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Recruiting Phase 4 NCT05972018

NCT05972018 Liposomal Bupivacaine/Bupivacaine in Rectus Sheath Blocks Versus Ropivacaine in Rectus Sheath Blocks And Catheters

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT05972018
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 4
Sponsor Hartford Hospital
Condition Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 14 participants
Start Date 2023-10-18
Primary Completion 2026-10-30

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 80 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Liposomal bupivacaineRopivacaineBupivacain

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 4 studies follow an already-approved treatment in real-world conditions to monitor long-term safety and effectiveness.

This trial targets 14 participants in total. It began in 2023-10-18 with a primary completion date of 2026-10-30.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot study is to compare single shot rectus sheath blocks of liposomal bupivacaine/bupivacaine mixture to bilateral rectus sheath catheters infused with ropivacaine (standard of care at our facility) in patients undergoing vascular surgery with an open mid-abdominal laparotomy incision. This study will assess the safety and feasibility of this approach compared to standard of care. Participants will receive either a single dose of liposomal bupivacaine/bupivacaine mixture intraoperatively at the end of surgery through bilateral rectus sheath blocks (LB/B group) or the standard of care ropivacaine intraoperatively at the end of surgery through bilateral rectus sheath blocks with the insertion of bilateral RS catheter for continuous ropivacaine infusion plus repeated daily boluses (Catheter group; standard care). They will be assessed for differences in the rate of postoperative complications, resources consumed with each intervention, as well as postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, hospital and PACU length of stay, patient's satisfaction, and quality of recovery, and hospital length of stay.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients aged 18-80 years 2. Patients scheduled for elective vascular surgery with an open mid-abdominal laparotomy incision, including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair surgery (AAA), mesenteric artery bypass surgery, and aortobifemoral bypass surgery for aortic occlusive disease. 3. Patients who are able to speak and read English 4. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status score I-IV 5. Patients who are admitted to the hospital and are incidentally discovered to require any of the aforementioned surgeries, being asymptomatic for vascular issues, and having their surgery scheduled no sooner than three days after admission, are also considered eligible. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Emergency vascular reconstruction surgery., patients admitted to the hospital due to symptoms directly associated with their vascular condition, such as severe abdominal pain or a ruptured aneurysm causing bleeding, will be excluded. 2. Patients with contraindications to RSB, including but not limited to anatomical abnormality, previous surgical intervention that limits or prevents receiving bilateral RSBs, or infection at the injection site. 3. History of allergy to local anesthetics. 4. Weight \< 40 kg, as a combination of 20 mL of Bupivacaine 0.25% with 30 mL of LB is greater than the maximal dose allowed, given concern for local anesthetic toxicity. 5. Patients who take long-acting opioid medication, or on continuous opioid use \> 50 MME per day for at least 30 days within 90 days prior to surgery. 6. Patients who have chronic pain syndrome with a recent preoperative consultation with the chronic pain service. Also, patients with distant metastatic cancers (e.g. bone, lung, brain) confirmed by CT scan. 7. Patients with current substance abuse, or history of substance abuse within 3 months, this includes any illicit drugs (not including marijuana) or excessive alcohol consumption as defined as 4 or more drinks per day or 8 or more drinks per week for women and 5 or more drinks per day or 15 or more drinks per week for men. 8. Lack or refusal to sign the study consent. 9. Patients who are unable to receive postoperative ropivacaine intermittent boluses within the first 5 days after surgery due to issues with their catheter (such as dislodgement, migration, or kinking) will be excluded from the final analysis. 10. Patients with a plan to undergo abdominal wall surgery, in addition to the vascular surgery that involves a mid-abdomen incision, such as abdominal wall reconstruction surgery. The additional abdominal wall incisions or interventions might have an impact on the study's pain, opioid, and LOS outcomes.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Aseel Walker, MD

✉ aseel.walker@hhchealth.org

📞 (860) 972-1778

Principal Investigator

Kevin Finkel, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Hartford Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT05972018 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 80 Years, studying Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT05972018 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 4 studies are conducted after a treatment has been approved. They monitor long-term safety and real-world effectiveness in a broader patient population.

Is NCT05972018 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT05972018 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at aseel.walker@hhchealth.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT05972018 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Hartford, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT05972018 clinical trial?

NCT05972018 is sponsored by Hartford Hospital. The principal investigator is Kevin Finkel, MD at Hartford Hospital. The trial plans to enroll 14 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: November 2026  ·  Data Methodology