Rectointercostal Plane Block (RICPB) for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

NCT07676552 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025.387.IRB1.061
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This prospective randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided rectointercostal plane block (RICPB) in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients will be randomized to receive unilateral right-sided RICPB at the end of surgery. Postoperative opioid consumption, Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores, and postoperative complications will be assessed to determine the effectiveness of RICPB in postoperative pain management.

Conditions

Cholelithiasis; Postoperative Pain

Keywords

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Rectointercostal Plane Block; RICPB

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Cumulative Postoperative Morphine Consumption

  Total morphine consumption administered via patient-controlled analgesia during the first 24 hours after surgery will be recorded.

  Postoperative 24 hours

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Postoperative Pain Scores

  Postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours

• Rescue Analgesic Requirement

  Postoperative 24 hours

• Postoperative Complications

  Postoperative 24 hours

Study Arms (2)

RICPB Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive an ultrasound-guided unilateral right-sided rectointercostal plane block (RICPB) with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of surgery before emergence from anesthesia.

Procedure: Rectointercostal Plane Block

Port-Site Infiltration Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will receive conventional port-site local anesthetic infiltration at the end of surgery according to the study protocol.

Procedure: Port-Site Local Anesthetic Infiltration

Interventions

Rectointercostal Plane Block PROCEDURE

Ultrasound-guided unilateral right-sided rectointercostal plane block (RICPB) will be performed at the end of surgery before emergence from anesthesia. A total of 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected into the rectointercostal plane under ultrasound guidance.

Also known as: RICPB

RICPB Group

Port-Site Local Anesthetic Infiltration PROCEDURE

Conventional port-site local anesthetic infiltration will be performed at the end of surgery according to the study protocol to provide postoperative analgesia.

Port-Site Infiltration Group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 65 years
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III
• Scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/m²
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Refusal to participate or inability to provide informed consent
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics, opioids, or study medications
• Chronic opioid use or chronic pain syndrome
• Coagulation disorders or ongoing anticoagulant therapy
• Infection at the planned injection site
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Cognitive impairment or inability to communicate pain scores
• Severe hepatic, renal, cardiac, or respiratory disease judged by the investigator to interfere with study participation
• Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery
• Previous upper abdominal surgery that may interfere with the block technique or pain assessment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Koç University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Koç University Hospital

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34010, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Mendes E, Gokkaya Z, Halis A, Uymaz DS, Gurkan Y. Rectointercostal plane block for postoperative analgesia in preperitoneal enhanced-view totally extraperitoneal umbilical hernia repair: a new indication area. Minerva Anestesiol. 2026 Jan 27. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.25.19781-2. Online ahead of print. No abstract available.

  PMID: 41591374 BACKGROUND

• Mendes E, Yaylak D, Sincer Y, Uymaz DS, Gurkan Y. Rectointercostal Fascial Plane Block as a Practical Option for Somatic Analgesia in Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Case Report. A A Pract. 2025 Nov 10;19(11):e02100. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000002100. eCollection 2025 Nov 1.

  PMID: 41212719 BACKGROUND

• Ciftci B, Ahiskalioglu A, Tulgar S. The recto-intercostal fascial plane block: An anatomically grounded solution for upper abdominal analgesia. Indian J Anaesth. 2026 Apr;70(4):601-603. doi: 10.4103/ija.ija_1248_25. Epub 2026 Apr 20. No abstract available.

  PMID: 42145288 BACKGROUND

• Tulgar S, Ciftci B, Ahiskalioglu A, Bilal B, Alver S, Sakul BU, Ansen G, Pence KB, Alici HA. Recto-intercostal fascial plane block: Another novel fascial plane block. J Clin Anesth. 2023 Oct;89:111163. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2023.111163. Epub 2023 Jun 7. No abstract available.

  PMID: 37295124 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cholelithiasis; Pain, Postoperative

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Biliary Tract Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Ergun Mendes, MD

CONTACT

+905514265012; emendes@kuh.ku.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants will be unaware of group allocation. Postoperative assessments, including pain scores, opioid consumption, and postoperative complications, will be performed by an independent outcomes assessor who is blinded to treatment assignment. The anesthesiologist performing the intervention will not be blinded due to the nature of the procedure.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: Eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ultrasound-guided rectointercostal plane block (RICPB) or conventional port-site local anesthetic infiltration following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 24, 2026
• First Posted: June 30, 2026
• Study Start: July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)