Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block

NCT07330479 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2023/376
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: Adequate pain control after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) remains a major clinical challenge. Traditional techniques such as thoracic epidural analgesia are effective but limited by potential complications. Interfascial plane blocks have recently gained interest as safer alternatives. The serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) is a novel regional anesthesia technique with potential benefits in thoracic surgery. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided SPSIPB compared with subcutaneous morphine administration in patients undergoing VATS. Methods: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 60 patients scheduled for elective VATS were randomized into two groups: SPSIPB group (n=30) and control group receiving subcutaneous morphine (n=30). The primary outcome was postoperative pain intensity measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and during coughing. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, number of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) demands, rescue analgesia requirements, and incidence of adverse effects.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain, Acute

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Postoperative Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain imaginable) at rest and during coughing.

  24 hours after surgery (measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Total opioid consumption within 24 hours

  24 hours after surgery (cumulative from 0 to 24 hours)

Study Arms (2)

SPSIPB Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients received an ultrasound-guided SPSIPB with 20 mL local anesthetic at the end of surgery.

Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block

Active Comparator

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients received a subcutaneous morphine injection according to institutional standard practice after surgery.

Drug: Subcutaneous Morphine

Interventions

Ultrasound-guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block PROCEDURE

Intervention Type: Procedure (Regional Anesthesia) Name: Ultrasound-guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block (SPSIPB) Description: A single injection of 20 mL of local anesthetic was administered under ultrasound guidance into the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane at the end of surgery.

SPSIPB Group

Subcutaneous Morphine DRUG

Intervention Type: Drug (Morphine) Name: Subcutaneous Morphine Description: Patients received a single subcutaneous injection of morphine (dose according to institutional standard practice) after surgery.

Active Comparator

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 70 years
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III
• Scheduled for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anesthesia
• Provision of written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Conversion to thoracotomy during surgery
• Coagulopathy or ongoing anticoagulant therapy
• Local infection at the injection site
• Known allergy to local anesthetics or morphine
• Severe cardiopulmonary disease contraindicating regional anesthesia
• Refusal to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Gaziantep: lead

Study Sites (1)

Gaziantep University

Gaziantep, 27410, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

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

• Elzem Şen, Assoc. Prof

  University of Gaziantep

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2025
• First Posted: January 9, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2024
• Study Completion: August 1, 2024
• Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

TU (1)