Comparing Local Anesthetics for TAP Block During Abdominally-based Free Flap for Breast Reconstruction

December 24, 2021 updated by: Galen Perdikis, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial Comparing Liposomal Bupivacaine and Bupivacaine Hydrochloride in Transversus Abdominis Plane Blocks Prior To DIEP Flap for Breast Reconstruction

This study will compare the efficiency of transversus abominus plane (TAP) block using liposomal bupivacaine versus plain bupivacaine that is administered in the operating room under ultrasound guidance prior to the in patients undergoing abdominally-based free flap breast reconstruction at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) blocks are commonly used as part of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway. This prospective, double-blinded, randomized control trial compares post-operative pain and narcotic consumption after deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) breast reconstruction with liposomal bupivacaine (LB) compared to bupivacaine hydrochloride (BHCl). Subjects undergoing DIEP flaps were randomly assigned LB or BHCl, performed using ultrasound-guided TAP block technique pre-procedurally. Primary outcomes were postoperative narcotic analgesia required in oral morphine equivalents (OME) from postoperative day (POD) 0 to 7. Secondary outcomes included POD 1-7 pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), non-narcotic pain medication consumption, time to first narcotic use, return of bowel function, and length of stay (LOS).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37212
        • Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. age between 18-85 years
  2. males or females
  3. plastic surgery for abdominally-based free flap breast reconstruction.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. those not candidates for TAP blocks due to allergies to the medications (e.g., bupivacaine)
  2. those with anatomic contra-indications to performing a TAP block
  3. those unwilling to participate in follow-up assessments
  4. vulnerable populations
  5. chronic pain or associated diagnosis

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: TAP block with liposomal bupivacaine
Local analgesia (TAP blocks) will be administered under ultrasound guidance in the operating room after the patient is intubated and under general anesthesia. Under sterile conditions and ultrasound guidance, the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles (muscles of the abdominal wall) will be identified at the anterior axillary line, midway between the costal margin and iliac crest. The epidural needle will be inserted through the skin to the appropriate fascial plane, and the local anesthetic will be injected in that plane. 20mL of Exparel® 1.3% mixed with 20mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, for a total of 40mL of local anesthestic mixture, 20mL to be injected on each side.
Drug: Liposomal bupivacaine
20mL of Exparel® 1.3% mixed with 20mL of 0.25% bupivacaine, for a total of 40mL of local anesthestic mixture, 20mL to be injected on each side.
Other Names:
  • LB
Active Comparator: TAP block with regular bupivacaine
Local analgesia (TAP blocks) will be administered under ultrasound guidance in the operating room after the patient is intubated and under general anesthesia. Under sterile conditions and ultrasound guidance, the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles (muscles of the abdominal wall) will be identified at the anterior axillary line, midway between the costal margin and iliac crest. The epidural needle will be inserted through the skin to the appropriate fascial plane, and the local anesthetic will be injected in that plane. 20mL of 0.25% bupivacaine injected on each side.
Drug: Regular bupivacaine
20mL of 0.25% bupivacaine injected on each side.
Other Names:
  • Bupivacaine HCl

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Amount of Supplemental Postoperative Narcotic Analgesia in Oral Morphine Equivalents (OME)
Time Frame: Postoperative day (POD) 1 to 7
Amount of supplemental postoperative narcotic analgesia (both intravenous and oral) required by study groups in oral morphine equivalents
Postoperative day (POD) 1 to 7

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain Measure
Time Frame: Post operative day (POD) 1 to 7
Pain as measured by numeric rating scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain ever).
Post operative day (POD) 1 to 7
Time to First Opiate Use
Time Frame: 0-29.8 hours post operation
Time from end of surgery to time of first opioid intake measured in hours
0-29.8 hours post operation
Time to Return of Bowel Function
Time Frame: 1 to 4 days post operation
Mean time in days at which patients had a return of bowel movement post op
1 to 4 days post operation
Length of Stay
Time Frame: 1 to 4 days
Length of hospital stay post operatively
1 to 4 days
Ambulation
Time Frame: 1 day post op
Time to first ambulate post op (in days)
1 day post op
Non-narcotic Pain Medication Intake: Acetaminophen
Time Frame: Post op day 1 to 7
The total use of the non-narcotic pain medication Acetaminophen was recorded during hospitalization
Post op day 1 to 7
Non Narcotic Pain Medication Intake: Cyclobenzaprine
Time Frame: Post op day 1 to 7
The total use of the non-narcotic pain medication Cyclobenzaprine was recorded during hospitalization
Post op day 1 to 7
Non Narcotic Pain Medication Intake: Gabapentin
Time Frame: Post op day 1 to 7
The total use of the non-narcotic pain medication gabapentin was recorded during hospitalization
Post op day 1 to 7
Non Narcotic Pain Medication Intake: Celebrex
Time Frame: post op day 1 to 7
The total use of the non-narcotic pain medication celebrex was recorded during hospitalization
post op day 1 to 7
Non Narcotic Pain Medication Intake: Ondansetron
Time Frame: Post op day 1 to 7
The total use of the non-narcotic pain medication ondansetron was recorded during hospitalization
Post op day 1 to 7

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Galen Perdikis, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 13, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 15, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 2, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 6, 2018

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 9, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 24, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 24, 2021

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 180421

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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