A Phase 4 interventional study of Standardized General Anesthesia Induction and Maintenance Protocol incorporating Intravenous Lidocaine and Standardized General Anesthesia Induction and Maintenance Protocol incorporating Placebo in Hepatectomy, sponsored by Rennes University Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 9 sites in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-15.
Sponsored by Rennes University Hospital · Phase 4, Interventional, and Supportive care
Liver resection is increasingly performed for hepatic tumors, mainly primary liver cancers and resectable metastases, but also for some benign lesions. Postoperative pain is often significant, regardless of the surgical technique, making effective pain control essential to promote early mobilization and reduce complications.
Current standard care relies on multimodal analgesia, combining several drugs administered during surgery, with morphine administered as rescue therapy when required. Morphine is associated with side effects such as nausea, vomiting, ileus, hypoxemia, opioid-induced hyperalgesia, and transient cognitive impairment. Therefore, there is a need to optimize pain management while reducing opioid consumption and related adverse effects.
Intravenous (IV) lidocaine has well-documented anti-inflammatory effects and is effective against neuropathic pain. Several studies have shown that intravenous lidocaine may be associated with improved analgesia, reduced opioid consumption, shorter hospital stay, and decreased postoperative ileus, nausea, and vomiting-particularly in abdominal and genitourinary surgeries. Therefore, Intravenous (IV) lidocaine may be a valuable alternative for postoperative pain management after liver surgery.
National guidelines now recommend perioperative Intravenous (IV) lidocaine for abdominal surgeries but its efficacy in liver surgery has not yet been established due to a lack of specific evidence (more specific data are needed). Findings from other types of abdominal surgery suggest a potential benefit, which should be confirmed by dedicated clinical trials and robust multicenter evaluation such as the ILHEP protocol.
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effect of intravenous perioperative lidocaine on postoperative opioid related-side effects and to formally confirm the safety of lidocaine during hepatic surgical procedures. The hypothesis is that Intravenous (IV) lidocaine compared with placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug e.g. a saline solution) would improve postoperative outcome by reducing opioid related side-effects in patients undergoing liver surgery and benefitting of the same baseline analgesia.
In the context of this trial, patients will receive either intravenous lidocaine or placebo according to their assigned randomization group during standardized general anesthesia, and will then be followed throughout their hospital stay until discharge or up to a maximum of 28 days.
An ancillary study will be conducted in patients enrolled at the coordinating center in Rennes to assess exposure to lidocaine during intravenous administration and to evaluate the relationship between blood concentrations and adverse events.
Patients scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia meeting the inclusion criteria will be eligible. During the preoperative anesthesia consultation (from Day-30 to Day-1), the investigator will present the study and the objectives of the research to the patient. When the patient arrives for admission, on the same day as the experimental visit or the day before (from Day-1 or Day 0), the investigator will verify the inclusion criteria and collect the written informed consent. Once inclusion has been validated, data will be collected : Socio-demographic data / Clinical data / List of chronic medications prior to surgery.
After signing the consent form and before the first dose of medication is taken, participants will be randomized into the control (placebo) or experimental group (lidocaine). In order to ensure group compatibility, a plan of randomization will be used : patients will be assigned to the treatment group in chronological order of randomization numbers, using a centralized randomization method via Ennov software (Ennov Clinical, Groupe Ennov, Paris, France). Randomization will be carried out online by investigators as close as possible to the surgery (Day-1 or Day 0). Participants and investigators will be blinded to the intervention.
Regarding the surgical procedure, general anesthesia will be standardized, and patients will receive either placebo or lidocaine according to the group to which they were assigned during randomization.
Physicians will be warned to reinject sufentanil or remifentanil during surgery in an opioid sparing spirit.
The postoperative protocol will be standardized. Extubation defines the Hour 0 for assessment of the primary criterion events. Aside from the placebo or lidocaine administered according to their randomization group, all patients will receive standard postoperative treatment.
An ancillary study will be conducted at the coordinating centre and is expected to include approximately 20 patients to assess drug exposure during perioperative intravenous lidocaine administration. It will also evaluate the relationship between maximal total and free concentrations (Cmax and Cmaxμ, measured at the end of the intravenous lidocaine bolus) and/or steady-state concentrations (Css and Cssμ, measured at the end of lidocaine administration) and the occurrence of adverse events. Blood samples (5 mL) will be drawn through a catheter:
This trial is an intention to treat study, that is all randomized patients will be analyzed in their randomization group.
1,190 studies on the registry are indexed under Agnosia; 508 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 312 is above the median of 78 across 1,024 interventional studies indexed under Agnosia.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion criterion 2 : Allergy or contraindication to lidocaine or one of its excipients and, in particular:
Exclusion criterion 4 : Nefopam contraindication and, in particular:
Exclusion criterion 5 : Ketoprofen contraindication and, in particular:
Standard anaesthesia protocol with lidocaine
Drug: Standardized General Anesthesia Induction and Maintenance Protocol incorporating Intravenous Lidocaine
Standard anaesthesia protocol with placebo (NaCl)
Drug: Standardized General Anesthesia Induction and Maintenance Protocol incorporating Placebo
Standard general anaesthesia induction protocol with pre-defined bolus of lidocaine and standard general anaesthesia maintenance protocol with pre-defined continuous intravenous infusion of lidocaine
Also known as: Lidocaine
Standard general anaesthesia induction protocol with pre-defined bolus of placebo and standard general anaesthesia maintenance protocol with pre-defined continuous intravenous infusion of placebo
Also known as: Placebo
To compare the effects of a perioperative lidocaine infusion versus placebo on the composite incidence of postoperative opioid-related adverse events, assessed blinded to the randomization group, in patients undergoing open hepatectomy.
Number of participants with at least one of the following postoperative opioid-related adverse events : Postoperative nausea and vomiting defined as any nausea or vomiting ; Postoperative hypoxemia defined as SpO2 \< 95% with a need for oxygen supplementation ; Postoperative ileus duration. Ileus is defined as an intolerance to an oral diet (e.g. soft food or light meal)
Time frame: from Hour 0 (extubation) to Hour 48
Determine the occurrence of postoperative opioid-related nausea and vomiting
Occurrence of postoperative opioid-related nausea and vomiting (the need for anti-emetic medication will also be recorded)
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine the occurrence of postoperative opioid-related hypoxemia
Occurrence of postoperative opioid-related hypoxemia (duration of oxygen treatment will also be recorded)
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine the occurrence of postoperative opioid-related ileus
Occurrence of postoperative opioid-related ileus
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine the occurrence of postoperative opioid-related absence of flatus or stools
Occurrence of postoperative opioid-related absence of flatus or stools
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine is associated with a better postoperative analgesia at rest, as measured by the number of episodes with a Numeric Rating Scale score > 3, recorded every 10 minutes during post anesthesia care unit stay and every 6 hours thereafter.
Number of episodes with Numeric Rating Scale score \> 3 at rest Numeric rating scale : Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine is associated with a better postoperative analgesia at rest, as measured by the maximum Numeric Rating Scale score recorded.
Maximum Numeric rating scale score recorded at rest Numeric rating scale : Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine is associated with a better postoperative analgesia during movement, as measured by the number of episodes with a NRS score > 3, recorded every 10 minutes during Post-Anesthesia Care Unit stay and every 6 hours thereafter
Number of episodes with Numeric rating scale \> 3 during movement Numeric rating scale : Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine is associated with a better postoperative analgesia during movement, as measured by the maximum Numeric Rating Scale score recorded.
Maximum Numeric rating scale score recorded during movement Numeric rating scale : Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine can reduce postoperative opioid consumption
Opioid consumption (mg)
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 48
Determine if lidocaine can reduce the delay to obtain an Aldrete score ≥ 9 after extubation
Time (minutes) between extubation (H0) and achieving an Aldrete score ≥ 9 Aldrete Scoring System consists of 5 clinically relevant parameters reflecting physiological recovery from anesthesia (muscle activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and color) ranging from 0 (no recovery) to 10 (full recovery). A total score of 0 indicates no recovery across the assessed criteria and reflects the poorest possible post-anesthesia status. A total score of 10 indicates full recovery across all assessed criteria, represents the best possible post-anesthesia status and is generally ready for discharge from the post-anesthesia care unit.
Time frame: from Hour 0 (extubation) to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit discharge, up to 24 hours
Determine if lidocaine reduces postoperative rate of unscheduled admission in intensive care unit (ICU)
Rate of unscheduled admission in intensive care unit
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 28
Determine if lidocaine reduces the length of stay in the hospital
Hospital length of stay (minutes)
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 28
Determine if lidocaine reduces the incidence of the most frequent complications, particularly pneumonia
Occurrence of pneumonia episodes of newly confirmed pneumonia according to the modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria.
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 7 or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first; maximum Day 28
Determine if lidocaine reduces the incidence of the most frequent complications, particularly acute kidney injury
Occurrence of acute kidney insufficiency defined with Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) ≥ 2
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 7 or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first; maximum Day 28
Determine if lidocaine reduces the incidence of the most frequent complications, particularly the need for reintervention because of a surgical complication
Occurrence of reintervention because of surgical complication
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 7 or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first; maximum Day 28
Determine if lidocaine reduces the incidence of the most frequent complications, particularly new onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation
Occurrence of a new onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Day 7 or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first; maximum Day 28
Determine if lidocaine is associated with a better quality of recovery
Quality of recovery questionnaire QoR-40 is a 40-item questionnaire used to assess postoperative quality of recovery : the total score ranges from 40 (the worst possible recovery) to 200 (the best possible recovery).
Time frame: from Hour 24 to Hour 48
Monitore the adverse effects of intravenous lidocaine
Number of adverse effects of intravenous experimental treatment
Time frame: from Hour 0 to Hour 24
Evaluate drug exposure in 20 patients included in the coordinating center : relationship between maximal total plasma lidocaine concentration and the occurrence of adverse events
Maximal total plasma lidocaine concentrations : Cmax , measured 5 minutes after the end of the IV lidocaine bolus
Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural (5 minutes after the end of the IV lidocaine bolus)
Evaluate drug exposure in 20 patients included in the coordinating center : relationship between maximal free plasma lidocaine concentration and the occurrence of adverse events
Maximal free plasma lidocaine concentrations : Cmaxμ, measured 5 minutes after the end of the IV lidocaine bolus
Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural (5 minutes after the end of the IV lidocaine bolus)
Evaluate drug exposure in 20 patients included in the coordinating center : relationship between steady-state total plasma lidocaine concentration and the occurrence of adverse events
Steady-state total plasma lidocaine concentration : Css, measured at the end of IV continuous lidocaine administration
Time frame: Day 0 (at the end of IV continuous lidocaine administration)
Evaluate drug exposure in 20 patients included in the coordinating center : relationship between steady-state free plasma lidocaine concentration and the occurrence of adverse events
Steady-state free plasma lidocaine concentration : Cssµ, measured at the end of IV continuous lidocaine administration
Time frame: Day 0 (at the end of IV continuous lidocaine administration)
Plan to share: Undecided — Undecided
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Rennes University Hospital