Actively Recruiting
Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracoscopically-Guided Intercostal Nerve Block in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Led by Sana Klinikum Offenbach · Updated on 2026-05-01
72
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
52 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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?
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracoscopically-Guided Intercostal Nerve Block in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Provided written informed consent
- Adults aged 18 years or older
- Scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung resection such as lobectomy, segmentectomy, or wedge resection
You will not qualify if you...
- Did not provide informed consent
- Language barriers preventing understanding
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Known allergy to local anesthetics used in the study
- Infection at the injection site
- History of complex chest wall surgery
- Revision surgery with prior operation within the last 6 months
- Conversion to open thoracotomy during surgery
- Chronic pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic opioid use
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Chronic substance abuse including THC, amphetamines, or cocaine
- History of psychiatric disorders such as depression or schizophrenia
- Impaired consciousness, cognition, or communication ability
- Known blood clotting disorders or low platelet count
- Currently receiving therapeutic anticoagulation
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Sana Klinikum Offenbach
Offenbach, Hesse, Germany, 63069
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Prof. Dr. H. Mutlak
CONTACT
E
E. Park, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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