Optimal Postoperative Chest Tube and Pain Management in Patients Surgically Treated for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax (Pneumotrial)

NCT ID: NCT06053476

Last Updated: 2025-05-09

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

366 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-08

Study Completion Date

2028-11-01

Brief Summary

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Guidelines lack high quality evidence on optimal postoperative chest tube and pain management after surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). This results in great variability in postoperative care and length of hospital stay (LOS). Chest tube and pain management are prominent factors regarding enhanced recovery after thoracic surgery, and in standardised care they are crucial to improve quality of recovery and decrease LOS.

Historically, postoperative chest tubes are left in place for at least a fixed number of 3-5 days, irrespective of absence of air leakage. This period was deemed necessary for adequate pleurodesis and prevention of recurrence. However, it is suggested that removal on the same day of surgery is safe and associated with a reduced LOS.

Regarding postoperative pain management, thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) is the gold standard for postoperative pain management following video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Although the analgesic effect of TEA is clear, it is associated with hypotension and urinary retention. Therefore, unilateral regional techniques, such as paravertebral blockade (PVB), are developed.

The investigators hypothesize that early chest tube removal accompanied by a single-shot paravertebral blockade (PVB) for analgesia is safe regarding pneumothorax recurrence and non-inferior regarding pain, but superior regarding LOS when compared to standard conservative treatment.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Pneumothorax, Primary Spontaneous VATS Pain, Postoperative Locoregional Anaesthesia Thoracic Epidural Chest Tube Drainage

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Chest tube duration at least 3 days plus TEA

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Thoracic epidural analgesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

After correct placement of the epidural catheter, a local anaesthetic (ropivacaine, levobupivacaine or bupivacaine) will be started and, according to in house protocols, an opioid will be added to the epidural solution. A provisional stop of the administration of the epidural infusion is planned after 48 hours (on the second postoperative day).

Late chest tube removal

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be left in place during a fixed period of 3 postoperative days. The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at POD 3 in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of bloody drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Chest tube duration at least 3 days plus single-shot PVB

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Single-shot paravertebral block

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

At the beginning of surgery, before pleurectomy, a single shot PVB will be placed at 10 levels (T2-T11) by the surgeon with Ropivacaine 7.5mg/mL and 2-3mL per site under direct thoracoscopic vision. The injection site will be chosen at the paravertebral space, just lateral adjacent to the sympathetic trunk.

Late chest tube removal

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be left in place during a fixed period of 3 postoperative days. The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at POD 3 in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of bloody drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Early chest tube removal plus TEA

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Thoracic epidural analgesia

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

After correct placement of the epidural catheter, a local anaesthetic (ropivacaine, levobupivacaine or bupivacaine) will be started and, according to in house protocols, an opioid will be added to the epidural solution. A provisional stop of the administration of the epidural infusion is planned after 48 hours (on the second postoperative day).

Early chest tube removal

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at 4 hours postoperatively in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of pure blood drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Early chest tube removal plus single-shot PVB

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Single-shot paravertebral block

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

At the beginning of surgery, before pleurectomy, a single shot PVB will be placed at 10 levels (T2-T11) by the surgeon with Ropivacaine 7.5mg/mL and 2-3mL per site under direct thoracoscopic vision. The injection site will be chosen at the paravertebral space, just lateral adjacent to the sympathetic trunk.

Early chest tube removal

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at 4 hours postoperatively in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of pure blood drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Interventions

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Thoracic epidural analgesia

After correct placement of the epidural catheter, a local anaesthetic (ropivacaine, levobupivacaine or bupivacaine) will be started and, according to in house protocols, an opioid will be added to the epidural solution. A provisional stop of the administration of the epidural infusion is planned after 48 hours (on the second postoperative day).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Single-shot paravertebral block

At the beginning of surgery, before pleurectomy, a single shot PVB will be placed at 10 levels (T2-T11) by the surgeon with Ropivacaine 7.5mg/mL and 2-3mL per site under direct thoracoscopic vision. The injection site will be chosen at the paravertebral space, just lateral adjacent to the sympathetic trunk.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Late chest tube removal

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be left in place during a fixed period of 3 postoperative days. The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at POD 3 in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of bloody drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Early chest tube removal

Postoperatively, the chest tube is connected to a Thopaz+ system (Medela inc.) and installed to -2 or -5 cm H2O.

The chest tube will be removed at the earliest at 4 hours postoperatively in case the following criteria are met:

1. The patient is lucid and capable of sitting up straight in bed on his/her own
2. No air leakage indicated by the Thopaz+ system during at least 4 hours, or \<15 mL/min air leakage during at least 6 hours
3. Postoperative X ray (performed at least 4 hours after surgery or ultimately performed the morning of POD1) demonstrating complete lung expansion at the level of the hilum.
4. Absence of pure blood drainage by the Thopaz+ system

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* All patients operated for PSP
* Age ≥ 16 years
* Able to read and understand the Dutch language
* Mentally able to provide informed consent
* Patients should have a preoperative chest CT scan in order to exclude evident secondary pneumothorax. Previously made CT scans, within a time range of maximum 5 years, are accepted. The identification of blebs or bullae on CT scan is not defined as secondary pneumothorax.

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous ipsilateral thoracic surgery (except diagnostic thoracoscopy only) or ipsilateral thoracic radiotherapy
* Underlying lung disease that provoked the pneumothorax (secondary pneumothorax): genetically proven Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, periodic pneumothorax in female patients in reproductive age with known endometriosis (or known catamenial pneumothorax), pulmonary cystic fibrosis, active pneumonia, lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary ipsilateral malignancy
* Contra-indications for TEA (infection at skin site, increased intracranial pressure, non-correctable coagulopathy, sepsis and mechanical spine obstruction)
* Patients chronically (\>3 months) using opioids will be excluded since postoperative baseline opioid requirement will be higher and TEA remains the preferred technique for these patients
* Allergic reactions to analgesics used in the study
Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Leiden University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Maxima Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Quirine van Steenwijk

Coordinating Investigator, MD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Maxima MC

Veldhoven, , Netherlands

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Netherlands

Central Contacts

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Quirine C.A. van Steenwijk, MD

Role: CONTACT

+31-40888-7243

Frank J.C. van den Broek, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+31-40888-8550

Facility Contacts

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Quirine C.A. van Steenwijk, MD

Role: primary

+31408887243

Frank J.C. van den Broek, MD, PhD

Role: backup

+31408888550

Other Identifiers

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NL84451.015.23

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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