SPSIP Block Versus ESP Block for Chronic Pain After Unilateral Breast Surgery (SPES-CPSP)

June 25, 2026 updated by: Engin Çetin

Comparison of Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block and Erector Spinae Plane Block for the Prevention of Chronic Postoperative Pain After Unilateral Breast Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Assessor-Blinded Trial

This prospective, randomized, assessor-blinded study will compare serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block and erector spinae plane block in adult female patients undergoing unilateral breast surgery. The primary outcome is chronic postoperative pain at 3 months, assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded study will include adult female patients scheduled for elective unilateral breast surgery. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block or erector spinae plane block before general anesthesia.

The study aims to compare the effects of these two regional anesthesia techniques on chronic postoperative pain at 3 months. Chronic pain will be assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

90

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Kocaeli
      • İzmit, Kocaeli, Turkey (Türkiye), 41200
        • University of Health Sciences Kocaeli City Hospital
        • 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:

  • Female patients aged 18-65 years
  • ASA physical status I-III
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kg/m²
  • Scheduled for elective unilateral breast surgery (mastectomy with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy)
  • Ability to understand and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Infection at the site of block application
  • Known allergy to local anesthetics
  • Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy
  • Chronic opioid use
  • Pregnancy
  • Inability to communicate or cooperate
  • Refusal to participate
  • Failed block
  • Requirement of additional intraoperative analgesia outside the study protocol
  • Development of serious intraoperative complications

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: SPSIP Block
Participants will receive an ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine prior to induction of general anesthesia.
Procedure: Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block
An ultrasound-guided interfascial plane block performed between the serratus posterior superior muscle and the underlying ribs prior to general anesthesia.
Other Names:
  • SPSIPB
Active Comparator: ESPB Block
Participants will receive an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) with 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine prior to induction of general anesthesia.
Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Block
An ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block performed prior to induction of general anesthesia using 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine.
Other Names:
  • ESPB

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Chronic Postoperative Pain Assessed by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form
Time Frame: Time Frame: T0: 3 months postoperatively
Chronic postoperative pain will be assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF). The BPI-SF assesses pain severity (worst, least, average, and current pain) and pain interference with daily activities. Pain severity items are scored on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (0 = no pain; 10 = pain as bad as you can imagine). Pain interference items are scored on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (0 = does not interfere; 10 = completely interferes). Higher scores indicate worse pain severity and greater pain-related interference.
Time Frame: T0: 3 months postoperatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neuropathic Pain Assessed by the DN4 Questionnaire
Time Frame: T0: 3 months postoperatively
Neuropathic pain will be assessed using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4) questionnaire. The DN4 consists of 10 items with a total score ranging from 0 to 10 (0 = no neuropathic pain characteristics; 10 = all neuropathic pain characteristics present). Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of neuropathic pain. A total score of 4 or higher is considered indicative of neuropathic pain.
T0: 3 months postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Engin Çetin

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Engin Çetin, M.D, Kocaeli City Hospital

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 (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 30, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 25, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KSH-ANREA-EC-07

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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