lead Sponsor
Western University, Canada
Brief Summary

The TTP block is a novel regional anesthetic technique that shows promise in providing analgesia for anterior chest wall incisions and median sternotomy. The investigators hope to show that by providing the TTP block, there will be reduced early postoperative pain, reduced sedation and shallow breathing, reduced time on breathing machine, leading to an increase in patient comfort and satisfaction. The investigators also hope the decreased need for pain medication and reduced time on the breathing machine will translate into decreased nursing workload.

Detailed Description

In February 2015, Ueshima et al published an article regarding ultrasound guided transversus thoracic muscle plane (TTP) block for breast cancer resection. In this article, he showed that branches of the intercostal nerves (Th2-6) dominate the region of the internal mammary area. By administering local anesthetics between the internal intercostal and transversus thoracic muscle, analgesia in the anterior chest and sternum can be obtained. A cadaveric study shows injectate spread from the second to fifth intercostal spaces with a single 15mL injection between the third and fourth ribs next to the sternum. They further published a case series of two patients who successfully underwent median sternotomy for aortic valve replacement and thymoma resection using only the TTP block for analgesia. Fast- track cardiac surgery is now widely practiced, and evidence for its safety and efficacy has spurred its adoption. With the increased demand for health care resources including nursing manpower and ICU beds, postoperative patients are returning to the cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU) on shorter acting anesthetic agents so that they can be awakened, following commands and spontaneously ventilating earlier. The TTP block fits in well with the fast- track paradigm. By providing adequate analgesia for median sternotomy, the TTP block may reduce narcotic requirements and consequent sedation and respiratory depression, hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis, prolonged mechanical ventilation and need for emergency advanced airway interventions.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures performed by a single conventional median sternotomy, and first case of the day patient because early postoperative pain scores are difficult to obtain overnight for patients admitted to the ICU in the evening.
Exclusion Criteria
  • patients undergoing non-median sternotomy access, surgeries involving saphenous vein or radial artery harvests, emergency cases, LVEF (Left ventricular efection fraction) <30%, ASAPS (American society of anesthesiologists physical status)=5, known local anesthetic allergy, allergy to any study medications, pre-existing major organ dysfunction including hepatic and renal failure, eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) <60mL/min/1.73m2, coagulopathy, hematological disorders, infection at the site of injection, significant psychiatric illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar, uncontrolled anxiety or depression), narcotic dependency (chronic opioid use of greater than 15mg oral morphine equivalents daily), peripheral neuropathy, pregnancy, patient refusal, lack of informed consent, moderate cognitive impairment, and language or reading barrier.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
The standard of care groupHydromorphone HydrochloridePatients in the standard care group will receive pain medications, such as hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin and acetaminophen.
The nerve block groupTransthoracic Transversus Plane BlockTTP block under dynamic ultrasound guidance plus the standard care (hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin, acetaminophen)
The nerve block groupHydromorphone HydrochlorideTTP block under dynamic ultrasound guidance plus the standard care (hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin, acetaminophen)
The nerve block groupFentanylTTP block under dynamic ultrasound guidance plus the standard care (hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin, acetaminophen)
The nerve block groupAspirinTTP block under dynamic ultrasound guidance plus the standard care (hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin, acetaminophen)
The nerve block groupAcetaminophenTTP block under dynamic ultrasound guidance plus the standard care (hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin, acetaminophen)
The standard of care groupAspirinPatients in the standard care group will receive pain medications, such as hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin and acetaminophen.
The standard of care groupAcetaminophenPatients in the standard care group will receive pain medications, such as hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin and acetaminophen.
The standard of care groupFentanylPatients in the standard care group will receive pain medications, such as hydromorphone, fentanyl, aspirin and acetaminophen.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Narcotic requirements equivalentsFrom the time of ICU admission up to 48 hours

The amount of narcotics (hydromorphone or fentanyl) required will be assessed on patients' chart.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time to extubationFrom the time of ICU admission up to 24 hours

0 hour (the time of ICU admission) to extubation

Patient satisfaction satisfactionFrom extubation up to 48 hours

yes or no

Pain score equivalentsFrom the time of ICU admission up to 48 hours

on a sclale of 0-10

Respiratory rateAfter extubation up to 48 hours

Every 2 hours after extubation

Oxygen saturation by pulse oximetryAfter extubation up to 48 hours

After extubation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

London Health Sciences Centre

🇨🇦

London, Ontario, Canada

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