Efficacy of Ultrasound Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control Following Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgeries (VATS): Randomized Control Trial

January 14, 2026 updated by: Ain Shams University
The aim of the study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of Erector spinae plane block versus Serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The aim of the study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of Erector spinae plane block versus Serratus anterior plane block in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries.

Preoperative: - On the day before surgery, all patients will be evaluated, detailed medical and surgical history will be taken also physical and systemic examinations will be done.

The following investigations will be done including complete blood count, liver enzymes, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, International normalized ratio (INR) , kidney functions, serum electrolytes and ECG.

All patients will be informed about the visual analogue scale (VAS) on a scale from 0 to 10 where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain.

In the pre-Anesthetic room:

  • baseline hemodynamics will be recorded including heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and An intravenous access will be inserted.
  • In the operating theatre, full monitors will be applied. Intraoperative: -
  • Fentanyl (1 μg/kg), propofol (2 mg/kg) and atracurium(0.5 mg/kg) will be given IV for general anesthesia induction.
  • Intubation will be done using a double-lumen endobronchial tube size 37 Fr in females and 39 Fr in males, tidal volume will be 6-8 ml/kg in case of both lungs ventilation and 4-6ml/kg during singe lung ventilation.

Anesthesia will continue using isoflurane 2 vol. %, 50% O2 and 50% air.

  • Moreover, three milligrams of Granisetron will be given as prophylactic against nausea and vomiting post-operatively.
  • During operation, 6 mL/kg/h of Ringer's solution will be administered.
  • At the end of surgery, the patient will be positioned laterally.
  • All blocks will be done using ultrasound-guidance (Mindray ultrasound) using high frequency linear probe (10-12 MHZ) by the same experienced senior doctors.

Group A : (25 patients) patients will receive Erector Spinae Plane Block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.

Group B: (25 patients) patients will recieve Serratus Aneterior Plane Block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Egypt
    • Abbassia-Egypt
      • Cairo, Abbassia-Egypt, Egypt
        • Recruiting
        • Ain-Shams University Hospitals
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with American Society of Anesthesiology physical status ASA I, II and III.
  • Patients aged between 25 and 70 years.
  • patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATS), including pleurectomy, bullectomy, sympathectomy, esophagectomy, decortication, lobectomy, and pneumonectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients below age of 25 or above age of 70.
  • Patient refusal.
  • Allergy to local anesthetic drugs.
  • Bleeding or coagulation disorder.
  • Psychiatric disorders.
  • Infection at the needle entry site.
  • Renal impairment (creatinine >1.5 ).
  • Hepatic impairment (Child B or C).
  • Patients with known Cortisol related diseases such as Cushing's Syndrome or Addison's Disease.

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Erectror Spinae Plane Block
Ultrasound Guided block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.
Procedure: Erector Spinae (ESP) Block with Bupivacaine (Marcaine®)
Ultrasound Guided Erector Spinae Plane block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.
Active Comparator: Serratus Anterior Plane Block
Ultrasound Guided block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.
Procedure: Serratus anterior plane block (SAP)
Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual analogue scale for Assessing postoperative pain control
Time Frame: after ICU admission at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 hours post operative.
Assessing The difference in postoperative pain control between both groups as determined by assessing the visual analogue scale
after ICU admission at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 hours post operative.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Ain Shams University

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 (Actual)

December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 14, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FMASU MD 307/2025

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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