Sub-Paraspinal Block in Nuss Patients. A Pilot Project

A Novel Ultrasound-Guided Extrathoracic Sub-Paraspinal Block Utilizing Multi- Perforated Soaker Catheters for Control of Perioperative Pain: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Project in Nuss Patients

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate effectiveness of a novel regional anesthesia technique developed at the investigators institution, as part of a quality improvement initiative, to assist with multilevel thoracic pain control in post-Nuss procedure patients. The investigators hypothesized that the local anesthetic infusion via bilateral multiperforated soaker catheters placed at extrathoracic sub-paraspinal muscle location under ultrasound guidance would significantly improve pain control, as reflected by the decrease in pain intensity score, reduction in opiate requirement and improvement infunctional rehabilitation measure scores in patients who underwent the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum repair. However, the goal of this pilot study was not to detect a statistically significant difference in the primary outcomes between control and treatment groups (as the number of study subjects was chosen out of necessity of what could be completed within a specified time period), but to estimate the parameters which allows appropriate power and sample size calculations for a future multi-institutional study.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain, Postoperative; Pectus Excavatum
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Sub-Paraspinal Block; Procedure: PCA only

Detailed Description

This study underwent initial peer review by the Biomedical Research Committee at Nemours and was awarded internal funding by the Nemours Funding committee. Scientific progress review was conducted annually and was the basis for subsequent year funding.

Ten eligible patients were recruited and allocated into one of two groups according to a computer generated random allocation table: five patients allocated to the treatment group received bilateral ultrasound-guided placement of multi-perforated soaker catheter at sub-paraspinal location and an intravenous PCA post-operatively; five patients allocated to the control group had two sham multi-perforated soaker catheters taped to their back and received intravenous PCA post-operatively. In the treatment group, catheter position was considered adequate when live ultrasound imaging confirmed placement directly over the rib surface and lateral to the transverse process at the T2-T10 level. A 7.5 inch On-Qr multi-perforated catheter was placed via each introducer for patients under 5'7'' (170.18 cm) and a 10" (25.4 cm) catheters was placed for those over 5'7" (170.18 cm). An infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% was started immediately after catheter placement via the On-Q infusion system at a rate of 0.25 mg/kg/hour per catheter (maximum of 8 ml/hr catheter [maximum pump infusion rate]). Maximum total ropivacaine infusion rate was limited to 0.5 mg/kg/hr to avoid toxicity. The local anesthetic infusion was stopped on post-operative day number 3 and the catheters removed.

Catheters were dressed in a way that concealed insertion sites and therefore precluded pain observers from determining group assignment while the pumps appeared to be infusing to blinded viewers. The peri-operative anesthetic and surgical approach were standardized for this study. A single anesthesiologist and surgeon were responsible for the recruitment, anesthesia provision, surgical technique, and multi-perforated soaker catheters insertion. Post-operative pain management was carried out by a group of blinded anesthesiologists according to the post-operative protocol. Three recovery room nurses, six floor nurses and three physical therapists were selected to limit inter observer variability and educated to the post-operative expectations and consistent use of the pain and functional independent measure (FIM) scoring in this patient population. With the exception of the primary investigators, all other personnel were blinded to the patient's group assignment.

The outcomes were evaluated based on the total amount of narcotic per kilogram required, pain scores and functional performance measures derived by physical therapists.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 10
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32207
      • Wolfson Children's Hospital, Baptist Medical Center Downtown

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 17 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children undergoing the Nuss procedure were considered for the study and were approached during their preoperative anesthesia evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication to the study medications
• Preexisting chronic pain disorder.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Ultrasound-Guided Sub-Paraspinal Block; Patients allocated to the treatment group received bilateral ultrasound-guided placement of multi-perforated soaker catheter at sub-paraspinal location and an intravenous PCA post-operatively	Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Sub-Paraspinal Block; Treatment group received bilateral ultrasound-guided placement of multi-perforated soaker catheter at sub-paraspinal location. Catheter position was considered adequate when live ultrasound imaging confirmed placement directly over the rib surface and lateral to the transverse process at the T2-T10 level. An infusion of ropivacaine 0.2% was started via the On-Q infusion system at a rate of 0.25 mg/kg/hour per catheter (maximum of 8 ml/hr catheter [maximum pump infusion rate]). The local anesthetic infusion was stopped on post-operative day number 3 and the catheters removed.; Procedure: PCA only; Patients received intravenous PCA post-operatively; Other Names: Patient-Controlled Analgesia
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: PCA only; Patients allocated to the control group had two sham multi-perforated soaker catheters taped to their back and received intravenous PCA post-operatively	Procedure: PCA only; Patients received intravenous PCA post-operatively; Other Names: Patient-Controlled Analgesia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Narcotic Requirement	Narcotic requirement was recorded in the PACU and at 6 hour intervals through 48 hours from the time of arrival to PACU	48 hours post intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain Scores	Pain scores (FLACC/FACES) were recorded in the PACU and at 6 hour intervals through 48 hours from the time of arrival to PACU	48 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nemours Children's Clinic
• Collaborators: Zimmer Biomet
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert B Bryskin, MD, Nemours Children's Clinic

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Truitt MS, Mooty RC, Amos J, Lorenzo M, Mangram A, Dunn E. Out with the old, in with the new: a novel approach to treating pain associated with rib fractures. World J Surg. 2010 Oct;34(10):2359-62. doi: 10.1007/s00268-010-0651-9.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): November 1, 2013
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): April 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 20, 2014
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): June 23, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): June 23, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 20, 2014
• Last Verified: May 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain Management; Anesthesia: Nerve Block
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Congenital Abnormalities; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities; Bone Diseases, Developmental; Pain, Postoperative; Funnel Chest
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16-10841-002