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Clinical Trials/NCT03758261
NCT03758261
Completed
Phase 4

Randomized Clinical Trial of Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Versus Paravertebral Nerve (PVB) Blockade for Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

Charles Luke1 site in 1 country35 target enrollmentMarch 11, 2019

Overview

Phase
Phase 4
Intervention
Erector Spinae nerve block
Conditions
Thoracic Surgical Procedures
Sponsor
Charles Luke
Enrollment
35
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
Total Opioid Consumption
Status
Completed
Last Updated
2 years ago

Overview

Brief Summary

Continuous paravertebral analgesia and erector spinae plane blockade (ESP) are accepted techniques at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for the management of thoracic pain following surgery and trauma. Recently, an increasing number of erector spinae plane nerve blocks are being performed as it has been demonstrated in our institution, and via case reports that the blocks provide clinical effectiveness, but may have a better side-effect profile than the paravertebral nerve block. However, the relative efficacy of ESP compared to paravertebral nerve block remains to be established for video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This is a prospective randomized study intended to assess the efficacy, safety and side-effect profile of continuous erector spinae plane analgesia versus continuous paravertebral analgesia for VATS procedures. It will include 60 patients presenting to UPMC Passavant for a VATS procedure. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either a nerve block via continuous paravertebral infusion or via erector spinae plane infusion. In addition, to treat breakthrough pain, the patients in both arms will receive multimodal adjunctive therapy per routine. Bupivacaine and ropivacaine are FDA approved for use in nerve block catheters. The primary outcome will be to compare analgesic efficacy between the two nerve blocks as defined by total opioid consumption and pain scores on the numeric pain rating scale. Secondary outcomes include incentive spirometer amounts (baseline vs daily score postoperatively), length of stay, duration of catheter and report of adverse events or complications. Other data points include number of chest tubes and location and level of catheter and nerve block placement as well as number of blocks per case.

Detailed Description

Background and significance: Multimodal analgesia for thoracic surgery is key to allow faster recovery and diminish postoperative complications. Paravertebral nerve blocks as well as epidurals are among the regional anesthetic techniques utilized for these procedures. Recently, a newer technique, the erector spinae plane block, has been used and described to be effective in treating pain for patients undergoing thoracic surgery. At UPMC, the investigators have had clinically significant pain control for thoracic surgery with both types of blocks. The previous case reports/series and our clinical observation has led us to propose this study of comparing the clinical efficacy of erector spinae plane block vs. paravertebral nerve block. Though ESP and paravertebral blocks have been documented to be efficacious for this procedure, there has been no direct comparison between the two approaches. The ESP block is considered to be a safer technique with less theoretical adverse events possible and thus, would become a viable alternative to the more technically challenging paravertebral nerve block. If ESP is found to be superior or non-inferior to paravertebral in terms of pain management and safety, this would be a major finding, as ESP is considered safer and technically easier to perform than paravertebral nerve block. Study design and methods The investigators present a prospective randomized trial comparing the efficacy of continuous paravertebral nerve blocks vs. ESP blocks for video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) at UPMC Passavant.

Registry
clinicaltrials.gov
Start Date
March 11, 2019
End Date
June 25, 2020
Last Updated
2 years ago
Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Parallel
Sex
All

Investigators

Sponsor
Charles Luke
Responsible Party
Sponsor Investigator
Principal Investigator

Charles Luke

Clinical Assistant Professor

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

  • Not provided

Arms & Interventions

Erector Spinae Nerve Block

Erector Spinae nerve block

Intervention: Erector Spinae nerve block

Paravertebral Nerve Block

Paravertebral nerve block

Intervention: Paravertebral nerve block

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Total Opioid Consumption

Time Frame: 1 day post catheter removal

Morphine equivalents (total OME)

Patient Reported Pain Scores

Time Frame: 1 day post catheter removal

Visual analog scale. Scale is from 0 to 10 numerical pain rating scale. 0 indicates no pain. 10 indicates maximum level of pain. Higher scores indicate worse pain level. Pain score will be a single number from 0 to 10.

Secondary Outcomes

  • Length of Hospital Stay(Up to 2 weeks on average)
  • Time Catheter Remains Inserted in Body(6 days)
  • Amount Achieved on Incentive Spirometer(1 day post catheter removal)
  • Averaged Total of Narcotic Usage(0-120 hours post-operative)
  • Report of Adverse Events From Catheter Placement(1 day post catheter removal)

Study Sites (1)

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