M-TAPA vs ESPB for Postoperative Analgesia After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

February 11, 2026 updated by: Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

Comparison of M-TAPA and ESPB Blocks for Postoperative Analgesia After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy can negatively affect patient comfort, recovery, and opioid consumption. Regional abdominal wall blocks are commonly used as part of multimodal analgesia to improve postoperative pain control and reduce opioid-related side effects.

The modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) and the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) are two ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques that have been shown to provide effective postoperative analgesia in abdominal surgery. However, comparative clinical data between these two techniques in laparoscopic cholecystectomy are limited.

This randomized, single-blind clinical trial aims to compare the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of M-TAPA and ESPB in adult patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, time to first analgesic requirement, and patient satisfaction will be evaluated.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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

This study is designed as a prospective, randomized, single-blind controlled clinical trial conducted in adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The primary objective of the study is to compare the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of the modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) and the erector spinae plane block (ESPB).

Eligible patients aged 18 to 65 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either M-TAPA or ESPB. Randomization will be performed using a computer-generated random number sequence, and allocation will be concealed in sealed, opaque envelopes to prevent selection bias.

All blocks will be performed under ultrasound guidance by experienced anesthesiologists using standard local anesthetic agents routinely applied in clinical practice. The study is designed as single-blind, with patients blinded to group allocation.

Postoperative pain intensity will be assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Additional outcome measures include total opioid consumption within the first 24 postoperative hours, time to first analgesic requirement, need for rescue analgesia, and patient satisfaction. Adverse events related to regional anesthesia techniques will be recorded.

The study follows the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained from the relevant Clinical Research Ethics Committee prior to study initiation.

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 (Estimated)

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.
124

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.
  • Not Applicable

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.

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients aged 18-65 years
  • ASA physical status I-III
  • Scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia
  • Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate
  • Known allergy to local anesthetics
  • Coagulation disorders or anticoagulant therapy
  • Infection at the injection site
  • Severe hepatic, renal, or cardiac disease
  • Chronic opioid use

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: Single

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: M-TAPA Block
An ultrasound-guided modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) performed bilaterally using local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Procedure: Modifiye throcoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA)
An ultrasound-guided modified thoracoabdominal nerve block through the perichondrial approach (M-TAPA) performed bilaterally using local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Experimental: ESPB
An ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) performed using local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Procedure: erector spinae plane block (ESPB)
An ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) performed using local anesthetic for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

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
Total Opioid Consumption in the First 24 Hours
Time Frame: within the first 24 hours postoperatively
Total cumulative opioid consumption within the first 24 hours after surgery, recorded as intravenous tramadol equivalent dose.
within the first 24 hours postoperatively

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.
Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

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 (Estimated)

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.
March 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
September 1, 2026

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).
February 4, 2026

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.
February 4, 2026

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.
February 11, 2026

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.
February 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.
February 11, 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.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • BCS-MTAPA-01

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

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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