ITPB 1 vs 3 in VATS

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases or Conditions

• Registration Number: NCT06838793
• Lead Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the quality of recovery after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) by comparing the efficacy of a single-level intertransverse process block (ITPB) against a three-level ITPB, with particular attention to the quality of recovery measured by the QoR15 score at 24 hours post-surgery.

Detailed Description

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS) are currently the preferred technique for treating carcinoma lung. Despite being minimally invasive, VATS is associated with significant acute and chronic postoperative pain. Regional anesthetic techniques have the potential to block afferent nociception at the peripheral nerve level, the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), the thoracic sympathetic ganglion, or through a combination of these mechanisms. While the peripheral nerve block techniques such as the intercostal nerve block and serratus anterior plane block can provide analgesia for port related somatic pain, the visceral pain mediated via the thoracic sympathetic chain during VATS procedure are amenable only to epidural or paravertebral regional anaesthetic techniques. The thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) provides ipsilateral, segmental, somatic, and sympathetic nerve blockade across multiple contiguous thoracic dermatomes and is currently the first choice for VATS. During a TPVB, the local anaesthetic (LA) is injected into the paravertebral space adjacent to the thoracic vertebra, near the intervertebral foramen.

Traditionally, TPVB is performed using either landmark or ultrasound guidance, with the LA deposited anterior to the superior costotransverse ligament (SCTL). This typically involves the block needle piercing the SCTL to reach the wedge-shaped TPVB space. While Thoracic Paravertebral Block (TPVB) is generally regarded as safe, the proximity of the needle tip to the pleura during injection poses a heightened risk of pleural puncture and pneumothorax, especially when administered by less experienced physicians. Consequently, the Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) is gaining popularity as an alternative. However, it is important to note that ESPB also has its own limitations.

Recent advancements have redefined thoracic paravertebral anatomy, identifying a fat-filled retro-SCTL space located behind the SCTL. This space is farther from the pleura but remains in close proximity to anterior neural targets such as the thoracic spinal nerve, the DRG and thoracic sympathetic ganglion. It is hypothesised that an LA injection into the retro-SCTL space-referred to as the Intertransverse Process Block (ITPB) at the medial retro SCTL space-could produce a rapid onset of ipsilateral and/or bilateral segmental somatic and sympathetic nerve blockade of the thoracic dermatomes without the need to pierce the SCTL, thereby reducing the risk of pleural puncture and pneumothorax. Preliminary investigations on the ITPB for VATS is promising, however, there is a paucity of data on the effect of the number of injections following an ultrasound-guided (USG) ITPB on the analgesic efficacy, which this study aims to evaluate.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-17
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-21
• Study Start: 2025-03-04
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-09
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-11
• Primary Completion: 2026-03-01
• Study Completion: 2026-04-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

• ASA I-III patients
• 18 to 80 years of age
• Patients with primary carcinoma lung scheduled for resection under VATS procedure

Exclusion Criteria

• Patient refusal
• Local skin infection at the area of injection
• Coagulopathy
• History of allergy to local anaesthetics

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Quality of recovery	At 24 hours post surgery	Comparing the quality of recovery 15 (QoR15) score at 24 hours between the study groups. QoR15: a minimum score of 0 (poor recovery) and a maximum score of 150 (excellent recovery)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Area under the curve for pain at rest and movement (deep breathing)	Over the first 24 hours after surgery	Comparing the area under the curve (AUC) of postoperative pain numerical rating score (NRS, 0-10) at rest and deep breathing (pain burden).
Number of hypoesthetic and anaesthetic dermatomes	At 15 and 30 minutes after block completion	Number of anaesthetic and hypoesthetic dermatomes on the ventral and dorsal aspect of the thorax
Rescue fentanyl and phenylephrine administration	Intraoperative	Total rescue fentanyl and phenylephrine administration
Postoperative morphine, tramadol and ondansetron consumption	At 24 and 48 hour post sugery	Total postoperative morphine, tramadol and ondansetron consumption

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Anaesthesia, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin; 🇭🇰 New Territories, Hong Kong