RecruitingNot Applicable

Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracoscopically-Guided Intercostal Nerve Block in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

Germany72 participantsStarted 2026-05-04

Plain-language summary

Effective postoperative pain management is essential after thoracic surgery. Insufficient pain control may impair breathing and coughing, increasing the risk of pulmonary complications such as collapsed lungs (atelectasis) or pneumonia. Although minimally invasive lung surgery (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, VATS) is less painful than open surgery, people can still have significant pain after the operation. The goal of this randomized comparative study is to compare two commonly used regional anesthesia techniques for pain control after VATS in adults. Researchers will compare an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB), performed by anesthesiologists, to a thoracoscopically-guided intercostal nerve block (ICNB), performed by surgeons. Participants will: * Undergo elective VATS lung resection surgery * Receive either ESPB or ICNB, according to random assignment * Have the received amount of analgesics recorded during the first 24 hours * Have their pain levels assessed at predefined time points after surgery The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does ESPB result in similar analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery? * Does ESPB provide similar postoperative pain relief compared to ICNB? * Is the time needed to perform ESPB similar to ICNB?

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: * Provision of written informed consent * Adults (≥ 18 years of age) * Elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pulmonary resection (e.g., lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection) Exclusion Criteria: * Lack of informed consent * Language barrier * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Known allergy to local anesthetics used in the study * Infection at the injection site(s) * History of complex chest wall surgery * Revision surgery with a prior operation within the last 6 months * Intraoperative conversion to open thoracotomy * Chronic pain syndrome * Fibromyalgia * Chronic opioid use * Chronic alcohol abuse * Chronic substance abuse (e.g., THC, amphetamines, cocaine) * History of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia) * Impaired consciousness, cognition, or ability to communicate * Known coagulopathy (including platelet count \< 80,000/µL or prolonged PTT/aPTT \>1.5× the upper limit of normal) * Ongoing therapeutic anticoagulation

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

Assessment of the postoperative analgesic consumption within the first 24 hours after surgery

Timeframe: First 24 hours after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07535697

SponsorSana Klinikum Offenbach

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-04-30

Contact for this trial

Prof. Dr. H. Mutlak

0049-69-8405-3802 haitham.mutlak@sana.de

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Regional Anesthesia trials