Intermittent Bolus vs Continuous Infusion Via ESP Catheters RCT

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: Completed
• Conditions: Post Operative Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Continuous Infusion of ropivacaine; Drug: Intermittent bolus of ropivacaine

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: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 240
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

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

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• 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

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
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

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
NRS Pain Score POD 1	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	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	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 from post-op to step-down from ICU	7 days post-op
Quality of Recovery 15 (QoR-15) Score POD 1	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	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	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 to first antiemetic post-op	0-200 hours post-op
Time to First Bowel Movement	Time to first bowel movement post-op	0-72 hours post-op

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System
• Collaborators: Avanos Medical

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 18, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 23, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 23, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 8, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2026
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain, Postoperative; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anesthetics, Local; Anesthetics; Central Nervous System Depressants; Sensory System Agents; Ropivacaine
• Other Study ID 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