An interventional study of paravertebral blocks in Liver Disease and Pain, sponsored by University of Pittsburgh. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2014-12-03.
Sponsored by University of Pittsburgh · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This prospective, randomized study is intended to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral continuous paravertebral blocks compared to continuous epidural block for open liver resection. Hypotheses: Bilateral paravertebral blocks are: 1) equally effective in controlling the perioperative pain; and 2) safe, with less frequent complications following open liver resection when compared to continuous epidural block.
Background: A number of studies evaluating unilateral continuous paravertebral block demonstrate equal or superior analgesia when compared to epidural analgesia for postoperative pain control (1-7). At the same time, these studies show a decreased incidence of side effects and complications, including: hypotension, pulmonary complications, urinary retention, nausea and vomiting and failed blocks. Several studies also indicate that bilateral paravertebral blocks provide adequate postoperative analgesia (8-14). However, no study has been performed to date that shows a direct comparison between epidural and bilateral paravertebral blocks in patients undergoing open liver resection.Objectives: This prospective, randomized study is intended to assess the efficacy and safety of bilateral continuous paravertebral blocks compared to continuous epidural block for open liver resection. Hypotheses: Bilateral paravertebral blocks are: 1) equally effective in controlling the perioperative pain; and 2) safe, with less frequent complications following open liver resection when compared to continuous epidural block.Methods: A hundred adult patients undergoing elective open liver resection will be randomized to receive a continuous epidural block or continuous bilateral paravertebral blocks for perioperative analgesia. The primary outcome will be the degree of pain control measured by visual analog scale at 24 hours post surgery (at rest and while the patient is performing maximum incentive spirometry). The secondary outcomes will include: 1) Assessment of pain (at rest, with cough, and with ambulation) using the verbal numerical pain scale will be performed postoperatively every 8 hours by floor nursing staff until discharge. During the night the patient will not be awakened for pain assessment. 2) Intravenous opioid requirement: In addition to pain score, postoperative intravenous opioid requirements [hydromorphone (mg)] will also be recorded daily; Frequency of side effects and complications; and other functional status (volume of maximum incentive spirometry, time to extubation, total time for initial ambulation, the length of the hospital stay, time to return of bowel function, readiness for discharge from the hospital, and length of hospital stay). At one month post surgery, health-related quality of life, mortality, and any morbidities will be assessed. Each variable will be compared between the paravertebral group and the epidural group to examine the hypotheses above. Clinical Implications: Bilateral continuous paravertebral blocks could be an equally effective and safe alternative to a continuous epidural block for perioperative pain management in patients who undergo open liver resection.
2,081 studies on the registry are indexed under Liver Diseases; 389 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 100 is above the median of 50 across 1,322 interventional studies indexed under Liver Diseases.
Browse Liver Diseases studies →University of Pittsburgh is the lead sponsor of 1,385 studies on the registry; 167 are open to participants now.
Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (50%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Bilateral continuous paravertebral blocks for open liver resection
Procedure: paravertebral blocks
received thoracic epidural block for open liver resection
use bilateral thoracic paravertebral blocks for pain control
Also known as: regional anesthesia
Pain immediately after maximum incentive spirometry
Pain will be assessed using an 11-point verbal numerical pain scale (VAS) with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst pain imaginable;(21) pain will be determined 24 hours postoperatively immediately after maximum incentive spirometry.
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
date of the removal of the catheter
date of the removal of the catheter with any requirement of blood transfusion because of coagulation
Time frame: up to one week after the surgery
This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2014. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Pittsburgh