Comparison Between External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block and Rectus Sheath Block Combined With Transversus Abdominis Plane Block

Minia University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Nerve Block; Anesthesia , Analgesia; Pain Management

Treatments: Procedure: External intercostal plane puncture; Procedure: the single-puncture technique of (rectus sheath block) combined with (Transversus abdominis plane block); Drug: control group (nalbuphine)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07384000

nerve block in pain management

Details and patient eligibility

About

Effective perioperative pain management remains a cornerstone in enhancing recovery and improving patient outcomes in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This minimally invasive procedure, although less traumatic compared to open surgery, can still lead to significant postoperative pain, particularly in the early hours following the operation. Insufficient pain control may result in delayed mobilization, prolonged hospital stays, and increased opioid consumption, which are associated with adverse side effects and a heightened risk of complications . Regional anesthesia techniques have garnered significant attention for their ability to provide localized, opioid-sparing analgesia, thereby improving postoperative recovery profiles.External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block (EOIP) is a relatively new regional anesthesia technique targeting the intercostal nerves (T7-T11) as they traverse the plane between the external and internal oblique muscles. This block has demonstrated efficacy in controlling postoperative pain for upper abdominal surgeries, including laparoscopic cholecystectomy. By selectively anesthetizing the sensory branches of the thoracoabdominal nerves, the EOIP block provides localized analgesia with minimal motor blockade, making it an ideal choice for early mobilization (Ouchi et al., 2020).Recent advancements in ultrasound-guided techniques have improved the precision and safety of the EOIP block, allowing for consistent blockade of the targeted nerves. Clinical trials have highlighted its ability to reduce the pain significantly in the first 24 hours postoperatively, along with a marked decrease in the need for rescue analgesics. Tranrversus abdominis plane block (TAP) , first described in the early 2000s, has undergone several modifications to improve its efficacy in abdominal surgeries. The subcostal TAP block targets the anterior branches of the lower thoracic nerves (T6-T9) to provide analgesia to the upper abdominal wall. This technique is particularly suited for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, where the pain originates predominantly from the pari0etal peritoneum and abdominal wall incisions.The single puncture technique of Rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) represents a more streamlined approach to abdominal wall analgesia. ultrasonography (US) guidance for peripheral nerve blocks has become more and more popular. Transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) and US-guided rectus sheath block (RSB) have been utilized in abdominal surgeries and have shown strong analgesic effects. Prior researches has demonstrated that in abdominal surgery, US-guided (TAPB) in conjunction with (RSB) had superior analgesic effects than either (TAPB) or (RSB) alone. Currently, multipoint nerve block procedures are generally applied in clinical practice, but they are difficult and can increase the patient's suffering. A novel method is proposed based on the neuromuscular anatomy and the location of the incisiopn in laparoscopic upper abdominal surgery: US-guided transverse abdominis plane and rectus sheath block one-puncture .

Full description

This study aims to investigate the analgesic efficacy of external oblique intercostal plane (EOIPB) versus single puncture technique of rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Primary Outcome:

The primary outcome of the study will be the amount of opoid (nalbuphine) consumption in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

Secondary Outcomes:

the analgesic efficacy (Sensory assessment) by defined dermal zones in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

pain intensity at rest and during coughing using verbal rating scale in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

Patient satisfaction in the first 24 hours postoperatively. The hemodynamic changes. Time to first rescue analgesia. First off-bed activity Incidence of block-related complications. Signs of local anesthetic toxicity hypotension ,bradycardia ,tachyarrhythmia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and dizziness.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 1-II
• aged 18-70 years
• both genders will be included.
• body mass index (BMI) ≤ 35 kg/m2.

Exclusion criteria

• coagulation disorders
• liver/kidney disease
• History of abdominal surgery
• infection in the block application area
• chronic opioid use
• local anesthetic (LA) allergy
• Pregnancy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

external intercostal plane block intervention with ultra sound

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in this group will receive (EOIPB) bilaterally, the block will be performed under ultrasound guidance after induction of general anesthesia using 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine injected into the external oblique intercostal plane on each side.

Treatment:

Procedure: External intercostal plane puncture

single-puncture technique of (RSB) combined with (TAPB) by ultra sound

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients in this group will receive rectus sheath block (RSB) combined with transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) bilaterally via single puncture, the block will be performed under ultrasound guidance after induction of general anesthesia using 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine divided into 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected when the needle reaches the posterior rectus abdominis sheath and pierces the anterior layer of the posterior sheath, Then, the needle will break through the posterior layer of the tendon to the transversus abdominis plane and another 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected into transversus abdominis plane .

Treatment:

Procedure: the single-puncture technique of (rectus sheath block) combined with (Transversus abdominis plane block)

control group (nalbuphine)

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients in this group will not receive any intervention or nerve block.

Treatment:

Drug: control group (nalbuphine)