NCT06945263

Comparing Pain Relief Between Two Methods of Freezing Injections in Children Having Their Appendix Removed

Rectus Sheath Block and Coadministration of Intravenous Dexamethasone for Analgesia After Pediatric Laparoscopic Appendectomy - A Pilot Study

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of British Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Laparoscopic appendectomies are the most common emergency surgeries performed in children. Despite being considered minimally invasive surgeries, they can result in substantial postoperative pain and 2 of 3 patients require postoperative opioids. Increased postoperative pain can delay recovery, increase hospital admission time, lead to chronic pain, and cause patient distress. This study aims to reduce postoperative pain in this population by comparing the recovery outcomes associated with the administration of (1) an RSB with coadministration of IV dexamethasone as an LA adjunct (RSB+dex group) prior to the incision with (2) LA infiltration alone by the surgeon (LA group).

Conditions

• Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Rectus Sheath Block	Bilateral rectus sheath blocks using an in-plane ultrasound-guided technique with 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1:200 000 at 0.8 mL/kg (half of total volume per side) up to a maximum of 20 mL prior to the incision.
DRUG	Local Anesthetic at the Umbilical Port Site	0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1:200 000. Total dose of 0.8 mL/kg (maximum 20 mL) at the umbilical port site.
DRUG	Intravenous Dexamethasone	Intravenous Dexamethasone delivered concurrent to the RSB. Total dose of 150 mcg/kg up to a maximum of 8 mg.
DRUG	Local Anesthetic at the Incision Site	The remaining volume of local anesthetic (0.2 mL/kg) can be infiltrated at each of the incision sites at the discretion of the surgeon up to a maximum of 10 mL.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-01
• Primary completion: 2026-04-27
• Completion: 2026-04-27
• First posted: 2025-04-25
• Last updated: 2025-05-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada