Study of Exparel Versus Epidural for Pain Control After Thoracotomy

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2019-01-25
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Unilateral intercostal nerve blocks provide pain control as effectively as a continuous thoracic epidural, and will a lower incidence of side effects.

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

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
• Treatments: Bupivacaine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 years and older

• Undergoing thoracotomy (lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection or pneumonectomy).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Planned chest wall resection or abdominal incision and/or gastroesophageal surgery;

• Current enrollment in another post-thoracotomy analgesic research protocol; pre-existing pain syndrome (such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome or postherpetic neuralgia in a thoracic distribution);

• Daily opioid therapy;

• Current gabapentin or pregabalin therapy;

• Allergy to any study medication; coagulation or infectious issues that would preclude epidural catheter placement;

• Severe psychological disorders or inability to understand the study protocol; -Prisoners or other institutionalized individuals;

• Severe hepatic, renal or cardiovascular disorders.

• Women who are pregnant will not be included in this study.