External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block for Liver Transplantation Recipient
Turkey (Türkiye)64 participantsStarted 2025-12-22
Plain-language summary
Postoperative pain management is one of the key factors in improving rehabilitation and accelerating recovery. The external oblique intercostal plane block can be used to provide abdominal wall analgesia for effective pain control in abdominal surgery.
The aim of this study is to investigate the postoperative analgesic efficacy of the external oblique intercostal plane block in liver transplant recipients.
The investigators will compare a group receiving the external oblique intercostal plane block with a control group to determine whether this block provides effective postoperative analgesia in liver transplant recipients.
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:
* Adult patients aged 18 to 75 years
* Scheduled for elective orthotopic liver transplantation (living or deceased donor)
* J-shaped or Mercedes incision planned
* ASA physical status III-IV
* Normal or acceptable coagulation profile at the time of block application (INR ≤ 1.5, platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm³, fibrinogen ≥ 150 mg/dL)
* Able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Coagulopathy at the time of block application (INR \> 1.5, platelet count \< 50,000/mm³, or fibrinogen \< 150 mg/dL)
* Known allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics (amide group)
* Local infection or skin lesion at the block injection site
* Severe hemodynamic instability requiring high-dose vasopressor support
* Chronic opioid use (≥30 mg oral morphine equivalents per day for ≥30 days before surgery)
* Severe hepatic encephalopathy or cognitive impairment preventing use of PCA or pain scoring
* Emergency or re-transplantation surgery
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
1
The amount of morphine required by the patient and given by the device will be recorded for the first 24 hours