SPS Block vs. Surgical Intercostal Block for Chronic Pain After Thoracoscopic Surgery

NCT07436806 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Medipol Hospital 40
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided Serratus Posterior Superior (SPS) block compared to surgeon-administered intercostal blockade in preventing chronic pain at 3, 6, and 12 months following Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS).

Conditions

Chronic Post-thoracotomy Pain; Neuropathic Pain; Postoperative Pain, Acute

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Incidence and severity of Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain (CPTP)

  The primary aim is to compare incidence and severity of Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain with McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ).

  Incidence and severity of Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain (CPTP) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Opioid consumption (Fentanyl PCA)

  Changes from baseline opioid consumption at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours.

• Pain scores (Numerical rating scale-NRS)

  Changes from baseline pain scores at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours

• Need for rescue analgesia (meperidine)

  Postoperative 24 hours period

• Adverse events

  Postoperative 24 hours period

• Incidence and severity of Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain (CPTP)

  Incidence and severity of Chronic Post-Thoracotomy Pain (CPTP) at 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.

Study Arms (2)

SPS Block Group

EXPERIMENTAL

SPS Block will be performed at the end of the surgery

Drug: SPS block

Surgical Intercostal Blockade Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Surgical Intercostal Blockade will be performed at the end of the surgery by the surgeon

Drug: Surgical Intercostal Blockade.

Interventions

SPS block DRUG

30 mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine will be injected into the plane between the Serratus Posterior Superior muscle and the intercostal muscles at the scapular level.

SPS Block Group

Surgical Intercostal Blockade. DRUG

At the end of the operation, the surgeon will perform an injection of a total of 30 mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine into three intercostal nerves above and below the incision site under direct thoracoscopic visualization.

Surgical Intercostal Blockade 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:

• ASA physical status I-III.
• Scheduled for elective unilateral Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS).

You may not qualify if:

• History of allergy to local anesthetics.
• Pre-existing chronic pain syndrome or neuropathic pain.
• Psychiatric disorders affecting pain assessment.
• Coagulation disorders.
• Previous thoracic surgery on the same side.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Medipol University Hospital

Istanbul, Bagcilar, 34070, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

• Ciftci B, Alver S, Ahiskalioglu A, Bilal B, Tulgar S. Serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block: novel thoracic paraspinal block for thoracoscopic and shoulder surgery. Minerva Anestesiol. 2024 Apr;90(4):345-347. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.23.17827-8. Epub 2024 Jan 19. No abstract available.

  PMID: 38240640 BACKGROUND

• Dogan G, Kucuk O, Kayir S, Dal GC, Ciftci B, Zengin M, Alagoz A. Serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block versus thoracic paravertebral block for pain management after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: a randomized prospective study. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2025 Sep-Oct;75(5):844647. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2025.844647. Epub 2025 Jun 3.

  PMID: 40473018 BACKGROUND

• Cevikkalp E, Ulusoy E, Karakaya M, Ekinci M, Dikici M. Serratus posterior superior intercostal block as a component of multimodal analgesia in thoracotomy. Minerva Anestesiol. 2026 Jan 27. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.25.19490-X. Online ahead of print. No abstract available.

  PMID: 41591369 BACKGROUND

• Ozen V, Turan EI, Alver S, Sahin AS, Ciftci B. Combination of Fascial Plane Blocks Including Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block for Pediatric Thoracic Analgesia: Two Case Reports. A A Pract. 2026 Jan 14;20(1):e02144. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000002144. eCollection 2026 Jan 1.

  PMID: 41533022 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neuralgia; Pain, Postoperative

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes

Central Study Contacts

Bahadir Ciftci, Assoc Prof, MD

CONTACT

+905343736865; bciftci@medipol.edu.tr

Ayse Cicek

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The patients will be blind to the study groups.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: There are two models for this study. The first group is the SPS block. The second one is the Surgical Intercostal Blockade group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 13, 2026
• First Posted: February 27, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 10, 2026
• Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)