Pilot: Intraoperative TAP Block and Post-operative Pain Control for Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

NCT05763667 | Completed Phase 3 FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: Pending
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Modern postoperative pain management aims to optimizing pain relief while minimizing opiate usage. While opiates are effective for pain relief, they result in common adverse effects such as nausea, constipation, and urinary retention, and most importantly present a long-term risk of abuse and dependency. Commonly used approaches include non-opiate pain medications such as acetominophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, as well as regional nerve blocks such as epidurals. The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a fascial plane block performed by injecting local anesthetic into the plane superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle where the anterior rami of the spinal nerves course to provide sensory innervation to the abdominal wall. The injections are generally placed either subcostally or at the midaxillary line bilaterally. The TAP block has been shown to be effective in reducing pain scores and opiate usage in some randomized studies but not others in patients undergoing various abdominal surgeries. There is great variation in method of administration, sites injected, and local anesthetics used, which may in part account for the heterogeneity of trial results.

Conditions

Post Operative Pain; Gynecologic Cancer

Keywords

hysterectomy; minimally invasive surgery; TAP block; endometrial cancer; endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Reduced opiate use in both TAP block arms.

  Demonstrate a statistically significant change in postoperative opiate use as measured in oral morphine milligram equivalents on postoperative days 0-7.

  7 days

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Increase in opiate-free participants by day 7

  7 days

• Reduction in post-operative resting pain scores

  7 days

• Improvement in patient satisfaction regarding pain control

  7 days

• Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

  7 days

Study Arms (3)

No TAP block

NO INTERVENTION

TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaine

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Drug: Liposomal bupivacaine; Drug: Bupivacain

TAP block with plain bupivacaine alone

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Drug: Bupivacain

Interventions

Liposomal bupivacaine DRUG

Liposomal bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use single-dose infiltration in adults to produce postsurgical local analgesia and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block to produce postsurgical regional analgesia. The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.

Also known as: Exparel

TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaine

Bupivacain DRUG

Bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use as a local or regional anesthetic for surgery. It is widely used in TAP blocks. The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.

Also known as: Bupivacaine

TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaine; TAP block with plain bupivacaine alone

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age 18-80
• Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy; may include other procedures (e.g. lymph node removal)
• Endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
• Able to consent to study

You may not qualify if:

• Known clinically significant allergy to bupivacaine or liposomal bupivacaine
• ASA IV or V
• Emergency surgery
• Current chronic opiate use
• Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Severe hepatic or renal impairment
• Hysterectomy is not for endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tufts Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tufts Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States

Location

Related Publications (30)

• Ohel G, Kisselevitz R, Margalioth EJ, Schenker JG. Ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation in the human placenta and fetal membranes. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1985;19(2):73-7. doi: 10.1159/000299011.

  PMID: 3921439 BACKGROUND

• Cserhati G, Szilagyi J, Pongracz S. [Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection]. Orv Hetil. 1982 Jun 6;123(23):1431-2. No abstract available. Hungarian.

  PMID: 7050825 BACKGROUND

• Babazade R, Saasouh W, Naylor AJ, Makarova N, Udeh CI, Turan A, Udeh BL. The cost-effectiveness of epidural, patient-controlled intravenous opioid analgesia, or transversus abdominis plane infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative pain management. J Clin Anesth. 2019 Mar;53:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

  PMID: 30326379 BACKGROUND

• Rafi AN. Abdominal field block: a new approach via the lumbar triangle. Anaesthesia. 2001 Oct;56(10):1024-6. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2001.02279-40.x. No abstract available.

  PMID: 11576144 BACKGROUND

• Hebbard P, Fujiwara Y, Shibata Y, Royse C. Ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Aug;35(4):616-7. No abstract available.

  PMID: 18020088 BACKGROUND

• Seitz F. Science, the universities, and society. Am Sci. 1968 Autumn;56(3):288-97. No abstract available.

  PMID: 5684553 BACKGROUND

• Baeriswyl M, Kirkham KR, Kern C, Albrecht E. The Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Adult Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Anesth Analg. 2015 Dec;121(6):1640-54. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000967.

  PMID: 26397443 BACKGROUND

• Ilfeld BM, Viscusi ER, Hadzic A, Minkowitz HS, Morren MD, Lookabaugh J, Joshi GP. Safety and Side Effect Profile of Liposome Bupivacaine (Exparel) in Peripheral Nerve Blocks. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Sep-Oct;40(5):572-82. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000283.

  PMID: 26204387 BACKGROUND

• Hamilton TW, Athanassoglou V, Trivella M, Strickland LH, Mellon S, Murray D, Pandit HG. Liposomal bupivacaine peripheral nerve block for the management of postoperative pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 25;2016(8):CD011476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011476.pub2.

  PMID: 27558150 BACKGROUND

• Ji YD, Harris JA, Gibson LE, McKinley SK, Phitayakorn R. The Efficacy of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Opioid and Pain Reduction: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Surg Res. 2021 Aug;264:510-533. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.02.024. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

  PMID: 33862580 BACKGROUND

• Wong KA, Cabrera AG, Argiroff AL, Pechman DM, Parides MK, Vazzana JT, Moran-Atkin EM, Choi JJ, Camacho DR. Transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine and its effect on opiate use after weight loss surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jul;16(7):886-893. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.03.031. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

  PMID: 32402732 BACKGROUND

• Truong A, Fleshner PR, Mirocha JM, Tran HP, Shane R, Zaghiyan KN. A Prospective Randomized Trial of Surgeon-Administered Intraoperative Transversus Abdominis Plane Block With Bupivacaine Against Liposomal Bupivacaine: The TINGLE Trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 Jul 1;64(7):888-898. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002008.

  PMID: 34086002 BACKGROUND

• Okamoto Y, Ota K. [Changes in calcium regulating hormone in osteoporosis]. Nihon Rinsho. 1994 Sep;52(9):2295-300. Japanese.

  PMID: 7967071 BACKGROUND

• Fidkowski CW, Choksi N, Alsaden MR. A randomized-controlled trial comparing liposomal bupivacaine, plain bupivacaine, and the mixture of liposomal bupivacaine and plain bupivacaine in transversus abdominus plane block for postoperative analgesia for open abdominal hysterectomies. Can J Anaesth. 2021 Jun;68(6):773-781. doi: 10.1007/s12630-020-01911-1. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

  PMID: 33432496 BACKGROUND

• Hutchins J, Delaney D, Vogel RI, Ghebre RG, Downs LS Jr, Carson L, Mullany S, Teoh D, Geller MA. Ultrasound guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for patients undergoing robotic assisted hysterectomy: A prospective randomized controlled study. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Sep;138(3):609-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.06.008. Epub 2015 Jun 6.

  PMID: 26056753 BACKGROUND

• Ghisi D, Fanelli A, Vianello F, Gardini M, Mensi G, La Colla L, Danelli G. Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-Blinded Trial. Anesth Analg. 2016 Aug;123(2):488-92. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001267.

  PMID: 27074894 BACKGROUND

• Kane SM, Garcia-Tomas V, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Astley B, Pollard RR. Randomized trial of transversus abdominis plane block at total laparoscopic hysterectomy: effect of regional analgesia on quality of recovery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Nov;207(5):419.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.052. Epub 2012 Jun 29.

  PMID: 22840413 BACKGROUND

• Bringer J, Klawatsch D, Jaffiol C, Orsetti A, Robin M, Mirouze J. [Comparison of various treatments for tumoral acromegaly. Study of initial prognostic factors]. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 1983 Mar-Apr;44(2):107-14. No abstract available. French.

  PMID: 6614855 BACKGROUND

• Calle GA, Lopez CC, Sanchez E, De Los Rios JF, Vasquez EM, Serna E, Arango AM, Castaneda JD, Vasquez RA, Gonzalez A, Escobar A, Almanza LA. Transversus abdominis plane block after ambulatory total laparoscopic hysterectomy: randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2014 Apr;93(4):345-50. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12351.

  PMID: 24575769 BACKGROUND

• Hotujec BT, Spencer RJ, Donnelly MJ, Bruggink SM, Rose SL, Al-Niaimi A, Chappell R, Stewart SL, Kushner DM. Transversus abdominis plane block in robotic gynecologic oncology: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Mar;136(3):460-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.11.013. Epub 2014 Nov 20.

  PMID: 25462201 BACKGROUND

• Torup H, Bogeskov M, Hansen EG, Palle C, Rosenberg J, Mitchell AU, Petersen PL, Mathiesen O, Dahl JB, Moller AM. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block after robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy: a randomised clinical trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2015 Aug;59(7):928-35. doi: 10.1111/aas.12516. Epub 2015 May 31.

  PMID: 26032118 BACKGROUND

• Bharti N, Kumar P, Bala I, Gupta V. The efficacy of a novel approach to transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia after colorectal surgery. Anesth Analg. 2011 Jun;112(6):1504-8. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3182159bf8. Epub 2011 Apr 5.

  PMID: 21467560 BACKGROUND

• Chetwood A, Agrawal S, Hrouda D, Doyle P. Laparoscopic assisted transversus abdominis plane block: a novel insertion technique during laparoscopic nephrectomy. Anaesthesia. 2011 Apr;66(4):317-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06664.x. No abstract available.

  PMID: 21401554 BACKGROUND

• Owen DJ, Harrod I, Ford J, Luckas M, Gudimetla V. The surgical transversus abdominis plane block--a novel approach for performing an established technique. BJOG. 2011 Jan;118(1):24-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02779.x. Epub 2010 Nov 18.

  PMID: 21083866 BACKGROUND

• Park SY, Park JS, Choi GS, Kim HJ, Moon S, Yeo J. Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy of Laparoscope-Assisted and Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block after Laparoscopic Colorectal Operation: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Non-Inferiority Trial. J Am Coll Surg. 2017 Sep;225(3):403-410. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.05.017. Epub 2017 Jun 10.

  PMID: 28610880 BACKGROUND

• Wong DJ, Curran T, Poylin VY, Cataldo TE. Surgeon-delivered laparoscopic transversus abdominis plane blocks are non-inferior to anesthesia-delivered ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane blocks: a blinded, randomized non-inferiority trial. Surg Endosc. 2020 Jul;34(7):3011-3019. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07097-y. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

  PMID: 31485929 BACKGROUND

• Einarsson JI, Sun J, Orav J, Young AE. Local analgesia in laparoscopy: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Dec;104(6):1335-9. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000146283.90934.fd.

  PMID: 15572499 BACKGROUND

• Tam T, Harkins G, Wegrzyniak L, Ehrgood S, Kunselman A, Davies M. Infiltration of bupivacaine local anesthetic to trocar insertion sites after laparoscopy: a randomized, double-blind, stratified, and controlled trial. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2014 Nov-Dec;21(6):1015-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2014.04.013. Epub 2014 May 2.

  PMID: 24792311 BACKGROUND

• Hortu I, Turkay U, Terzi H, Kale A, Yilmaz M, Balci C, Aydin U, Lagana AS. Impact of bupivacaine injection to trocar sites on postoperative pain following laparoscopic hysterectomy: Results from a prospective, multicentre, double-blind randomized controlled trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Sep;252:317-322. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.007. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

  PMID: 32653604 BACKGROUND

• Barron KI, Lamvu GM, Schmidt RC, Fisk M, Blanton E, Patanwala I. Wound Infiltration With Extended-Release Versus Short-Acting Bupivacaine Before Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017 Feb;24(2):286-292. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2016.11.002. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

  PMID: 27856385 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative; Endometrial Neoplasms; Endometrial Hyperplasia

Interventions

Bupivacaine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Uterine Neoplasms; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Uterine Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anilides; Amides; Organic Chemicals; Aniline Compounds; Amines

Study Officials

• Young B Kim, MD

  Tufts Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: The pharmacy will prepare the solutions for groups 2 and 3, reflecting the usual practice of this PI and his mentees. No solution will be prepared for group 1, as this is a form of standard care for patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy. As the liposomal bupivacaine has a cloudy appearance whereas plain bupivacaine and saline are clear, the surgeon will not be blinded.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Potential subjects will be identified in the GYN specialty clinics at Tufts Medical Center and approached for possible study participation. Eligibility criteria will be assessed by the PI or co-I. Eligible subjects who wish to participate in the study will be consented for the study by the PI or co-I. Informed consent for the study may be obtained up to the day of the surgery, prior to anesthesia induction. The following demographics will be collected from the medical record and de-identified: age, race, ethnicity, height, weight, ASA class. On the day of surgery, the subject will be randomized using a random number generator to one of 3 groups: 1. No TAP block 2. TAP block with liposomal and plain bupivacaine: 20 mL liposomal bupivacaine, 30 mL 0.25% bupivacaine, 150 mL normal saline (200 mL total) 3. TAP block with plain bupivacaine alone: 60 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, 140 mL of normal saline (200 mL total)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 28, 2023
• First Posted: March 10, 2023
• Study Start: January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2024
• Study Completion: September 9, 2024
• Last Updated: April 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)