Study Results
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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RECRUITING
NA
114 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-12-30
2026-04-01
Brief Summary
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Recently, a novel fascial plane block known as the EXORA block has been introduced as a promising alternative for abdominal wall analgesia. This block, which targets a different anatomical plane, is postulated to provide comparable or superior analgesic efficacy to traditional methods while maintaining safety and simplicity in execution. Given the ongoing pursuit of optimal analgesia with minimal side effects, it is essential to compare emerging techniques, such as the EXORA block, with established methods like the ESP block.
The authors hypothesize that the EXORA and the ESP blocks provide superior postoperative analgesia compared to controls in the anterolateral abdomen in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and that the EXORA block analgesic profile is comparable to that of the ESP block.
Detailed Description
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After obtaining approval from the local institutional ethics committee at Fayoum University Hospital (FUH) and registering the trial on ClinicalTrials.gov, all patients scheduled for elective cholecystectomy at FUH will sign a detailed informed consent form after fulfilling the eligibility criteria.
Patients will be randomly assigned to three equal groups with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1 (n=35) using computer-generated random numbers that will be sealed in a closed opaque envelope, opened by the anesthesiologist responsible for administering the ultrasound-guided block preoperatively
* Group A (EXORA Block Group): Patients will receive bilateral EXORA blocks.
* Group B (ESP Block Group): Patients will receive bilateral ESP blocks.
* Group C (Control Group): patients will not receive any block, only standard care.
Preoperatively, all patients will be assessed and investigated by complete blood count, Prothrombin time and concentration, kidney and liver functions. Additional investigations, such as serum electrolytes, ECG, ECHO, etc., will be ordered upon individual patient assessment.
All blocks will be performed by an anesthesiologist experienced in regional blocks preoperatively in a separate block room under strict aseptic conditions using ultrasound guidance after applying standard monitoring (pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure, and electrocardiogram) and administering a sedative dose of intravenous midazolam (0.03 mg/kg).
For both groups A and B, sensory block will be assessed by a blinded anesthesiologist after 30 minutes from the block maneuver bilaterally from the distribution of the fifth Thoracic dermatome (T5) down to the level of the twelfth thoracic dermatome (T12). This will be accomplished using a pinprick with a blunt 20-G needle on a two-point scale, where 0 indicates the presence of sensation and 1 indicates numbness or absence of sensation in reference to sensation in the shoulder region. If no sensory loss is observed, the patient will be excluded from the study.
All patients will then be transferred to the operating room, handed over to the attending anesthesiologist who is blinded to group allocation and is responsible for further patient management. standard monitoring will be reapplied, and then general anesthesia will be induced using propofol (2 mg/kg), atracurium (0.5 mg/kg), and fentanyl (2 μg/kg). Anesthesia will be maintained with intermittent intravenous atracurium (0.1 mg/kg boluses) and an isoflurane inhalation in an oxygen and air mixture. An intravenous Ketorolac (30 mg), Nalbuphine (10 mg), and Ondansetron 8 mg will be administered approximately 30 minutes before the end of the operation.
After discharge to the ward, paracetamol 1g /8 hours and ketorolac 30 mg/12 hours will be administered to all patients. Both static (at rest) and dynamic (with movement) visual analogue scale (VAS) will be assessed at 1,2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours (where 0 denotes no pain, and 10 represents the most intense pain ever experienced), and if the VAS score is equal to or higher than 4, a rescue analgesic dose of nalbuphine 5 mg will be administered.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
TRIPLE
Study Groups
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EXORA block group
Group A (EXORA Block Group): Patients will receive bilateral EXORA blocks.
EXORA block
in a supine position, a linear Ultrasound probe (L6-12 RS linear array transducer (6-12 MHz) on GE Healthcare Logiq P7, made in Korea) will be sagittally applied at the parasternal line, lateral to the sternum and xiphoid process. The probe will be manipulated craniocaudally to identify the 6th, 7th, and 8th costal cartilages. At the level of the 8th costal cartilage, a transverse orientation will be used to visualize the rectus abdominis muscle and the costal cartilage beneath. An 88-mm, 22-gauge needle will be directed in-plane from medial to lateral. After confirming the needle position below the rectus abdominis muscle using 4 ml isotonic saline as a hydro-dissection, 25 ml of plain bupivacaine 0.25% concentration will be injected. the spread of the local anesthetic is to be observed to advance laterally under the external oblique muscle and medially under the rectus muscle. The same procedure will be repeated on the other side.
ESP block group
Group B (ESP Block Group): Patients will receive bilateral ESP blocks.
Erector Spinae Plane block
in a right lateral position, the linear Ultrasound probe will be placed vertically 3 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the 7th thoracic spinal process, identifying the T7 transverse process, and the overlying erector spinae (ES) muscle. An 88-mm, 22-gauge needle will be advanced craniocaudally in-plane until hitting the T7 transverse process. After using hydro-dissection with 4 ml of isotonic saline to confirm the correct needle position, 25 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine will be administered below the erector spinae muscle. The same procedure will be repeated on the other side.
control group
Group C (Control Group): patients will not receive any block, only standard care.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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EXORA block
in a supine position, a linear Ultrasound probe (L6-12 RS linear array transducer (6-12 MHz) on GE Healthcare Logiq P7, made in Korea) will be sagittally applied at the parasternal line, lateral to the sternum and xiphoid process. The probe will be manipulated craniocaudally to identify the 6th, 7th, and 8th costal cartilages. At the level of the 8th costal cartilage, a transverse orientation will be used to visualize the rectus abdominis muscle and the costal cartilage beneath. An 88-mm, 22-gauge needle will be directed in-plane from medial to lateral. After confirming the needle position below the rectus abdominis muscle using 4 ml isotonic saline as a hydro-dissection, 25 ml of plain bupivacaine 0.25% concentration will be injected. the spread of the local anesthetic is to be observed to advance laterally under the external oblique muscle and medially under the rectus muscle. The same procedure will be repeated on the other side.
Erector Spinae Plane block
in a right lateral position, the linear Ultrasound probe will be placed vertically 3 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the 7th thoracic spinal process, identifying the T7 transverse process, and the overlying erector spinae (ES) muscle. An 88-mm, 22-gauge needle will be advanced craniocaudally in-plane until hitting the T7 transverse process. After using hydro-dissection with 4 ml of isotonic saline to confirm the correct needle position, 25 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine will be administered below the erector spinae muscle. The same procedure will be repeated on the other side.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* ASA physical status I-III
Exclusion Criteria
* Chronic pain or regular opioid use
* Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy
* Local infection at the block site
* BMI more than 35 kg/m2
* Neurological or psychiatric disorders
* Refusal to participate
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Fayoum University Hospital
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Mohamed Ahmed Hamed
Professor of Anesthesiology
Principal Investigators
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Mohamed A Hamed, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Faculty of medicine, Fayoum university
Locations
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Fayoum University hospital
El Fayoum Qesm, Faiyum Governorate, Egypt
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Mohamed A Hamed, MD
Role: primary
Mohamed H Ragab, MD
Role: backup
References
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Asad U, Wang CF, Jones MW. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. 2025 Jul 2. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448145/
Roy DK, Sheikh R. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Compared to the Open Procedure in Patients with Gallbladder Disease. Avicenna J Med. 2024 Feb 1;14(1):3-21. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1777710. eCollection 2024 Jan.
Ekstein P, Szold A, Sagie B, Werbin N, Klausner JM, Weinbroum AA. Laparoscopic surgery may be associated with severe pain and high analgesia requirements in the immediate postoperative period. Ann Surg. 2006 Jan;243(1):41-6. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000193806.81428.6f.
Dua A, Aziz A, Desai SS, McMaster J, Kuy S. National Trends in the Adoption of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy over 7 Years in the United States and Impact of Laparoscopic Approaches Stratified by Age. Minim Invasive Surg. 2014;2014:635461. doi: 10.1155/2014/635461. Epub 2014 Mar 20.
Urman RD, Khanna AK, Bergese SD, Buhre W, Wittmann M, Le Guen M, Overdyk FJ, Di Piazza F, Saager L. Postoperative opioid administration characteristics associated with opioid-induced respiratory depression: Results from the PRODIGY trial. J Clin Anesth. 2021 Jun;70:110167. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110167. Epub 2021 Jan 22.
Lohmoller K, Carstensen V, Pogatzki-Zahn EM, Freys SM, Weibel S, Schnabel A. Regional anaesthesia for postoperative pain management following laparoscopic, visceral, non-oncological surgery a systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Endosc. 2024 Apr;38(4):1844-1866. doi: 10.1007/s00464-023-10667-w. Epub 2024 Feb 2.
Sethi D, Garg G. Evaluation of postoperative analgesia of erector spinae plane block in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial. Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim. 2021 Dec;49(6):432-438. doi: 10.5152/TJAR.2021.878.
Altiparmak B, Korkmaz Toker M, Uysal AI, Kuscu Y, Gumus Demirbilek S. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block versus oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative analgesia of adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Randomized, controlled trial. J Clin Anesth. 2019 Nov;57:31-36. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2019.03.012. Epub 2019 Mar 6.
Yang X, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Xu M, Lei X, Fu Q. Analgesic effect of erector spinae plane block in adults undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Anesthesiol. 2023 Jan 6;23(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12871-023-01969-6.
Fernandez Martin MT, Lopez Alvarez S, Valdes-Vilches LF. EXORA block: a new approach for laparoscopic cholecystectomy analgesia? Minerva Anestesiol. 2024 May;90(5):462-463. doi: 10.23736/S0375-9393.23.17863-1. Epub 2024 Jan 29. No abstract available.
Okmen K, Yildiz DK, Ulker GK. Evaluation of the efficacy of M-TAPA and EXORA block application for analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective, single-blind, observational study. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2025 Aug;78(4):361-368. doi: 10.4097/kja.24563. Epub 2025 Apr 15.
Other Identifiers
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M829
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id