Intercostal Nerve Cryoanalgesia vs BRILMA Block for Minithoracotomy on Cardiac Surgery

NCT ID: NCT06086535

Last Updated: 2025-11-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 63 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-30
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-20

Brief Summary

Patients undergoing cardiac surgery by minithoracomy present severe acute postoperative pain. Cryoanalgesia of the intercostal nerves and BRILMA block can provide a solution for this postoperative pain. The main aim of this study is to compare the postoperative analgesia provided by BRILMA block and intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery by minitoractomia.

Detailed Description

Patients undegoing cardiac surgery by minithoracotomy present severe acute postoperative pain. Cryoanalgesia of the intercostal nerves and BRILMA block are performed as techniques of postoperative analgesia of the chest wall, and can provide a solution for this postoperative pain. Both nerve block techniques could have similar effects on postoperative pain control during the first postoperative hours. However, cryoanalgesia of the intercostal nerves may provide a longer duration than that provided by BRILMA block.

Outcomes:

• Compare the postoperative analgesia provided by BRILMA block and intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery by minithoracotomy.
• Determine the percentage of patients with neuropathic pain at hospital discharge and 30 days after surgery.

Methods:

Prospective observational study using two analgesic techniques (BRILMA block vs intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia).

Inclusion criteria: patients > 18 years of age, underwent cardiac surgery by minithoracotomy Exclusion criteria: patients <18 years old, patients undergoing cardiac surgery by sternotomy, habitual consumption of analgesics, neurological diseases with deterioration of the level of consciousness and patients with previous neuropathic pain.

Technic: For BRILMA block, 0.4 ml/kg of 0.3% ropivacaine will be injected between the medial aspect of the serratus anterior muscle and the external intercostal muscle (thoraco-dentate space) covering 3 intercostal spaces (3rd, 4th and 5th). A catheter will be placed in the 4th intercostal space that will provide analgesia for the first three postoperative days. The cryoanalgesia technique will be performed by the surgeon before the closure of the minithoracotomy, on the right hemithorax. An external cryogenic system AtriCure CE0123 will be used for use with cryoICE AtriCure 10 cm Cryoablation Probe, CE2797. The cryoprobe will be applied on the lower costal ridge at the level of the 3rd, 4th and 5th intercostal spaces.

Postoperative pain (location and intensity) will be evaluated using a Simple Verbal Scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum imaginable pain). The need for rescue analgesia will be collected during hospital stay. At 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery and at hospital discharge, the maximum score of pain experienced by the patient (at rest and deep inspiration) will be collected. At hospital discharge, an investigator will evaluate the occurrence of neuropathic pain using the DN-4 scale (Douleur Neuropatique in 4 questions). In addition, the patient will complete these four questions 30 days after surgery and the results will be known by the responsible researcher

Conditions

Post Operative Pain

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

BRILMA block

Patients receiving BRILMA blockade. BRILMA blockade will be performed at the end of surgery at the level of the 3rd, 4th and 5th intercostal spaces of the right hemithorax.

Intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia vs BRILMA blockade

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

For BRILMA block, 0.4 ml/kg of 0.3% ropivacaine will be injected and a catheter will be placed on the 4th intercostal space after surgery. For intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia an external cryogenizer system will be used during surgery

Intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia

Patients receiving intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia. The cryoanalgesia technique will be performed by the surgeon before the closure of the minithoracotomy, at the level of the 3rd, 4th and 5th intercostal spaces on the right hemithorax.

Intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia vs BRILMA blockade

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

For BRILMA block, 0.4 ml/kg of 0.3% ropivacaine will be injected and a catheter will be placed on the 4th intercostal space after surgery. For intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia an external cryogenizer system will be used during surgery

Interventions

Intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia vs BRILMA blockade

For BRILMA block, 0.4 ml/kg of 0.3% ropivacaine will be injected and a catheter will be placed on the 4th intercostal space after surgery. For intercostal nerve cryoanalgesia an external cryogenizer system will be used during surgery

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients > 18 years of age, underwent cardiac surgery by minithoracotomy
• Cardiac surgery
• Minithoracotomy

Exclusion Criteria

• <18 years old
• Patients undergoing cardiac surgery by sternotomy
• Patients with regular consumption of analgesics,
• Patients with neurological diseases with altered level of consciousness
• Patients with previous neuropathic pain.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Susana González Suárez

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Countries

Spain

References

Khanbhai M, Yap KH, Mohamed S, Dunning J. Is cryoanalgesia effective for post-thoracotomy pain? Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2014 Feb;18(2):202-9. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivt468. Epub 2013 Nov 11.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 24218494 (View on PubMed)

Saravanan R, Venkatraman R, Karthika U. Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Modified BRILMA Block with Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy - A Randomized Controlled Trial. Local Reg Anesth. 2021 Jul 2;14:109-116. doi: 10.2147/LRA.S316320. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 34239324 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

PR(AG)324/2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id