Comparing Liposomal Bupivacaine Plus Bupivacaine to Bupivacaine Alone for Pain Relief After Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery in Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the pain relief effects of liposomal bupivacaine combined with bupivacaine compared to bupivacaine alone for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery VATS, a less invasive lung surgery method. Postoperative pain after VATS is common and can lead to complications, slower recovery, and chronic pain if not managed well. The study aims to determine if the newer liposomal form offers better pain control than traditional local anesthetics. Participants will receive local infiltration of either bupivacaine alone or a mixture of liposomal bupivacaine with bupivacaine at the surgical incision before wound closure. Both groups will have patient-controlled analgesia PCA pumps with sufentanil and ondansetron available after surgery for additional pain relief. If needed, oral oxycodone-acetaminophen tablets and intravenous morphine can be used as rescue medications. The study compares these two analgesic approaches in a randomized, controlled design. During the study, participants pain levels at rest and during movement are measured at multiple time points up to 3 months after surgery using numeric rating scales. The amount of rescue pain medication used within the first 48 hours is the main outcome. Researchers also assess patient satisfaction, sedation levels, recovery quality, length of hospital stay, side effects like nausea, and total hospitalization costs. Safety and adverse events are monitored closely throughout the perioperative period.

The Efficacy and Safety of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Relieving Postoperative Pain After Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery