TAP Block Catheters vs Liposomal Bupivacaine for Pain Control After Colorectal Surgery

University of California (UC) Davis

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Colorectal Surgery; TAP Blocks

Treatments: Drug: Ropivacaine; Drug: Exparel

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03080142

983837

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a prospective randomized study designed to compare the pain control from a single shot of liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel) against transversus abominus plane (TAP) catheters with ropivicaine bolus in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Full description

At UC Davis, it is standard practice to place TAP blocks with catheters for adult colorectal surgery patients for perioperative pain control. This practice, however, is resource intensive, adds the risk of catheter-related complications, and adds increased burden to patients by requiring them to be tethered to 2 catheters.

An alternative TAP can be performed using a single shot of liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel), an extended release local anesthetic that is FDA-approved for surgical plane infiltration including TAP blocks.

With this prospective study, we seek to improve patient care at UC Davis and educate other institutions through the use of concrete data comparing these 2 treatment options.

Enrollment: 86 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients scheduled for elective colorectal surgery with Dr. Linda Farkas

Exclusion criteria

• Patients under 18 years of age
• Patient over 90 years of age
• Pregnancy
• Prisoners
• Patients unable to provide consent
• Patients on systemic anticoagulation therapy
• Patients with an allergy to local anesthetics

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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86 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Single injection of Exparel

Treatment:

Drug: Exparel

Group 2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Injection of Ropivicaine (Naropin) bolus and placement of Ropivicaine catheters

Treatment:

Drug: Ropivacaine