NCT07535697 Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracoscopically-Guided Intercostal Nerve Block in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
| NCT ID | NCT07535697 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Sana Klinikum Offenbach |
| Condition | Regional Anesthesia |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 72 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-05-04 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-04-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 72 participants in total. It began in 2026-05-04 with a primary completion date of 2027-04-30.
⚠ 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
Effective postoperative pain management is essential after thoracic surgery. Insufficient pain control may impair breathing and coughing, increasing the risk of pulmonary complications such as collapsed lungs (atelectasis) or pneumonia. Although minimally invasive lung surgery (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, VATS) is less painful than open surgery, people can still have significant pain after the operation. The goal of this randomized comparative study is to compare two commonly used regional anesthesia techniques for pain control after VATS in adults. Researchers will compare an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB), performed by anesthesiologists, to a thoracoscopically-guided intercostal nerve block (ICNB), performed by surgeons. Participants will: * Undergo elective VATS lung resection surgery * Receive either ESPB or ICNB, according to random assignment * Have the received amount of analgesics recorded during the first 24 hours * Have their pain levels assessed at predefined time points after surgery The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does ESPB result in similar analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery? * Does ESPB provide similar postoperative pain relief compared to ICNB? * Is the time needed to perform ESPB similar to ICNB?
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Provision of written informed consent * Adults (≥ 18 years of age) * Elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pulmonary resection (e.g., lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection) Exclusion Criteria: * Lack of informed consent * Language barrier * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Known allergy to local anesthetics used in the study * Infection at the injection site(s) * History of complex chest wall surgery * Revision surgery with a prior operation within the last 6 months * Intraoperative conversion to open thoracotomy * Chronic pain syndrome * Fibromyalgia * Chronic opioid use * Chronic alcohol abuse * Chronic substance abuse (e.g., THC, amphetamines, cocaine) * History of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia) * Impaired consciousness, cognition, or ability to communicate * Known coagulopathy (including platelet count \< 80,000/µL or prolonged PTT/aPTT \>1.5× the upper limit of normal) * Ongoing therapeutic anticoagulation
Contact & Investigator
Haitham Mutlak, Prof. Dr.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy at Sana Klinikum Offenbach
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07535697 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Regional Anesthesia. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07535697 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07535697 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at haitham.mutlak@sana.de for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07535697 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Offenbach, Germany.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07535697 clinical trial?
NCT07535697 is sponsored by Sana Klinikum Offenbach. The principal investigator is Haitham Mutlak, Prof. Dr. at Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy at Sana Klinikum Offenbach. The trial plans to enroll 72 participants.