Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Comparison of Loco-regional Analgesic Techniques in Patients Undergoing Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)

72 participantsStarted 2025-08-01

Plain-language summary

This study aims to compare two loco-regional analgesic techniques: 1. Intercostal nerve block: Performed by the surgeon intraoperatively before final lung re-expansion, involving the administration of 20 mL of 0.5% levobupivacaine using a 27G needle into the subpleural space of the thoracotomy access site and adjacent intercostal spaces. 2. Ultrasound-guided ESPB: Performed by an anesthesiologist under surgical asepsis with the patient in a seated position. After identifying the target transverse process, a linear ultrasound probe is placed sagittally approximately 2 cm from the midline. The needle (22G, 50 mm) is inserted in-plane in a cranio-caudal direction until contacting the transverse process. After confirming proper injection by observing anesthetic spread between the erector spinae muscle and transverse process, a total of 30 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine is administered. This protocol is intended for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pneumonectomies, lobectomies, wedge resections, and bullectomies. Primary Endpoint:QoR Score at 24 hours (validated questionnaires. Secondary Endpoints: Intraoperative NOL, QoR at 48-72 hours, opioid consumption at 12-24-48 hours, NLR at 24 hours, CPSP incidence at 3 months.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * Adult patients * Signed informed consent * Elective unilateral surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Minor patients * BMI \> 40 * Unstable neurological disorders * Known allergy to acetaminophen and NSAIDs * Chronic renal failure (stage \> 4, whith GFR between 29 and 15 mL/min) * Patient refusal * Chronic use of NSAIDs and opioids in the 3 months prior to surgery * Contraindications to peripheral block (infection al the insertion site, allergy to local anesthetics, severe coagulation disorders)

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

QoR Score at Day 1

Timeframe: From end surgery to Day 1 after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07102173

SponsorASST Sette Laghi

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-04

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Loco-regional Anesthesia trials