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Optimal Timing of Intercostal Nerve Blocks During Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgeries

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02980835
Lead Sponsor
University at Buffalo
Brief Summary

Intercostal nerve block, performed under the guidance of videoscope, is a part of standard anesthesia procedures for patients receiving Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgeries. In this double-blind, prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial the investigators aim to compare preemptive versus post-closure intercostal injection of ropivacaine in controlling post-video-assisted thoracotomy pain.

Detailed Description

The design of the study is a double-blind, prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial of preemptive vs. post-closure intercostal injection of ropivacaine in controlling post-video-assisted thoracotomy (VATS) pain. In standard intercostal nerve block procedures, the contents of A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) and C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) are combined into one set of injections injected into the intercostal spaces of T5-6, T6-7, T7-8, T8-9 and T9-10, with each intercostal spaces receives about 7 mL of combined A and C solutions (each intercostal space receives 2 mL of A and about 5 mL of C). In this study, the intercostal nerve block is split into two sets of injections: one set of injections at the beginning of VATS, and the other set right before closure. Therefore the investigators consider both sets of injections as research procedures. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive a preemptive 2mL-injection of A or injection of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) at each intercostal space as previously delineated by the operating surgeon. Both the research team and the surgical team will be blind to the nature of the injectates during surgery. As parts of the standard care procedures, all patients will be monitored with non-invasive ASA standard in addition to invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. Prior to the closure, patients who receive injections of A at the beginning of surgery will receive the second set of injections containing a mixture of B and C (5 mL of solution C is given at each intercostal space) at the intercostal spaces as previously delineated. Patients who receive injections of B at the beginning of surgery will receive the second set of injections containing a mixture of A and C (5 mL of solution C is given at each intercostal space). The investigators will group the patients who are assigned to receive injectate A at the end of the surgery as the control group. Because the injectate A and injectate C are usually given together in one set of injections at the same anatomical locations in standard intercostal nerve block procedures, the intercostal block received by the control group will closely resemble the procedures performed in standard intercostal nerve block. Patients who receive injectate A at the beginning of surgery are grouped as experimental group. Regardless of the group assignment, the total dosage of ropivacaine and dexamethasone given to a patient will be equal to the dosage given under the standard care procedures. Post operative pain, ventilatory profile and length of hospital stay will be compared between two study arms.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria

Patients will be eligible to enroll in this study if they:

  • Have physical status within ASA class II or III
  • Are between 18 and 85 years of age
  • Are candidates for VATS
  • Are able to complete VAS assessments
  • Are competent to sign the informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria

Patients will not be enrolled in this study if they:

  • Are pregnant
  • Have allergy to ropivacaine or hydromorphone
  • Have renal insufficiency (eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2)
  • Have hepatic insufficiency (AST, ALT, or both >60 U/L) or cirrhosis
  • Have a predicted postoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) of <40%, predicted forced expiratory volume at 1s (FEV1) <40%
  • Have coagulopathy (platelet count<50000, INR>2, or both)
  • Have a history of opioid addiction, chronically taking opioids, currently taking high dose of opioids or currently taking opioid agonist+antagonist (e.g. Suboxone®)
  • Are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, including aspirin, within a week prior to surgery (since the analgesic effects of NSAID drugs may become confounding factors).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionNormal SalinePatients who receive injections of A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) at the beginning of surgery and second set of injections containing a mixture of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) and C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) prior to the closure
ControlNormal SalineParticipants who receive injection of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) at the beginning of surgery and injectate A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) and injectate C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) at the end of procedure prior to the closure (which mimics standard care) is the control group
InterventionRopivacainePatients who receive injections of A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) at the beginning of surgery and second set of injections containing a mixture of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) and C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) prior to the closure
InterventionEpinephrinePatients who receive injections of A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) at the beginning of surgery and second set of injections containing a mixture of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) and C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) prior to the closure
InterventionDexamethasonePatients who receive injections of A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) at the beginning of surgery and second set of injections containing a mixture of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) and C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) prior to the closure
ControlRopivacaineParticipants who receive injection of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) at the beginning of surgery and injectate A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) and injectate C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) at the end of procedure prior to the closure (which mimics standard care) is the control group
ControlEpinephrineParticipants who receive injection of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) at the beginning of surgery and injectate A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) and injectate C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) at the end of procedure prior to the closure (which mimics standard care) is the control group
ControlDexamethasoneParticipants who receive injection of B (contains 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline) at the beginning of surgery and injectate A (a total of a 10 mL-solution that consists of 9 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5% and 1 mL of dexamethasone 4mg/mL preparation) and injectate C (a total 25 mL solution that consists of 24 mL of ropivacaine HCl 0.5%, 1 mL of dexamethasone-4mg/mL preparation, and 0.125 mL of epinephrine-1:1000 preparation) at the end of procedure prior to the closure (which mimics standard care) is the control group
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Efficacy of intercostal nerve block in reducing postoperative pain, when performed at the beginning of video-assisted thoracic surgeries by visual analog scale (VAS) score72 hours

VAS scores at rest will be recorded 72 hours after surgery and compared in both groups

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Postoperative delirium profiles measured using Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC)48 hours

Postoperative delirium profiles will be measured 48 hours after surgery using Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC)

PaO2/FIO2 ratio right after surgery0 hours

PaO2 (mmHg kPa) and FIO2 (percent) will be recorded from atrial blood gas examination and the ratio will be calculated

Total hospital length of stayup to 2 weeks

The investigators will assess length of stay by evaluating medical records and calculate length of stay in days, using date of discharge and date of admission

Need for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV)up to two weeks

The investigators will assess the need for NIPPV by evaluating medical records to asses if patients received NIPPV with the discretion of the managing physician during their hospitalization

Need for mechanical ventilationup to two weeks

The investigators will assess the need for mechanical ventilation by evaluating medical records to asses if patients received mechanical ventilation with the discretion of the managing physician during their hospitalization

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA Western New York Healthcare System

🇺🇸

Buffalo, New York, United States

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