Fascial Plane Blocks In Cardiac Surgery

June 1, 2026 updated by: Antalya Health Sciences University

The Effect Of Combined Rectus-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block Or Rectus Sheatf Block With A Pectoral-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block In Cardiac Surgery On Postoperative Opioid Consumption, Quality Of Recovery, And Chronic Pain: A Prospective, Observational Study

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of the recto-intercostal fascial plane block (RIFPB) or the rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with the pectoral-intercostal fascial plane block (PIFPB) on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Effective pain management after cardiac surgery is crucial in improving patient outcomes, promoting early postoperative mobilisation and minimising the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. It has indeed been shown that these patients experience moderate to severe pain during the postoperative period. While opioids are commonly used in perioperative care, they are also linked to adverse opioid-related effects. The literature suggests selecting an analgesic treatment strategy that avoids opioid-based analgesia for patients undergoing cardiac surgery during the postoperative period. Regional anaesthesia techniques are widely used in cardiac surgery patients to address concerns about the risk of myocardial and/or renal damage associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduce the incidence of potential opioid-related side effects, lower the high risk of delirium and improve patient rehabilitation. However, only a limited number of studies have demonstrated the effects of the recto-intercostal fascial plane block (RIFPB) or the rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with the pectoral-intercostal fascial plane block (PIFPB) on postoperative analgesia in cardiac surgery patients. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of the RIFPB or the RSB combined with the PIFPB on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

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

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Antalya, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Recruiting
        • University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital

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

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

It is planned to include ASA score I-IIII adult patients who are scheduled to elective cardiac surgery

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • elective cardiac surgery planned
  • over 18 years, adult
  • American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) score I-III

Exclusion Criteria:

  • under 18 years of age,
  • ASA IV and above,
  • contraindications for the block application
  • history of cardiac surgery,
  • reoperated due to surgery-related complications after emergency surgery or postoperative elective surgery,
  • off-pump cardiac surgery or minimally invasive cardiac surgery
  • unable to be extubated in the intensive care unit at 24 hours postoperatively
  • history of chronic pain treatment
  • chronic alcoholism and substance abuse
  • declining to give written informed consent

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Control
Other: Control
Regional anesthesia is not applied.
PIFPB+RIFPB
Other: PIFPB + RIFPB
The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance in a separate regional anaesthesia room during the preoperative period, under standard ASA monitoring.
PIFPB+RSB
Other: PIFPB + RSB
The procedure is performed under ultrasound guidance in a separate regional anaesthesia room during the preoperative period, under standard ASA monitoring.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
postoperative opioid consumption
Time Frame: 48 hours
48 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
postoperative recovery quality
Time Frame: 24 hours
TThe Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) is a 15-question questionnaire validated to assess poetoperative recovery. This questionnaire assesses patients' pain, physical comfort, physical independence, psychological support, and emotional status in the erly postoperative period. The patient is asked to express their status scoring from 0 to 10; therefore, the total score ranges from 0 to 150 points.
24 hours
postoperative pain scores
Time Frame: 48 hours
The NRS score (0=no pain; 10=most severe pain) will be used to assess postoperative pain
48 hours
chronic pain
Time Frame: 3 months
Patients will be telephoned 3 months after the operation and the presence, localization, and intensity of the pain, its character, and its relation with rest and/or activity will be recorded by asking only verbally. The NRS score (0=no pain; 10=most severe pain) will be used to assess postoperative pain.
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Antalya Health Sciences University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Arzu Karaveli, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Ceren Nida Kural, University of Health Sciences, Antalya Training and Research Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 26, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 1, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 7/20

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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