NCT05409144

Impact of Thoracic Epidural Versus Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block on Incidence of PTPS

Impact of Thoracic Epidural Infusion Versus Continuous Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Continuous Erector Spinae Plane Block on Incidence of Post Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 111 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute, Egypt · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae plane block compared to Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block on the emergence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome in patients undergoing lobectomy for lung cancer.

Detailed description

Lung cancer has the highest incidence of all malignancies worldwide and accounts for approximately 13% of all cancer cases. Lung cancer is still the most common cause of cancer-related deaths, and lung resection surgeries could be the main therapeutic option. Hence, the number of thoracotomy procedures is progressively increasing as is the incidence of post-thoracotomy pain. In addition to amputation and mastectomy, thoracotomy is considered the main etiology of severe and long-term acute and chronic post-surgical pain syndromes (CPSPs). The prevalence of post-thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) is widely variable (30%-50%) and may range from 11% to 80%, according to other studies. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has defined post-thoracotomy pain syndrome as "pain that recurs or persists along the thoracotomy scar at least 2 months after the procedure". In addition, post-thoracotomy pain syndrome is mostly described with neuropathic manifestations along the thoracotomy scar and in the mammary, inframammary, ipsilateral scapular and interscapular areas. The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a novel technique for thoracic analgesia that promises to be a relatively simple and safe alternative to more complex and invasive techniques of neural blockade.

Conditions

• Post-thoracotomy Pain Syndrome
• Erector Spinae Plane Block
• Serratus Anterior Plane Block

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Thoracic epidural infusion	Upon locating the desired site spot, lidocaine 1% must be injected into the skin and underlying tissues to decrease the discomfort with the advancement of the epidural needle. Once achieving local anesthesia, the epidural needle advanced with its stylet in place and with its bevel point cephalad; this will ultimately contribute to the proper location of the epidural catheter. The epidural needle must be advanced through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, supraspinous, and interspinous ligaments. Once there, the stylet must be removed, and the Loss of Resistance syringe (filled up with saline, air, or both) must be attached to the needle. The needle must be advanced while applying pressure to the plunger. Once the ligamentum flavum is pierced, a loss in resistance will be noted; this is the epidural space, and 5 to 10 cc of saline is injected to expand the epidural space; this may decrease the risk of vascular injury.
DEVICE	Erector Spinae Plane Block	The block-level will be at T5. The ultrasound probe will be placed on the back in a transverse orientation to identify the tip of the T5 transverse process; these are recognizable as flat, squared-off acoustic shadows with only a very faint image of the pleura visible. The tip of the transverse process will be centered on the ultrasound screen and the probe will then be rotated into a longitudinal orientation to produce a parasagittal view, in which the following layers will be visible superficial to the acoustic shadows of the transverse processes: skin and subcutaneous tissue, trapezius, erector spinae muscle and T5 transverse process. 3ml lidocaine 1% will be used on skin and subcutaneous fat, Echogenic block needle will be inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact is made with the T5 transverse process.
DEVICE	Serratus Anterior Plane Block	The block is performed with full aseptic precautions. Arm abduction is preferred. The ultrasound probe will be placed on the patient's midaxillary line in the transverse plane, at the level of the fifth rib, with the indicator oriented toward the operator's left. With the rib, pleural line, and overlying serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscles visualized, then, 3ml lidocaine 1% will be used for skin and subcutaneous fat, using ultrasound guidance, a 38-mm 22-gauge regional block needle is going to be advanced in-plane at an angle of approximately 45 degrees towards the fifth rib. After aspiration to avoid intravascular injection 30ml of levobupivacaine 0.25% will be injected anteriorly to the rib and deep into the serratus anterior muscle.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-06-20
• Primary completion: 2023-04-01
• Completion: 2023-04-01
• First posted: 2022-06-08
• Last updated: 2022-06-08