Opioid-Free Pain Management After NUSS Surgery in Adolescents

Implementation and Efficacy of an Opioid-Free Analgesic Regimen for Postoperative Pain Management in Adolescent Patients With Pectus Excavatum After NUSS Surgery

The investigators applied ultrasound-guided bilateral transverse thoracic fascia block combined with intercostal nerve block-a previously unreported analgesic approach for post-thoracic surgery-to NUSS patients. These suggest that ultrasound-guided transverse thoracic fascia combined with intercostal nerve block, in conjunction with bupivacaine liposome (72-hour analgesic duration), holds promise for a clinically feasible opioid-free analgesic regimen for severe post-NUSS pain.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nerve Block
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Nerve block

Detailed Description

Performance of Nerve Blocks and Data collection Transverse thoracic fascia block: Under ultrasound guidance, the deep layer of the transverse thoracic fascia was localized at the parasternal 4th-5th intercostal space, with 10 mL of local anesthetic mixture (bupivacaine liposome 4mg/kg + 0.75% bupivacaine injection 5mL, diluted to 32mL with normal saline) injected on each side.

Intercostal nerve block: The 4th-8th intercostal spaces were identified at the posterior axillary line level. Under ultrasound guidance, the local anesthetic was injected between the internal intercostal and innermost intercostal muscles, with 2 mL of the aforementioned mixture administered per intercostal space.

Multimodal Analgesia Regimen

First, 50 mg of flurbiprofen axetil injection was intravenously administered before the surgeon made the skin incision. Second, 0.07 mg/kg of oxycodone was intravenously injected 30 minutes before the end of surgery. Third, a patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCA) pump was connected upon admission to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). After transfer to the ward, if the patient's pain score was ≥ 4 points, ward doctors administered diclofenac sodium via anal suppository.

Pain Assessment and Management Measures

Pain was assessed every 2 hours within 12 hours postoperatively (upon admission to the PACU, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours postoperatively) and every 4 hours from 12 to 72 hours postoperatively. Pain scores were recorded at each time point using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Additionally, the time and dose of supplementary analgesics administered were documented, and pain relief efficacy was reassessed and recorded 2 hours after administration.

Study Population

This study enrolled children and adolescents who underwent the NUSS procedure for pectus excavatum at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, from June to September 2025. The inclusion criterion was age between 8 and 18 years (inclusive). Patients who received epidural analgesia or bilateral paravertebral nerve blocks were excluded.

Experimental group: Patients who underwent ultrasound-guided bilateral transverse thoracic fascia block and intercostal nerve block after general anesthesia induction but before surgery.

Control group: Patients who received incision local infiltration, serratus anterior plane block, intercostal nerve block, and erector spinae plane block.

Study Variables The investigators collected relevant variables based on the quality of postoperative recovery in NUSS patients reported in the literature. Data Collection and Measurement of Variables: Demographic data of patients were collected upon hospital admission. Pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Time and dose of additional postoperative analgesic drugs; Postoperative recovery indicators: breathing pain, compulsive posture, postoperative hospital stay, oxygen inhalation rate exceeding 24 hours after operation.

Statistical Analysis R studio was used for statistical analysis in this study. Categorical data were expressed as counts (percentages) [n(%)], and comparisons between groups were performed using the chi-square test; if the theoretical frequency was <5, Fisher's exact test was applied. Normality test was first performed for continuous data. Continuous data conforming to normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation (x±s), and independent samples t-test was used for intergroup comparisons, while repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for intragroup comparisons at different time points. Continuous data not conforming to normal distribution were expressed as median (interquartile range) [M(Q1,Q3)], and intergroup comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 17

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Hubei
    • Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430030
      • Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study enrolled children and adolescents who underwent the NUSS procedure for pectus excavatum at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, from June to September 2025. The inclusion criterion was age between 8 and 18 years.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents who underwent the NUSS procedure.
• Adolescents who were between 8 and 18 years .

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adolescents who received epidural analgesia.
• Adolescents who received bilateral paravertebral nerve blocks.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental group; Patients who underwent ultrasound-guided bilateral transverse thoracic fascia block and intercostal nerve block after general anesthesia induction but before surgery.	Procedure: Nerve block; Ultrasound-guided bilateral transverse thoracic fascia block and intercostal nerve block
Control group; Patients who received incision local infiltration, serratus anterior plane block, intercostal nerve block, and erector spinae plane block.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain score	Pain was assessed every 2 hours within 12 hours postoperatively (upon admission to the PACU, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours postoperatively) and every 4 hours from 12 to 72 hours postoperatively. Pain scores were recorded at each time point using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).	72 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Qin Zhang
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: QIN Zhang, phd, Tongji Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 23, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 17, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 17, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Nerve Block
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Surgical Procedures, Operative; Anesthesia and Analgesia; Neurosurgical Procedures; Anesthesia, Conduction; Anesthesia; Denervation; Nerve Block
• Other Study ID Numbers: TJ-IRB202509077

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