ESP vs QL for Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

NCT04074226 | Terminated DMC

• 1 other identifier: STU-2019-1174
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Patients undergoing open total abdominal hysterectomy (n=82) at Parkland Memorial Hospital will be randomized into one of two groups to receive either ultrasound-guided bilateral ESP block with liposomal bupivacaine (Group 1) or ultrasound-guided bilateral QL block with liposomal bupivacaine (Group 2) for postoperative pain management. The remaining aspect of perioperative care, including the general anesthetic technique and postoperative care will be standardized and will be similar for all patients. The duration of the involvement in the study will be until 72 hours postoperatively. Anesthesia providers will identify potential subjects during their Pre-Anesthesia Evaluation Clinic visit and/or Day Surgery Unit pre-anesthetic assessment. There will be no incentive or payment to the patients. Patients in Group 1 will receive ultrasound-guided bilateral ESP block in the preoperative holding area prior to surgery. Patients in Group 2 will receive ultrasound-guided QL block in the preoperative holding area prior to surgery. All patients will have general anesthesia per previously established Parkland Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. Postoperatively, patients in both Groups will receive acetaminophen 1000 mg orally every 8 hours, meloxicam 15 mg orally every 24 hours, and immediate-release oxycodone 5 - 10mg orally every 4 hours as needed for breakthrough pain. The postoperative analgesia will be documented using the Numeric Rating Scale (0-10 scale where 0=no pain and 10=worst pain). In addition, total opioid dose over the 72-hours study period will be documented. Postoperative nausea will be measured using a categorical scoring system (none=0, mild=1, moderate=2, severe=3) and episodes of vomiting will be documented. Rescue anti-emetics will be given to any patient who complains of nausea and/or vomiting. All variables will be assessed at 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, postoperatively by an investigator blinded to group allocation.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain

Keywords

regional anesthesia; postoperative pain; erector spinae plane block; quadratus lumborum block

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative pain (NRS = numeric rating scale) at 24 hours

  The primary aim of this study is to compare postoperative pain scores at 24 hours between the subjects who receive ESP block with liposomal bupivacaine and the subjects who receive QL block with liposomal bupivacaine undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy. The investigators will use the Numeric Rating Scale, measuring patient report of pain from 0 = no pain up to 10 = worst possible pain.

  24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Postoperative Pain (NRS = numeric rating scale) at 48 hours

  48 hours

• Postoperative Pain (NRS = numeric rating scale) at 72 hours

  72 hours

• Opioid Use (oral morphine equivalents)

  24 hours

• Block Time (minutes)

  1 hour

• Ambulation Time (hours:minutes)

  24 hours

Study Arms (2)

Ultrasound-guided ESP block with liposomal bupivacaine

EXPERIMENTAL

For the ESP block, the transducer will be placed parasagittally at the level of the tip of the scapula and the anesthesiologist will scan in a craniocaudal manner to identify the ipsilateral T10 transverse process and overlying erector spinae muscle. Following aseptic preparation of the injection site and the ultrasound probe, a 22-gauge, 10mm block needle will be introduced parallel to the ultrasound guided beam (in-plane technique) until its tip reaches the plane between the erector spinae muscle and transverse process. After negative aspiration, 20 ml of a mixture containing 10ml 0.25% bupivacaine and 10ml 1.3% liposomal bupivacaine will be injected in 5 ml increments to separate the fascial plane between the muscle and transverse process. The investigators will observe local anesthetic spread under real-time imaging. The block will then be performed in the same manner on the opposite site.

Procedure: Erector Spinae Plane block

Ultrasound-guided QL block with liposomal bupivacaine

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

For the QL block, the transducer will be placed transversely over the lumbar spine at the level of the iliac crest. Then, the anesthesiologist will scan laterally to identify the ipsilateral L3 transverse process, psoas muscle, and quadratus lumborum muscle to identify the "Shamrock Sign" (7). Following aseptic preparation of the injection site and the ultrasound probe, a 22-gauge, 10mm block needle will be introduced parallel to the ultrasound guided beam (in-plane technique) until its tip reaches the plane between the quadratus lumborum muscle and psoas muscle. After negative aspiration, 20 ml of a mixture containing 10ml 0.25% bupivacaine and 10ml 1.3% liposomal bupivacaine will be injected in 5 ml increments to separate the fascial plane between the two muscles. The investigators will observe local anesthetic spread under real-time imaging. The block will then be performed in the same manner on the opposite site.

Procedure: Quadratus Lumborum Block

Interventions

Erector Spinae Plane block PROCEDURE

The Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block is a new block first described in 2016 which blocks terminal branches of the lower thoracic and lumbar nerve roots. It is performed by injection of local anesthetic in the fascial plane below the erector spinae muscle group.

Ultrasound-guided ESP block with liposomal bupivacaine

Quadratus Lumborum Block PROCEDURE

Ultrasound-guided QL block has been reported to provide effective analgesia in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgical procedures, including in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Ultrasound guidance offers a number of advantages, including the ability to visualize the anatomy, perform real-time navigation, and direct observation of local anesthetic spread. The QL block is performed via ultrasound-guided injection of local anesthetic in the fascial planes above or below the QL muscle

Ultrasound-guided QL block with liposomal bupivacaine

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Study population is for hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) which is only present in female patients
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Female ASA physical status 1-3 scheduled for open abdominal hysterectomy
• Age 18-80 years old
• Able to participate personally or by legal representative in informed consent in English or Spanish

You may not qualify if:

• History of relevant drug allergy
• Age less than 18 or greater than 80 years
• Chronic opioid use or drug abuse
• Active use of anticoagulant medication
• Significant psychiatric disturbance
• Inability to understand the study protocol
• Refusal to provide written consent

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Parkland Health and Hospital System

Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Elsharkawy H, Bajracharya GR, El-Boghdadly K, Drake RL, Mariano ER. Comparing two posterior quadratus lumborum block approaches with low thoracic erector spinae plane block: an anatomic study. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2019 Mar 28:rapm-2018-100147. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2018-100147. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 30923253 BACKGROUND

• Elsharkawy H, El-Boghdadly K, Barrington M. Quadratus Lumborum Block: Anatomical Concepts, Mechanisms, and Techniques. Anesthesiology. 2019 Feb;130(2):322-335. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002524. No abstract available.

  PMID: 30688787 BACKGROUND

• Forero M, Adhikary SD, Lopez H, Tsui C, Chin KJ. The Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Novel Analgesic Technique in Thoracic Neuropathic Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 Sep-Oct;41(5):621-7. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000451.

  PMID: 27501016 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• John C Alexander, MD

  UT Southwestern

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: No other parties will be masked
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2019
• First Posted: August 30, 2019
• Study Start: March 20, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 20, 2023
• Study Completion: March 21, 2023
• Last Updated: April 4, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)