Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation Versus Epidural Analgesia for Nuss Repair of Pectus Excavatum

NCT ID: NCT05731973

Last Updated: 2024-01-05

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-12-08

Study Completion Date

2025-09-30

Brief Summary

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Primary objective of the current study is to determine the impact of intercostal nerve cryoablation on postoperative length of hospital stay compared to standard pain management of young pectus excavatum patients (12-24 years) treated with the minimal invasive Nuss procedure. The study is designed as a single center, prospective, unblinded, randomized clinical trial.

Detailed Description

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Rationale: The minimal invasive Nuss procedure is currently considered the treatment of choice for pectus excavatum. This procedure is usually associated with severe postoperative pain as great forces are employed on the thoracic cage to correct the sternal depression. Pain is the main limiting factor for early discharge. Epidural analgesia is currently considered gold standard for postoperative pain treatment. Alternative pain management strategies (e.g., patient-controlled analgesia and paravertebral nerve block) have also been described but fail in accomplishing adequate prolonged post-operative pain management. Alternatively, continuous use of opioids comes with side-effects like severe nausea, urinary retention and obstipation. Intercostal nerve cryoablation seems a promising novel technique for postoperative analgesia. Prior studies comparing intercostal cryoablation to other pain treatment modalities after pectus excavatum repair through the minimal invasive Nuss procedure report promising results, but pose significant limitations (e.g., small sample size, retrospective nature with non-matched patient groups or considerable confounders).

Objective: Primary objective of the current study is to determine the impact of intercostal nerve cryoablation on postoperative length of hospital stay compared to standard pain management of young pectus excavatum patients treated with the minimal invasive Nuss procedure.

Study design: The study protocol is designed for a single center, prospective, unblinded, randomized clinical trial.

Study population \& intervention: Intercostal nerve cryoablation will be compared to thoracic epidural analgesia in young pectus excavatum patients (i.e., 12-24 years of age) treated with the minimal invasive Nuss procedure. Block randomization, including stratification based on age (12-16 years and 17-24 years) and sex, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 will be performed.

Main study parameters/endpoints: Postoperative length of hospital stay will be recorded as the primary endpoint. Secondary outcomes include: 1) pain intensity; 2) operative time; 3) opioid usage; 4) complications, including neuropathic pain; 5) creatine kinase activity; 6)intensive care unit admissions; 7) readmissions; 8) postoperative mobility; 9) health related quality of Life; 10) days to return to work/school; 11) number of postoperative outpatient visits and 12) hospital costs.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The risks for study participants are negligible as the cryoablation technique has already been effectively used in the Nuss procedure without any serious side effects. Also, participants will be monitored daily by nursing staff and surgeons while admitted to the hospital. Burden associated with participation in the current study consists of completion of several questionnaires preoperatively and postoperatively.

Conditions

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Pectus Excavatum Funnel Chest

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Single center, prospective, unblinded, randomized clinical trial. Block randomization, including stratification based on age (12-16 years and 17-24 years) and sex, with an allocation ratio of 1:1 will be performed.
Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intercostal nerve cryoablation

When a patient is allocated to the intercostal nerve cryoablation group, cryoablation will be performed prior to bar placement. In brief, cryoablation will be performed at the level of the bar and two levels above and below, bilaterally. For this, a second portal access will be placed for video guidance on the contralateral side, and the cryoprobe (cryoICE, Atricure, Masion, OH, USA) will be inserted through the thoracic incisions that are already made for bar placement. The probe will be placed at the inferior aspect of the ribs, posterior to the midaxillary line, directly on the neurovascular bundle. One freezing cycle takes 2 minutes, and a temperature of -60 ⁰C will be applied. The probe will be warmed to room temperature before removing it from the pleura to prevent additional trauma. Furthermore, intercostal nerve cryoablation will be combined with single shot bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml) intercostal nerve blocks placed just anterior to the side of the cryoablation.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intercostal nerve cryoablation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Intercostal nerve cryoablation is applied during Nuss procedure.

Intercostal nerve block (single shot bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml))

Intervention Type DRUG

Single shot bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml) intercostal nerve blocks are placed just anterior to the side of the cryoablation.

Opioids (oxycodone with prolonged discharge 10 mg PO every 12 hours and oxycodone 5 mg every 6 hours, as needed)

Intervention Type DRUG

Opioids

Thoracic epidural (local continuous infusion with sufentanyl (1 µg/ml) and bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml))

Prior to surgery, an anesthesiologist will place the thoracic epidural at T5-T6 or T6-T7 interspace in the awake patient. After correct placement, a local continuous infusion with sufentanyl (1 µg/ml) and bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml) will be started. At the third postoperative day, thoracic epidural analgesia will be ceased and transitioned to oral pain medication at discretion of the pain management team. In general, opioids (oxycodone with prolonged discharge 10 mg PO every 12 hours and oxycodone 5 mg every 6 hours as needed) will be provided 12 hours before thoracic epidural analgesia is ceased.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Thoracic epidural analgesia (continuous infusion with sufentanyl (1 µg/ml) and bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml))

Intervention Type DRUG

Thoracic epidural is placed prior to Nuss procedure

Opioids (oxycodone with prolonged discharge 10 mg PO every 12 hours and oxycodone 5 mg every 6 hours, as needed)

Intervention Type DRUG

Opioids

Interventions

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Intercostal nerve cryoablation

Intercostal nerve cryoablation is applied during Nuss procedure.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Thoracic epidural analgesia (continuous infusion with sufentanyl (1 µg/ml) and bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml))

Thoracic epidural is placed prior to Nuss procedure

Intervention Type DRUG

Intercostal nerve block (single shot bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml))

Single shot bupivacaine (1.25 mg/ml) intercostal nerve blocks are placed just anterior to the side of the cryoablation.

Intervention Type DRUG

Opioids (oxycodone with prolonged discharge 10 mg PO every 12 hours and oxycodone 5 mg every 6 hours, as needed)

Opioids

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Cryoablation Epidural Intercostal nerve block opioids, oxycodone (with prolonged discharge)

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients undergoing the minimal invasive Nuss procedure for surgical repair of pectus excavatum.
* Young patients (12-24 years of age) according to the definition used by the World Health Organization. This cut-off point is chosen to create a more homogenous patient sample, as the thoracic cage is fully matured by the age of 24, in size and density, which will have an effect on postoperative pain.

Exclusion Criteria

* A chest wall deformity other than pectus excavatum;
* Opioid use in the 3 months prior to surgery;
* Pain syndrome (e.g., fibromyalgia) or neuropathic pain prior to surgical repair of pectus excavatum;
* Connective tissue disease (e.g., Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome);
* Previous thoracic surgery or pectus excavatum repair;
* Contraindication for intercostal nerve cryoablation or thoracic epidural analgesia (e.g., patient refusal, infection at the site of cannulation, uncontrolled systemic infection, bleeding diathesis, increased intracranial pressure, mechanical spine obstruction);
* Psychiatric disease currently receiving treatment;
* Not mastering the Dutch language;
* Participation in another clinical trial that may interfere with the current trial.
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

24 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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AtriCure, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Zuyderland Medisch Centrum

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Erik de Loos

Principal investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Erik R De Loos

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Zuyderland Medical Center

Locations

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Zuyderland Medical Center

Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Netherlands

Central Contacts

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Erik R De Loos

Role: CONTACT

088-4597777

Aimée Franssen

Role: CONTACT

088-4597777

Facility Contacts

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Erik R De Loos, MD, PhD

Role: primary

088-4597777

References

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Croitoru DP, Kelly RE Jr, Goretsky MJ, Lawson ML, Swoveland B, Nuss D. Experience and modification update for the minimally invasive Nuss technique for pectus excavatum repair in 303 patients. J Pediatr Surg. 2002 Mar;37(3):437-45. doi: 10.1053/jpsu.2002.30851.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 11877663 (View on PubMed)

Nuss D. Minimally invasive surgical repair of pectus excavatum. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2008 Aug;17(3):209-17. doi: 10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2008.03.003.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 18582827 (View on PubMed)

Nuss D, Kelly RE Jr. Indications and technique of Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. Thorac Surg Clin. 2010 Nov;20(4):583-97. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2010.07.002.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 20974443 (View on PubMed)

Dekonenko C, Dorman RM, Duran Y, Juang D, Aguayo P, Fraser JD, Oyetunji TA, Snyder CL, Holcomb GW 3rd, Millspaugh DL, St Peter SD. Postoperative pain control modalities for pectus excavatum repair: A prospective observational study of cryoablation compared to results of a randomized trial of epidural vs patient-controlled analgesia. J Pediatr Surg. 2020 Aug;55(8):1444-1447. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.09.021. Epub 2019 Oct 26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31699436 (View on PubMed)

Qi J, Du B, Gurnaney H, Lu P, Zuo Y. A prospective randomized observer-blinded study to assess postoperative analgesia provided by an ultrasound-guided bilateral thoracic paravertebral block for children undergoing the Nuss procedure. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 May-Jun;39(3):208-13. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000071.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24682079 (View on PubMed)

Sertcakacilar G, Kose S. Bilateral PECS II Block is Associated with Decreased Opioid Consumption and Reduced Pain Scores for up to 24 hours After Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (Nuss Procedure): A Retrospective Analysis. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2022 Oct;36(10):3833-3840. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2022.06.001. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 35817669 (View on PubMed)

Abdel Shaheed C, McLachlan AJ, Maher CG. Rethinking "long term" opioid therapy. BMJ. 2019 Nov 29;367:l6691. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l6691. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31784472 (View on PubMed)

Cadaval Gallardo C, Martinez J, Bellia-Munzon G, Nazar M, Sanjurjo D, Toselli L, Martinez-Ferro M. Thoracoscopic cryoanalgesia: A new strategy for postoperative pain control in minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair. Cir Pediatr. 2020 Jan 20;33(1):11-15. English, Spanish.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32166917 (View on PubMed)

Aiken TJ, Stahl CC, Lemaster D, Casias TW, Walker BJ, Nichol PF, Leys CM, Abbott DE, Brinkman AS. Intercostal nerve cryoablation is associated with lower hospital cost during minimally invasive Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 Oct;56(10):1841-1845. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2020.10.009. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33199059 (View on PubMed)

Morikawa N, Laferriere N, Koo S, Johnson S, Woo R, Puapong D. Cryoanalgesia in Patients Undergoing Nuss Repair of Pectus Excavatum: Technique Modification and Early Results. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2018 Sep;28(9):1148-1151. doi: 10.1089/lap.2017.0665. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29672193 (View on PubMed)

Harbaugh CM, Johnson KN, Kein CE, Jarboe MD, Hirschl RB, Geiger JD, Gadepalli SK. Comparing outcomes with thoracic epidural and intercostal nerve cryoablation after Nuss procedure. J Surg Res. 2018 Nov;231:217-223. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.05.048. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30278932 (View on PubMed)

Sun RC, Mehl SC, Anbarasu CR, Portuondo JI, Espinoza AF, Whitlock R, Mazziotti MV. Intercostal cryoablation during Nuss procedure: A large volume single surgeon's experience and outcomes. J Pediatr Surg. 2021 Dec;56(12):2229-2234. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.03.006. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33853732 (View on PubMed)

Sujka J, Benedict LA, Fraser JD, Aguayo P, Millspaugh DL, St Peter SD. Outcomes Using Cryoablation for Postoperative Pain Control in Children Following Minimally Invasive Pectus Excavatum Repair. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2018 Nov;28(11):1383-1386. doi: 10.1089/lap.2018.0111. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29927703 (View on PubMed)

Daemen JHT, de Loos ER, Vissers YLJ, Bakens MJAM, Maessen JG, Hulsewe KWE. Intercostal nerve cryoablation versus thoracic epidural for postoperative analgesia following pectus excavatum repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2020 Oct 1;31(4):486-498. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivaa151.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32929487 (View on PubMed)

Graves CE, Moyer J, Zobel MJ, Mora R, Smith D, O'Day M, Padilla BE. Intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoablation During the Nuss procedure reduces length of stay and opioid requirement: A randomized clinical trial. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Nov;54(11):2250-2256. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.02.057. Epub 2019 Mar 17.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30935731 (View on PubMed)

Zobel MJ, Ewbank C, Mora R, Idowu O, Kim S, Padilla BE. The incidence of neuropathic pain after intercostal cryoablation during the Nuss procedure. Pediatr Surg Int. 2020 Mar;36(3):317-324. doi: 10.1007/s00383-019-04602-1. Epub 2019 Nov 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31760443 (View on PubMed)

Janssen N, Daemen JHT, Franssen AJPM, van Polen EJ, van Roozendaal LM, Hulsewe KWE, Vissers Y, de Loos ER. Intercostal nerve cryoablation versus thoracic epidural analgesia for minimal invasive Nuss repair of pectus excavatum: a protocol for a randomised clinical trial (ICE trial). BMJ Open. 2024 Mar 25;14(3):e081392. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081392.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38531584 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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Z2023005

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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