TerminatedPhase 4

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block for Shoulder Pain After Lung Surgery

Stopped: Unable to continue enrollment due to lack of resources (research coordinator no longer available).

United States10 participantsStarted 2013-10

Plain-language summary

The investigators want to know whether injecting numbing medication on the side of the neck (also called superficial cervical plexus block) can prevent or reduce shoulder pain that patients commonly experience after lung surgery. The investigators will perform the injection at the end of your surgery while the subjects are still under general anesthesia and before they wake up. The investigators will use a local anesthetic (bupivacaine or Marcaine®) that is routinely used for skin infiltration of the surgical wounds. This study is randomized and single-blind. This means that subjects will be assigned by chance (like flipping a coin) to receive either an injection with active medication (bupivacaine), or no injection at all.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * subjects who clinically consented to elective thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anesthesia and epidural analgesia * ages between 18 and 75 years Exclusion Criteria: * inability to perform thoracic epidural * violation of protocol (e.g., administration of medication that does not comply with the study protocol) * subject has change of mind * surgery has to be repeated Non-inclusion Criteria: * subject refusal * non-English speaking * previous chronic or neuropathic pain * previous chronic use of opioids * history of psychiatric disorder * allergy to local anesthetic * previous ipsilateral thoracotomy or VATS * prior history of shoulder pain

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Incidence of Post-thoracotomy/Scopy Ipsilateral Shoulder Pain

Timeframe: 24 hours after lung surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01550302

SponsorUniversity of Washington

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2014-05

Results submitted2017-03-23

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Shoulder Pain trials