Postoperative Pain Management Following Robotic Assisted Sacrocolpopexy

NCT ID: NCT06309693

Last Updated: 2026-01-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 70 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-01-22
• Study Completion Date: 2026-01-09

Brief Summary

In the effort to reduce postoperative opioid use, there has been increasing interest in developing multimodal pain regimens to better manage postoperative pain while minimizing opioid use and their subsequent side effects that can be detrimental to the healing process. Standard of care approaches to better manage postoperative pain include the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol and the use of peripheral and truncal nerve blocks. Truncal nerve blocks are widely used as an additional modality to provide longer lasting postoperative analgesia and have been adopted as part of the standard of care. The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of ERAS alone versus the quadratus lumborum (QL) nerve block on the postoperative pain experience for women with pelvic organ prolapse undergoing robotic assisted sacrocolpopexy. Subjects will be randomized to the ERAS protocol or the QL block. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) does the QL block decrease patient reported pain scores postoperatively; and 2) does the QL block decrease the amount of opioid pain medications in the immediate postoperative period? The primary outcome measure will be median patient reported pain score in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to compare patient reported postoperative pain scores in women undergoing QL block versus ERAS protocol alone prior to minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Secondary aims will explore other outcomes that impact patients' overall postoperative pain experience.

Aim #1: To compare the median postoperative patient reported pain score in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group.

Aim #2: To compare the maximum postoperative patient reported pain score in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group.

Aim #3: To compare the total oral morphine equivalents (OME) in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group.

Aim #4: To compare the rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Aim #5: To compare the rates of overnight admission between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Aim #6: To compare the total time in the PACU between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Aim #7: To compare the rates of initial active voiding trial failures between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Conditions

Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Post Operative Pain

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Quadratus Lumborum Block

The QL block will be performed by the regional anesthesia team according to their standard protocol with a uniform quantity and concentration of analgesic agent (ropivacaine 60cc). Intraoperatively, patients will undergo subcutaneous injections of lidocaine (2cc per port site) at each port site. Preoperatively, patients will only receive acetaminophen and no preoperative narcotics or neuro-modulators will be administered. Intraabdominal pressure intraoperative will be standardized among surgeons (plan for 15mm Hg for port placement, then 12 mm Hg once docked). At the conclusion of each surgery, eligible patients will receive a dose of IV ketorolac. Postoperatively, patients will be prescribed a standard regimen of NSAIDs, acetaminophen and opioids. Patients will be asked to rate their pain according to the numeric pain rating scale immediately postoperatively in the PACU and patient opioid requirements while in the PACU will be reviewed in the chart.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Block

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

The standard of care QL block will be performed by the regional anesthesia team according to their standard protocol with a uniform quantity and concentration of analgesic agent. Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol

The ERAS protocol is a multimodal approach to pain control while minimizing opioid medications. Subjects randomized to the ERAS arm will undergo the standard ERAS protocol of early postoperative ambulation, no bowel preparation, and the use of multimodal pain medications including acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Intraabdominal pressure intraoperative will be standardized among surgeons (plan for 15mm Hg for port placement, then 12 mm Hg once docked). At the conclusion of each surgery, eligible patients will receive a dose of IV ketorolac. Postoperatively, patients will be prescribed a standard regimen of NSAIDs, acetaminophen and opioids. Patients will be asked to rate their pain according to the numeric pain rating scale immediately postoperatively in the PACU and patient opioid requirements while in the PACU will be reviewed in the chart.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Enhanced Recovery After Surgical (ERAS) Protocol

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Subjects randomized to the ERAS arm will undergo the standard ERAS protocol of early postoperative ambulation, no bowel preparation, and the use of multimodal pain medications including acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.

Interventions

Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Block

The standard of care QL block will be performed by the regional anesthesia team according to their standard protocol with a uniform quantity and concentration of analgesic agent. Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Enhanced Recovery After Surgical (ERAS) Protocol

Subjects randomized to the ERAS arm will undergo the standard ERAS protocol of early postoperative ambulation, no bowel preparation, and the use of multimodal pain medications including acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Women undergoing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy with concurrent robotic assisted supracervical or total laparoscopic hysterectomy or robotic assisted sacrocolpopexy after previous hysterectomy

2. Age 18 years old or greater

3. Fluency and literacy in English

4. Capacity to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Lack fluency and literacy in English

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

Sponsors

University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Katelyn Donaldson, MD

Fellow, Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Countries

United States

References

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Other Identifiers

IRB-300011310

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id