Comparison of Liposomal Bupivacaine Paravertebral Nerve Block Versus Intercostal Nerve Block on Postoperative Glycemic Variability in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Pulmonary Resection: A Randomized Controlled Non-Inferiority Trial

NCT07754916 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Ethics Approval No. 202606086
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will test whether liposomal bupivacaine intercostal nerve block is non-inferior to paravertebral nerve block for the coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose during the 0- to 48-hour postoperative period, using a non-inferiority margin of Δ = 0.025 for the absolute CV difference. We will also compare the two blocks regarding their effects on postoperative glucose, autonomic function, stress, insulin resistance, acute pain, recovery quality, procedure duration, complications, and hemodynamic stability.

Conditions

Thoracic Surgery; Glycemic Variability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Coefficient of Variation of Blood Glucose

  48 hours post-surgery

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Glycated Serum Protein (GSP)

  Preoperatively and on the first postoperative day

• Heart Rate Variability

  Preoperatively and on the first postoperative day, the second postoperative day, and the third postoperative day

• Fasting Serum Insulin

  Preoperatively and on the first postoperative day

• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Score

  Preoperatively and on the first postoperative day, the second postoperative day, and the third postoperative day

• Fasting C peptide

  Preoperatively and on the first postoperative day

Study Arms (2)

treatment group

EXPERIMENTAL

Procedure: Paravertebral nerve block

control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Procedure: Intercostal nerve block

Interventions

Paravertebral nerve block PROCEDURE

Following induction of general anesthesia, a T3-T8 paravertebral nerve block will be performed by the surgeon under thoracoscopic guidance. Liposomal bupivacaine (6.65 mg/mL) will be diluted with normal saline (20 mL + 20 mL = 40 mL total). Under direct vision, 4.0 mL of the diluted solution will be injected evenly at each level, lateral to the sympathetic chain, for a total liposomal bupivacaine dose of 159.6 mg (24 mL). Injections will be slow and fractionated, with aspiration for blood or cerebrospinal fluid prior to each injection, and care will be taken to prevent overdose and systemic toxicity.

treatment group

Intercostal nerve block PROCEDURE

Following induction of general anesthesia, the surgeon will perform thoracoscopic intercostal nerve blocks using liposomal bupivacaine (prepared as 20 mL of 6.65 mg/mL solution diluted with 20 mL normal saline to 40 mL total) to cover the surgical incision and pleural irritation areas, typically at the 3rd-8th intercostal spaces. Under direct vision, 4.0 mL of the diluted solution will be injected at each space at a site 3-5 cm lateral to the spine, for a total liposomal bupivacaine dose of 159.6 mg (24 mL). Injections will be slow and fractionated, with aspiration for blood or CSF before each injection, and care will be taken to prevent overdose and systemic toxicity.

control group

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18-70 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III, scheduled for uniportal or multiportal video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) minimally invasive pulmonary resection under general anesthesia.
• Planned to receive liposomal bupivacaine regional block analgesia under direct thoracoscopic visualization.
• Body mass index (BMI) 18-30 kg/m².
• Willing and able to cooperate with the study procedures and provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Regularly taking beta-blockers (for ≥2 weeks) or long-term use of high-dose glucocorticoids (prednisone ≥20 mg/day for \>2 weeks).
• Known history of diabetes mellitus, or regular use of glucose-lowering agents (oral agents or insulin) before surgery.
• Planned postoperative admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).
• Concurrent severe cardiac (New York Heart Association class III or higher), hepatic (e.g., cirrhosis), or renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min/1.73 m²), or neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Contraindications to regional block or to any study medication, including but not limited to infection or tumor invasion at the puncture site, coagulation disorders, or allergy to any drug used in the study.
• Alcohol dependence: meeting the DSM-5 criteria for severe alcohol use disorder (AUD), or clinically judged as alcohol dependence (regardless of liver function status).
• Pregnancy or lactation (for men and women of childbearing potential, effective contraception is required until 3 months after surgery, and donation of sperm or eggs is prohibited).
• Participation in another interventional drug trial.
• Regular use of analgesics for acute or chronic pain within 2 weeks before surgery.
• Concurrent severe infection.
• Prior ipsilateral intrathoracic surgery or severe pleural adhesions (estimated to preclude successful thoracoscopic visualization and completion of the block).
• Psychiatric or cognitive disorders that would impair the ability to cooperate with postoperative follow-up.
• Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would make the patient unsuitable for participation in the trial (for medical or safety reasons).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Xiangya Hospital of Central South University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

Changsha, Hunan, 410000, China

Location

Study Officials

• Yingqi Weng, MD

  Department of Anesthesiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yingqi Weng, MD

CONTACT

+86-15074834690; 651922615@qq.com

Hongying Zhu

CONTACT

+86-15970330540; 2506627021@qq.com

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2026
• First Posted: August 10, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 28, 2027
• Last Updated: August 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)