Perioperative Epidural Block and Dexamethasone in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2026-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating disease with an average 5-year survival rate of about 3-5%. Previous retrospective studies showed that perioperative epidural block and/or dexamethasone are associated with improved outcome after cancer surgery. This randomized trial aims to investigate the effect of perioperative epidural block and/or dexamethasone on long-term survival in patients following pancreatic cancer surgery.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Peking University First Hospital
• Collaborators: Beijing Cancer Hospital; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
• Treatments: Anesthetics; BB 1101; Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone acetate; Glucocorticoids; Ropivacaine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥45 and <90 years;

2. Clinically diagnosed as resectable or possibly resectable pancreatic cancer and scheduled to undergo radical surgery;

3. Agreed to receive epidural block and postoperative patient-controlled analgesia;

4. Agreed to participate in the study and provided written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical evidence of unresectable pancreatic cancer or plan to undergo biopsy;

2. Previous surgery for pancreatic cancer, scheduled to undergo resurgery for recurrence or metastasis;

3. Complicated with primary malignant tumor in other organ(s), either previously or at present;

4. Complicated with autoimmune diseases, receiving either glucocorticoids or other immunosuppressants before surgery;

5. Unable to complete preoperative evaluation due to severe dementia, language barrier, coma, or end-stage diseases;

6. Severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh C), severe renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >442 µmol/L or requirement of renal replacement therapy), or American Society of Anesthesiologists classification ≥V；

7. Contradictions to epidural anesthesia, including spinal malformation, history of spinal surgery, coagulation disorder, suspected infection at the site of puncture, or severe low back pain;

8. Other conditions that are considered unsuitable for study participation;

9. Refused to participate in the study.