Rectus-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block for Liver Transplantation Donors

NCT07233096 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: anestezi 6
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Postoperative pain control plays a crucial role in enhancing recovery and improving early mobilization in living liver donors. The rectus-intercostal fascial plane (RIFP) block is a novel ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia technique that provides anterior abdominal wall analgesia by targeting the intercostal nerves between the rectus abdominis and intercostal muscle fascia. This prospective, randomized controlled clinical study aims to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects of the RIFP block compared with standard intravenous analgesia in living liver donors undergoing donor hepatectomy. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 (RIFP Block): Patients receiving an ultrasound-guided rectus-intercostal fascial plane block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of surgery, in addition to standard IV PCA (morphine). Group 2 (Control): Patients receiving only standard IV PCA (morphine) without regional block.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain; Liver Transplantation; Living Donor

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Morphine consumption

  The amount of morphine required by the patient and given by the device will be recorded for the first 24 hours.

  Postoperative 24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Postoperative visual analog scale scores

  Postoperative 24 hours

• Rescue analgesic drug consumption

  postoperative 24 hours

• Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting

  postoperative 24 hours

Study Arms (2)

Rectus Intercostal Plane Block Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Rectus Intercostal Plane Block Group The patients in the Rectus Intercostal Plane Block group will receive a bilateral rectus intercostal plane block and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine for postoperative analgesia.

Other: Rectus Intercostal Plane Block

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The patients in the Control group will not receive any regional block and will receive PCA with morphine for postoperative analgesia.

Other: Control (No Block)

Interventions

Rectus Intercostal Plane Block OTHER

Rectus intercostal plane block will be administered bilaterally at the end of the surgery and after skin closure under ultrasound guidance

Rectus Intercostal Plane Block Group

Control (No Block) OTHER

Ultrasound probe placement on the same region without needle insertion or local anesthetic injection to maintain blinding.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 75 years
• Patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status I-II
• Patients scheduled for a living donor hepatectomy

You may not qualify if:

• Allergy to local anesthetics
• Coagulopathy
• Skin infection at the block area
• Advanced renal failure
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Psychiatric disorders

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istinye University: lead

Study Sites (1)

istinye University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Taylan Sahin

CONTACT

+905452303111; taylansah@hotmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: November 18, 2025
• Study Start: December 22, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Last Updated: January 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

TU (1)