Analgesic Efficacy of Transversus Thoracic Muscle Plane Block on Post-sternotomy Pain

Evaluation of the Analgesic Efficacy of Bilateral Ultrasound-guided Transversus Thoracic Muscle Plane Block on Post-sternotomy Pain: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients were randomly allocated to either Tansversus group (T group) and general anesthesia (N group).Patient demographic data, preoperative medical status, left ventricular function, and operative data (total ischemic time, number of grafts) were recorded. The primary outcome of the study was Percentage of patients needed additional doses of morphine . The secondary outcomes included postoperative visual analogue pain scores performed after patient extubation for pain assessment at rest (0 = no pain, 10 = maximum unbearable pain) at time of extubation, 8h, 12 h,18 h and 24 hours postoperatively were recorded, when pain score >4, patients were given morphine 0.05 mg/kg administered by a physician who was blinded to the nature of the study, time needed for first rescue analgesic, postoperative blood pressure and heart rate were recorded immediately on admission then 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively, in addition to extubation time, length of ICU stay, the incidence of complications related to the technique such as hemothorax or pneumothorax, arrhythmias, and local anesthetic toxicity were recorded. The end-point was difficult weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, major postoperative bleeding which required re-exploration or allergy to any agents needed for anesthesia. All complications were managed according to surgical and medical guidelines.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postoperative Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: transversus thoracic muscle plane block; Other: general anaesthesia

Detailed Description

Patients were randomly allocated to either Tansversus group (T group) and general anesthesia (N group). The patients were randomized using a computer-generated random number in various block sizes in 1:1 ratio. Randomisation was done using the SAS statistical package version 9.3 (SAS institute, Cary, NC, USA) by a statistician who was not involved in the study.

In the Tansversus group (n=30), prior to surgical incision, a 12 L-RS linear probe of the Sonosite M Turbo ultrasound system (National electrical manufacturers, USA). Probe was put beneath the clavicle next to the sternal edge and the second rib was visualized. Sliding the probe on the ribs downward till reaching the fifth rib. The probe was rotated 90 degrees and placed in the fouth intercostal space between the fourth and fifth ribs at the edge of the sternum. A 20-gauge Tuohy needle was introduced from lateral-to-medial in the plane between the internal intercostal muscles IIM and the transversus thoracic muscle TTM. Injection of 1 mL of normal saline was done to identify this plane followed by injection of 15 ml bupivacaine 0.25% on each side and observation of the local anesthetic spread, and pushing on the pleura confirmed the correct injection of the local anesthetic. This technique was done on the other side. It is important to identify the internal mammary artery IMA which was visualized as a hypoechoic pulsatile structure to avoid inadvertent puncture of the artery and subsequent bleeding and proper visualization of the IMA can facilitate the block. In N group (n=30), the same bilateral technique was done on both sides and 15 ml saline was injected during each side of TTPB technique. All the blocks were done by a single experienced anesthetist. Drug packs were prepared before commencement of the study by a pharmacist who was unaware of the nature of the study Hemodynamic changes, such as high blood pressure or significant tachycardia, additional 0.5- to-1 micrograms/kg IV doses of fentanyl were administered.

Median sternotomy was performed in all cardiac surgical procedures. At the end of the cardiac surgical procedure, all patients were transferred to the ICU after surgery to maintain the hemodynamics, warming them up with control of bleeding and correction of hemoglobin level, serum electrolytes and acid-base balance. A standard postoperative analgesia was accomplished by acetaminophen 1 gm/6 hours.The protocol for postoperative care was implemented for all patients by well-trained, qualified bedside nurses supervised 1:1 by well-trained ICU consultants. All patients were extubated when deemed clinically appropriate according to the local ICU protocol, by ICU staff, when the patient was able to maintain spontaneous breathing after extubation. The patients were encouraged to sit on a chair and mobilize with the assistance of health care providers in the ICU then the physiotherapist became responsible for improving mobility and rehabilitation of the patients till discharge from the hospital.

Patient demographic data, preoperative medical status, left ventricular function, and operative data (total ischemic time, number of grafts) were recorded. The primary outcome of the study was Percentage of patients needed additional doses of morphine The secondary outcomes included total dose of morphine requirements, postoperative visual analogue pain scores performed after patient extubation for pain assessment at rest (0 = no pain, 10 = maximum unbearable pain) at time of extubation, 8h, 12 h,18 h and 24 hours postoperatively were recorded, when pain score >4, patients were given morphine 0.05 mg/kg administered by a physician who was blinded to the nature of the study, time needed for first rescue analgesic, postoperative blood pressure and heart rate were recorded immediately on admission then 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively, in addition to extubation time, length of ICU stay, the incidence of complications related to the technique such as hemothorax or pneumothorax, arrhythmias, and local anesthetic toxicity were recorded. The end-point was difficult weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, major postoperative bleeding which required re-exploration or allergy to any agents needed for anesthesia. All complications were managed according to surgical and medical guidelines.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Cairo, Egypt, 11566
    • Ain shams university

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 55 years to 74 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 55-74 years
• ASA II-III
• BMI<30

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients who were preoperatively intubated for more than 24 hours
• patients with complex cardiac procedures
• patient inability to communicate patients with severe pulmonary hypertension in addition to any contraindication to regional anesthesia

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: transversus; patients received transversus thoracic muscle plane block and injection of 15 ml bupivacaine 0.25% on each side.	Other: transversus thoracic muscle plane block; transversus thoracic muscle plane block by injection of 15 ml of bupivacaine 0.25% on each side combined with general anaesthesia
Sham Comparator: general anaesthesia group; the same bilateral technique was done on both sides and 15 ml saline was injected during each side of TTPB technique.	Other: general anaesthesia; transversus thoracic muscle plane block by injection of 15 ml of saline on each side combined with general anaesthesia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of patients needed additional doses of morphine	number of patients requiring additional doses of morphine	24 hours postoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
postoperative visual analogue pain scores	pain assessment at rest (0 = no pain, 10 = maximum unbearable pain)	time of extubation, 8 hours, 12 hours,18 hours and 24 hours postoperatively
postoperative total morphine dose	dose of postoperative rescue morphine requirements	24 hours postoperative

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ain Shams University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Hoda Shokri, Ain shams university; Study Director: Ihab Ali, AinShams University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 27, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): August 18, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 2, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 3, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 11, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 7, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cardiac surgery; adults; transversus thoracic muscle block
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pain, Postoperative; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Anesthetics
• Other Study ID Numbers: FMASU R 20/ 2020/ 2021

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: study protocol
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: 4 months
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: The collected data are coded, tabulated, and statistically analyzed using statistical package for social sciences software, version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Descriptive statistics are carried out for numerical parametric data and presented as mean±SD, whereas categorical data are presented as number and percentage. Variables such as demographic data and comorbidities are compared using the χ2-test. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No