Intermittent Bolus vs Continuous Infusion Via ESP Catheters RCT

April 21, 2026 updated by: Patrick Forrest, Henry Ford Health System

Intermittent Bolus Versus Continuous Infusion Erector Spinae Catheters for Median Sternotomy Incisions: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of two different delivery methods for postoperative pain management following cardiac surgery requiring median sternotomy: intermittent programmed LA bolus versus continuous LA infusion through ESP catheters. Effectiveness of analgesia will be assessed based on the subjects' NRS pain scores and opioid consumption. The primary outcome measure will be the patients' opioid consumption over the course of the 72 hours following surgery. Secondary outcomes measures that will be evaluated include NRS pain scores, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and time to first dose of antiemetic in the postoperative period. It is hypothesized that the use of intermittent programmed LA boluses will provide better analgesia compared to continuous LA infusion through ESP catheters. The findings of this study will provide guidance regarding the optimal method of delivery for postoperative pain management in patients following cardiac surgery.

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

The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of two different delivery methods for postoperative pain management following cardiac surgery requiring median sternotomy: intermittent programmed LA bolus versus continuous LA infusion through ESP catheters. Effectiveness of analgesia will be assessed based on the subjects' NRS pain scores and opioid consumption. The primary outcome measure will be the patients' opioid consumption over the course of the 72 hours following surgery. Secondary outcomes measures that will be evaluated include NRS pain scores, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and time to first dose of antiemetic in the postoperative period. It is hypothesized that the use of intermittent programmed LA boluses will provide better analgesia compared to continuous LA infusion through ESP catheters. The findings of this study will provide guidance regarding the optimal method of delivery for postoperative pain management in patients following cardiac surgery.

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.
240

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Michigan
      • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201
        • Henry Ford Hospital

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 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Non-emergent elective cardiac surgery requiring median sternotomy for surgical exposure (i.e. CABG, aortic/mitral/tricuspid valve replacements) receiving ESP catheter preoperatively
  • Age 18-90

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Placement and/or existence of cardiac assist devices (LVAD, RVAD, Balloon Pump, Impella)
  • Neurocognitive dysfunction
  • Patients who expire before extubation
  • Non-English speaking
  • Daily opioid therapy prior to surgery
  • History of substance abuse
  • BMI > 45

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: Triple

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.
Active Comparator: Continuous Infusion
Will receive a continuous infusion of pain medication (0.2% ropivacaine at a rate of 10mL per hour- 5mL per side per hour) via erector spinae plane (ESP) catheter for their postoperative pain following median sternotomy incision.
Drug: Continuous Infusion of ropivacaine
Continuous infusion of ropivacaine
Experimental: Intermittent Bolus
Will receive intermittent boluses of pain medication (30mL bolus of 0.2% ropivacaine every three hours) via erector spinae plane (ESP) catheter for their postoperative pain following median sternotomy incision.
Drug: Intermittent bolus of ropivacaine
Intermittent bolus of ropivacaine

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
Opioid Consumption POD 1
Time Frame: 0-24 hours post-op
Opioid consumption (MME) over the course of the first 24 hours following surgery
0-24 hours post-op
Opioid Consumption POD 2
Time Frame: 24-48 hours post-op
Opioid consumption (MME) over the course of the 48 hours following surgery
24-48 hours post-op
Opioid Consumption POD 3
Time Frame: 48-72 hours post-op
Opioid consumption (MME) over the course of the 48-72 hours following surgery
48-72 hours post-op

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
NRS Pain Score POD 1
Time Frame: 0-24 hrs post-op
Numeric rating scale score for pain (rated 0=no pain through 10= worst imaginable pain) in the first 24 hours post-op
0-24 hrs post-op
NRS Pain Score POD 2
Time Frame: 24-48 hrs post-op
Numeric rating scale score for pain (rated 0=no pain through 10= worst imaginable pain) on POD 2
24-48 hrs post-op
NRS Pain Score POD 3
Time Frame: 48-72 hrs post-op
Numeric rating scale score for pain (rated 0=no pain through 10= worst imaginable pain) during 48-72 hours post-op
48-72 hrs post-op
ICU Length of Stay
Time Frame: 7 days post-op
Time from post-op to step-down from ICU
7 days post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) Score POD 1
Time Frame: 0-24 hours post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) score: 15 question survey (0=very poor recovery through 150=excellent recovery) during POD 1.
0-24 hours post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) Score POD 2
Time Frame: 24-48 hours post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) score: 15 question survey (0=very poor recovery through 150=excellent recovery) during POD 2.
24-48 hours post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) Score POD 3
Time Frame: 48-72 hours post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) score: 15 question survey (0=very poor recovery through 150=excellent recovery) during POD 3.
48-72 hours post-op
Time to First Antiemetic
Time Frame: 0-200 hours post-op
Time to first antiemetic post-op
0-200 hours post-op
Time to First Bowel Movement
Time Frame: 0-72 hours post-op
Time to first bowel movement post-op
0-72 hours post-op

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.
Henry Ford Health System

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Avanos Medical

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.
October 18, 2022

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.
December 23, 2024

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.
December 23, 2024

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).
November 30, 2022

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.
November 30, 2022

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.
December 8, 2022

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.
May 13, 2026

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.
April 21, 2026

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, 2025

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.
  • 15737

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

We will not make individual participant data available to other researchers.

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.

Yes

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings