Chest Wall Block After Sternotomy: Randomized Controlled Trial in Cardiac Surgery: (PABLOS Study)

NCT ID: NCT05345639

Last Updated: 2025-03-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

254 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-08-01

Study Completion Date

2023-09-07

Brief Summary

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The main objective is to compare the effectiveness of LocoRegional Anesthesia (LRA) (bilateral transverse thoracic block or bilateral parasternal block) in addition to standard management compared to standard management alone (general anesthesia without LRA) on the FQoR-15 (French Quality of Recovery - 15 score) at H+24 after cardiac surgery by sternotomy.This is a phase III monocentric superiority study , comparative, with three parallel groups, randomized with a ratio (1:1:1), controlled versus standard management, single-blind.

Detailed Description

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Each year, more than one million patients worldwide undergo cardiac surgery via sternotomy. Postoperative pain is frequent in this context, affecting 49% of patients at rest and 78% during mobilization. This pain is associated with many avoidable post-operative complications.

Nowadays, ERAS (Enhanced Rehabilitation After Surgery) protocols are increasingly developed in order to optimize post-operative rehabilitation. The management of postoperative pain is one of their main challenges and is based in particular on the use of locoregional anesthesia (LRA) with the aim of sparing morphine.

Several LRAs have been described in cardiac surgery in recent years, and they are increasingly used in routine clinical practice. Transverse thoracic block and parasternal block are the main peripheral LRA techniques proposed for surgical procedures with sternotomy. Transverse chest block was first described in cardiac surgery in 2015 ; and the parasternal block in 2018. These techniques are spreading in current clinical practice because of their simplicity of implementation, their safety and their supposed effectiveness. The parasternal block is more recent, and presents a more superficial injection plane than the transverse thoracic block. Thus, it is theoretically as effective as the transverse thoracic and less at risk of complications.

The main objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of LRA (bilateral transverse thoracic block or bilateral parasternal block) in addition to standard management compared to standard management alone (general anesthesia without LRA) on the quality of early postoperative recovery after heart surgery by sternotomy.

The primary endpoint is the postoperative recovery score in the French version, FQoR-15 (French Quality of Recovery - 15 score), performed at H+24. The FQoR-15 is currently one of the most reliable and reproducible tools for assessing the quality of postoperative rehabilitation. This instrument is one of the recommended endpoints for the evaluation of patient comfort, according to a recent consensus of international experts.

This study is a phase III study of superiority, monocentric, comparative, with three parallel groups, randomized with a ratio (1:1:1), controlled versus standard care, single-blind. of inclusion is 254 patients included and randomized.

The patient is pre-included during the pre-anaesthetic visit, the day before his scheduled surgery. He receives oral and written information, and provides his written consent to participate in this study, the follow-up will be 30 days. Depending on the randomization, the patient receives one of the following three treatments:

1. bilateral transverse thoracic block followed by standard analgesic management;
2. a bilateral parasternal block followed by standard analgesic treatment;
3. standard analgesic treatment alone (without LRA). Bilateral parasternal block or transverse thoracic block are performed ultrasound-guided, at the end of surgery in the operating room. Once in the desired plane depending on the randomisation (transverse or parasternal), a volume of 20 ml of ropivacaine at 2 mg/ml is injected on each side of the sternum. The rest of the pain management is identical in the three groups according to the habits of the department.

If the hypotheses on the effectiveness of parasternal block and/or transverse thoracic block are confirmed, postoperative recovery in the interventional arms will be improved. This will confirm the value of performing an LRA postoperatively.

Conditions

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Pain, Postoperative Cardiac Surgery

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Study phase III, superiority study, monocentric, comparative, with three parallel groups, randomized with a ratio (1:1:1), controlled versus standard care, single-blind
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Randomization takes place during surgery. Bilateral parasternal block or transverse thoracic block are performed ultrasound-guided, under general anesthesia.

Study Groups

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TTP group (= Transversus Thoracic Plane block = Deep PIP = Deep parasternal intercostal plane block)

At the end of the surgery, realisation of a bilateral transverse thoracic block. (20ml of Naropeine 0.2%, each side) Followed by standard analgesic treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

LRA Loco-regional anesthesia

Intervention Type DRUG

Bilateral parasternal block or transverse thoracic block are performed ultrasound-guided, at the end of surgery in the operating room. Once in the desired plane depending on the randomisation (transverse or parasternal), a volume of 20 ml of ropivacaine at 2 mg/ml is injected on each side of the sternum.

The intervention (TTP or PSB) is performed by the anesthetist-resuscitator investigator.

Standardized post-operative analgesia protocol

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The pain management protocol in intensive care is as follows:

* paracetamol 1g x 4 per day systematically (apart from the usual contraindications), IV then PO;
* PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) with oxycodone or morphine: 1mg bolus, 7min refractory period, maximum 4h dose 20mg.

The PCA is usually maintained until 24-48h after the intervention then relayed by oxycodone 5mg every 4h if EVA \> 3 sublingual and addition of oxycodone LP 10mg x 2 per day if daily intake on PCA \> 20mg.

Remedy molecules in case of ineffective analgesia:

ketoprofen 100mg q12h IV, or 50mg q8h PO; nefopam 20mg every 6h IV or PO; ketamine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/24H IVSE.

PSB group (=ParaSternal Block = Superficial PIP = Superficial parasternal intercostal plane block)

At the end of the surgery, realisation of a bilateral parasternal block (20ml of Naropeine 0.2%, each side).

Followed by standard analgesic treatment.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

LRA Loco-regional anesthesia

Intervention Type DRUG

Bilateral parasternal block or transverse thoracic block are performed ultrasound-guided, at the end of surgery in the operating room. Once in the desired plane depending on the randomisation (transverse or parasternal), a volume of 20 ml of ropivacaine at 2 mg/ml is injected on each side of the sternum.

The intervention (TTP or PSB) is performed by the anesthetist-resuscitator investigator.

Standardized post-operative analgesia protocol

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The pain management protocol in intensive care is as follows:

* paracetamol 1g x 4 per day systematically (apart from the usual contraindications), IV then PO;
* PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) with oxycodone or morphine: 1mg bolus, 7min refractory period, maximum 4h dose 20mg.

The PCA is usually maintained until 24-48h after the intervention then relayed by oxycodone 5mg every 4h if EVA \> 3 sublingual and addition of oxycodone LP 10mg x 2 per day if daily intake on PCA \> 20mg.

Remedy molecules in case of ineffective analgesia:

ketoprofen 100mg q12h IV, or 50mg q8h PO; nefopam 20mg every 6h IV or PO; ketamine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/24H IVSE.

Control group

Standard analgesic treatment alone (without LRA) .

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Standardized post-operative analgesia protocol

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The pain management protocol in intensive care is as follows:

* paracetamol 1g x 4 per day systematically (apart from the usual contraindications), IV then PO;
* PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) with oxycodone or morphine: 1mg bolus, 7min refractory period, maximum 4h dose 20mg.

The PCA is usually maintained until 24-48h after the intervention then relayed by oxycodone 5mg every 4h if EVA \> 3 sublingual and addition of oxycodone LP 10mg x 2 per day if daily intake on PCA \> 20mg.

Remedy molecules in case of ineffective analgesia:

ketoprofen 100mg q12h IV, or 50mg q8h PO; nefopam 20mg every 6h IV or PO; ketamine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/24H IVSE.

Interventions

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LRA Loco-regional anesthesia

Bilateral parasternal block or transverse thoracic block are performed ultrasound-guided, at the end of surgery in the operating room. Once in the desired plane depending on the randomisation (transverse or parasternal), a volume of 20 ml of ropivacaine at 2 mg/ml is injected on each side of the sternum.

The intervention (TTP or PSB) is performed by the anesthetist-resuscitator investigator.

Intervention Type DRUG

Standardized post-operative analgesia protocol

The pain management protocol in intensive care is as follows:

* paracetamol 1g x 4 per day systematically (apart from the usual contraindications), IV then PO;
* PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) with oxycodone or morphine: 1mg bolus, 7min refractory period, maximum 4h dose 20mg.

The PCA is usually maintained until 24-48h after the intervention then relayed by oxycodone 5mg every 4h if EVA \> 3 sublingual and addition of oxycodone LP 10mg x 2 per day if daily intake on PCA \> 20mg.

Remedy molecules in case of ineffective analgesia:

ketoprofen 100mg q12h IV, or 50mg q8h PO; nefopam 20mg every 6h IV or PO; ketamine 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/24H IVSE.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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40ml Ropivacaine 0.2%

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult patient (≥18 years old);
* Patient having scheduled cardiac surgery with a sternotomy performed at the CHU d'Angers;
* Patient having signed a consent;
* French-speaking patient, able to understand and answer a questionnaire;
* Affiliated patient or beneficiary of a social security scheme.

Criteria for confirming inclusion

* Hemodynamic stability at the end of surgery;
* Absence of bleeding justifying immediate revision surgery.


* Known hypersensitivity to amide-bonded local anesthetics;
* Operation for cardiac revision surgery, including sternotomy REDUX (revision surgery);
* Emergency surgery;
* Surgery in a septic context (Endocarditis, Intravascular device infection);
* Weight less than 30kg;
* Severe psychiatric or cognitive impairment interfering with assessment by questionnaires;
* Pregnant, breastfeeding or parturient woman;
* Person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision;
* A person undergoing psychiatric treatment under duress;
* Person subject to a measure of legal protection;
* Inclusion in another interventional study modifying postoperative pain management.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

100 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Fondation Apicil

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University Hospital, Angers

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Jeanneteau

Angers, maine et loire, France

Site Status

Countries

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France

References

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Bignami E, Castella A, Pota V, Saglietti F, Scognamiglio A, Trumello C, Pace MC, Allegri M. Perioperative pain management in cardiac surgery: a systematic review. Minerva Anestesiol. 2018 Apr;84(4):488-503. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.17.12142-5. Epub 2017 Oct 12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29027773 (View on PubMed)

Lahtinen P, Kokki H, Hynynen M. Pain after cardiac surgery: a prospective cohort study of 1-year incidence and intensity. Anesthesiology. 2006 Oct;105(4):794-800. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200610000-00026.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17006079 (View on PubMed)

Huang AP, Sakata RK. Pain after sternotomy - review. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2016 Jul-Aug;66(4):395-401. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2014.09.013. Epub 2016 Apr 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27343790 (View on PubMed)

McIsaac DI, Cole ET, McCartney CJ. Impact of including regional anaesthesia in enhanced recovery protocols: a scoping review. Br J Anaesth. 2015 Dec;115 Suppl 2:ii46-56. doi: 10.1093/bja/aev376.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26658201 (View on PubMed)

Ueshima H, Hara E, Marui T, Otake H. RETRACTED: The ultrasound-guided transversus thoracic muscle plane block is effective for the median sternotomy. J Clin Anesth. 2016 Mar;29:83. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2015.10.014. Epub 2016 Feb 9. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26897453 (View on PubMed)

de la Torre PA, Garcia PD, Alvarez SL, Miguel FJ, Perez MF. A novel ultrasound-guided block: a promising alternative for breast analgesia. Aesthet Surg J. 2014 Jan 1;34(1):198-200. doi: 10.1177/1090820X13515902. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24396082 (View on PubMed)

Leger M, Campfort M, Cayla C, Parot-Schinkel E, Lasocki S, Rineau E. Validation of an alternative French version of the Quality of Recovery-15 Score: the FQoR-15. Br J Anaesth. 2020 Oct;125(4):e345-e347. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.05.052. Epub 2020 Jul 9. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32654751 (View on PubMed)

Kleif J, Waage J, Christensen KB, Gogenur I. Systematic review of the QoR-15 score, a patient- reported outcome measure measuring quality of recovery after surgery and anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Jan;120(1):28-36. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2017.11.013. Epub 2017 Nov 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29397134 (View on PubMed)

Myles PS, Boney O, Botti M, Cyna AM, Gan TJ, Jensen MP, Kehlet H, Kurz A, De Oliveira GS Jr, Peyton P, Sessler DI, Tramer MR, Wu CL; StEP-COMPAC Group; Myles P, Grocott M, Biccard B, Blazeby J, Boney O, Chan M, Diouf E, Fleisher L, Kalkman C, Kurz A, Moonesinghe R, Wijeysundera D. Systematic review and consensus definitions for the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine (StEP) initiative: patient comfort. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Apr;120(4):705-711. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2017.12.037. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29576111 (View on PubMed)

Demarquette A, Jeanneteau A, Blanchard-Daguet A, Fouquet O, Parot-Schinkel E, Lasocki S, Rineau E, Leger M. Impact of superficial and deep parasternal blocks on recovery after cardiac surgery with sternotomy: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2025 Sep;135(3):764-771. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2025.05.043. Epub 2025 Jul 9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40640047 (View on PubMed)

Jeanneteau A, Demarquette A, Blanchard-Daguet A, Fouquet O, Lasocki S, Riou J, Rineau E, Leger M. Effect of superficial and deep parasternal blocks on recovery after cardiac surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2023 Jul 6;24(1):444. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07446-2.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37415221 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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49RC21_0251

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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