External Oblique Intercostal Fascial Plane Block Versus Rectus Sheath Block for Postoperative Analgesia

May 15, 2026 updated by: Ahmed Abd Elmohsen Bedewy, Helwan University

External Oblique Intercostal Fascial Plane Block Versus Rectus Sheath Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Paraumbilical Hernia Repair Surgery

This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of the external oblique intercostal fascial plane block (EOIPB) versus the rectus sheath block (RSB) for managing postoperative pain following paraumbilical hernioplasty.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background: Paraumbilical hernia repair is a frequently performed surgical procedure, often associated with significant postoperative pain and delayed recovery, which are major concerns for patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of the external oblique intercostal fascial plane block (EOIPB) versus the rectus sheath block (RSB) for managing postoperative pain following paraumbilical hernioplasty.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, single-blinded study enrolled 60 patients, divided into two groups (EOIPB and RSB), each comprising 30 participants. Blocks were administered after general anesthesia and prior to surgery. Patient demographics (age, weight), surgical duration, pain scores (measured by Numeric Rating Scale - NRS), total postoperative morphine consumption, intraoperative fentanyl consumption, and hemodynamic parameters (mean arterial pressure - MAP and heart rate - HR) were assessed.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Giza Governorate
      • Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt, 3030
        • Helwan university

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

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 18-65 years, classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II [16], and scheduled for elective paraumbilical hernioplasty.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a history of prolonged opioid medication, allergy to local anesthetics, pregnancy, infection at the injection site, and/or coagulopathy.

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: external oblique intercostal fascial plane block
Procedure: External Oblique Intercostal Fascial Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia
After the induction of general anesthesia and approximately 15 minutes before the surgical incision, patients were randomly assigned to receive either the EOIPB (Group A) or the RSB (Group B).
Active Comparator: rectus sheath block
Procedure: External Oblique Intercostal Fascial Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia
After the induction of general anesthesia and approximately 15 minutes before the surgical incision, patients were randomly assigned to receive either the EOIPB (Group A) or the RSB (Group B).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total postoperative morphine consumption in milligrams during the first 24 hours after surgery
Time Frame: First 24 hours postoperatively
Total cumulative morphine requirement administered for postoperative analgesia during the first 24 hours following paraumbilical hernia repair surgery, measured in milligrams (mg).
First 24 hours postoperatively
Number of participants experiencing block-related or postoperative complications within 3 months after surgery
Time Frame: 3 months after surgery
Assessment of postoperative and block-related complications including local anesthetic toxicity, hematoma, infection, nausea/vomiting, respiratory depression, and other adverse events recorded during the follow-up period.
3 months after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Helwan 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)

May 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 15, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 15, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EOIPB

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL

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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