Pilot: Intraoperative TAP Block and Post-operative Pain Control for Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

Post Operative Pain Clinical Trial

Official title:

A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-blinded Pilot Trial of Laparoscopic Large Volume, Multisite Transversus Abdominal Plane (TAP) Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Enrolling by invitation

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05763667
• Other study ID #: Pending
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Phase: Phase 3
• Start date: January 1, 2024
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: Tufts Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Modern postoperative pain management aims to optimizing pain relief while minimizing opiate usage. While opiates are effective for pain relief, they result in common adverse effects such as nausea, constipation, and urinary retention, and most importantly present a long-term risk of abuse and dependency. Commonly used approaches include non-opiate pain medications such as acetominophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, as well as regional nerve blocks such as epidurals.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a fascial plane block performed by injecting local anesthetic into the plane superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle where the anterior rami of the spinal nerves course to provide sensory innervation to the abdominal wall. The injections are generally placed either subcostally or at the midaxillary line bilaterally. The TAP block has been shown to be effective in reducing pain scores and opiate usage in some randomized studies but not others in patients undergoing various abdominal surgeries. There is great variation in method of administration, sites injected, and local anesthetics used, which may in part account for the heterogeneity of trial results.

Description:

The investigators believe that the disappointing results thus far with TAP blocks in minimally invasive hysterectomy may relate to several factors. A combination of short and long-acting anesthetic agents may provide the optimal analgesic effect. Large volumes of injection may promote spread of the anesthetics for better coverage, especially as long-acting agents are known to diffuse minimally. Lastly, multiple injections may provide better coverage of the nerves that innervate the abdominal wall.

The investigators also believe that laparoscopic TAP blocks, administered by the surgeon, have advantages over the more commonly used ultrasound-guided approach typically performed by anesthesiologists. The laparoscopic approach is quick, on the order of a few minutes, whereas the ultrasound approach can be time-consuming. There is also less risk of visceral injury since the injection is performed under direct laparoscopic view. There are now 2 randomized studies suggesting that the laparoscopic approach is equivalent to the ultrasound approach.

An additional potential reason why most studies have been negative is that patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy do not generally experience severe pain, making it more difficult to demonstrate pain reduction with any given intervention. However, the studies to date do indicate that these patients experience moderate pain and do use opiates. An intervention that markedly reduces or even eliminates opiate use would be of potential benefit.

The investigators have used a TAP block technique that is performed intraoperatively by the surgeon under direct laparoscopic view. The investigators use a mixture of plain and liposomal bupivacaine injected at multiple sites and in large volume to distribute the drugs widely, potentially resulting in longer and improved efficacy. This method has not been previously studied in a randomized trial. The investigators propose to demonstrate that this technique markedly decreases opiate usage and pain scores in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Enrollment: 15
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: June 30, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18-80

2. Patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy; may include other procedures (e.g. lymph node removal)

3. Endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia

4. Able to consent to study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known clinically significant allergy to bupivacaine or liposomal bupivacaine

2. ASA IV or V

3. Emergency surgery

4. Current chronic opiate use

5. Current pregnancy or breastfeeding

6. Severe hepatic or renal impairment

7. Hysterectomy is not for endometrial cancer or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Endometrial Neoplasms
• Gynecologic Cancer
• Pain, Postoperative
• Post Operative Pain

Intervention

Drug:
• Liposomal bupivacaine
Liposomal bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use single-dose infiltration in adults to produce postsurgical local analgesia and as an interscalene brachial plexus nerve block to produce postsurgical regional analgesia. The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.
• Bupivacain
Bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use as a local or regional anesthetic for surgery. It is widely used in TAP blocks. The solution will be placed into 20 mL syringes on 18-gauge needles for injection. The injections will be performed percutaneously by the surgeon along the midaxillary line at 4 equidistant points from the anterior superior iliac spine to the costal margin, as well as a single injection subcostally at the anterior axillary line. 20 mL will be injected at each site, 5 sites per side bilaterally, total of 10 sites. The depth of injection will be judged by laparoscopic visualization of a diffuse bulge during injection, indicating injection in the correct plane, just superficial to the transversus abdominis muscle.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Tufts Medical Center	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Tufts Medical Center

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (30)

Babazade R, Saasouh W, Naylor AJ, Makarova N, Udeh CI, Turan A, Udeh BL. The cost-effectiveness of epidural, patient-controlled intravenous opioid analgesia, or transversus abdominis plane infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for postoperative pain management. J Clin Anesth. 2019 Mar;53:56-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2018.10.003. Epub 2018 Oct 13. — View Citation

Baeriswyl M, Kirkham KR, Kern C, Albrecht E. The Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Adult Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Anesth Analg. 2015 Dec;121(6):1640-54. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000000967. — View Citation

Barron KI, Lamvu GM, Schmidt RC, Fisk M, Blanton E, Patanwala I. Wound Infiltration With Extended-Release Versus Short-Acting Bupivacaine Before Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2017 Feb;24(2):286-292. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2016.11.002. Epub 2016 Nov 14. — View Citation

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Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Goesling J, Moser S, Lin P, Englesbe MJ, Bohnert ASB, Kheterpal S, Nallamothu BK. New Persistent Opioid Use After Minor and Major Surgical Procedures in US Adults. JAMA Surg. 2017 Jun 21;152(6):e170504. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0504. Epub 2017 Jun 21. Erratum In: JAMA Surg. 2019 Mar 1;154(3):272. — View Citation

Calle GA, Lopez CC, Sanchez E, De Los Rios JF, Vasquez EM, Serna E, Arango AM, Castaneda JD, Vasquez RA, Gonzalez A, Escobar A, Almanza LA. Transversus abdominis plane block after ambulatory total laparoscopic hysterectomy: randomized controlled trial. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2014 Apr;93(4):345-50. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12351. — View Citation

Chetwood A, Agrawal S, Hrouda D, Doyle P. Laparoscopic assisted transversus abdominis plane block: a novel insertion technique during laparoscopic nephrectomy. Anaesthesia. 2011 Apr;66(4):317-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2011.06664.x. No abstract available. — View Citation

Clarke H, Soneji N, Ko DT, Yun L, Wijeysundera DN. Rates and risk factors for prolonged opioid use after major surgery: population based cohort study. BMJ. 2014 Feb 11;348:g1251. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g1251. — View Citation

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Fidkowski CW, Choksi N, Alsaden MR. A randomized-controlled trial comparing liposomal bupivacaine, plain bupivacaine, and the mixture of liposomal bupivacaine and plain bupivacaine in transversus abdominus plane block for postoperative analgesia for open abdominal hysterectomies. Can J Anaesth. 2021 Jun;68(6):773-781. doi: 10.1007/s12630-020-01911-1. Epub 2021 Jan 11. — View Citation

Ghisi D, Fanelli A, Vianello F, Gardini M, Mensi G, La Colla L, Danelli G. Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Controlled, Observer-Blinded Trial. Anesth Analg. 2016 Aug;123(2):488-92. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001267. — View Citation

Hamilton TW, Athanassoglou V, Trivella M, Strickland LH, Mellon S, Murray D, Pandit HG. Liposomal bupivacaine peripheral nerve block for the management of postoperative pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Aug 25;2016(8):CD011476. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011476.pub2. — View Citation

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Hortu I, Turkay U, Terzi H, Kale A, Yilmaz M, Balci C, Aydin U, Lagana AS. Impact of bupivacaine injection to trocar sites on postoperative pain following laparoscopic hysterectomy: Results from a prospective, multicentre, double-blind randomized controlled trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Sep;252:317-322. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.07.007. Epub 2020 Jul 7. — View Citation

Hotujec BT, Spencer RJ, Donnelly MJ, Bruggink SM, Rose SL, Al-Niaimi A, Chappell R, Stewart SL, Kushner DM. Transversus abdominis plane block in robotic gynecologic oncology: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Mar;136(3):460-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2014.11.013. Epub 2014 Nov 20. — View Citation

Hutchins J, Argenta P, Berg A, Habeck J, Kaizer A, Geller MA. Ultrasound-guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine compared to bupivacaine infiltration for patients undergoing robotic-assisted and laparoscopic hysterectomy: a prospective randomized study. J Pain Res. 2019 Jul 4;12:2087-2094. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S193872. eCollection 2019. — View Citation

Hutchins J, Delaney D, Vogel RI, Ghebre RG, Downs LS Jr, Carson L, Mullany S, Teoh D, Geller MA. Ultrasound guided subcostal transversus abdominis plane (TAP) infiltration with liposomal bupivacaine for patients undergoing robotic assisted hysterectomy: A prospective randomized controlled study. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Sep;138(3):609-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.06.008. Epub 2015 Jun 6. — View Citation

Ilfeld BM, Viscusi ER, Hadzic A, Minkowitz HS, Morren MD, Lookabaugh J, Joshi GP. Safety and Side Effect Profile of Liposome Bupivacaine (Exparel) in Peripheral Nerve Blocks. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2015 Sep-Oct;40(5):572-82. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000283. — View Citation

Ji YD, Harris JA, Gibson LE, McKinley SK, Phitayakorn R. The Efficacy of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Opioid and Pain Reduction: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Surg Res. 2021 Aug;264:510-533. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.02.024. Epub 2021 Apr 13. — View Citation

Kane SM, Garcia-Tomas V, Alejandro-Rodriguez M, Astley B, Pollard RR. Randomized trial of transversus abdominis plane block at total laparoscopic hysterectomy: effect of regional analgesia on quality of recovery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Nov;207(5):419.e1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.06.052. Epub 2012 Jun 29. — View Citation

Owen DJ, Harrod I, Ford J, Luckas M, Gudimetla V. The surgical transversus abdominis plane block--a novel approach for performing an established technique. BJOG. 2011 Jan;118(1):24-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02779.x. Epub 2010 Nov 18. — View Citation

Park SY, Park JS, Choi GS, Kim HJ, Moon S, Yeo J. Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy of Laparoscope-Assisted and Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block after Laparoscopic Colorectal Operation: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Non-Inferiority Trial. J Am Coll Surg. 2017 Sep;225(3):403-410. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.05.017. Epub 2017 Jun 10. — View Citation

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Sandhu HK, Miller CC 3rd, Tanaka A, Estrera AL, Charlton-Ouw KM. Effectiveness of Standard Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine and Liposomal Bupivacaine for Postoperative Pain Control in Patients Undergoing Truncal Incisions: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Mar 1;4(3):e210753. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0753. — View Citation

Tam T, Harkins G, Wegrzyniak L, Ehrgood S, Kunselman A, Davies M. Infiltration of bupivacaine local anesthetic to trocar insertion sites after laparoscopy: a randomized, double-blind, stratified, and controlled trial. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2014 Nov-Dec;21(6):1015-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2014.04.013. Epub 2014 May 2. — View Citation

Torup H, Bogeskov M, Hansen EG, Palle C, Rosenberg J, Mitchell AU, Petersen PL, Mathiesen O, Dahl JB, Moller AM. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block after robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy: a randomised clinical trial. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2015 Aug;59(7):928-35. doi: 10.1111/aas.12516. Epub 2015 May 31. — View Citation

Truong A, Fleshner PR, Mirocha JM, Tran HP, Shane R, Zaghiyan KN. A Prospective Randomized Trial of Surgeon-Administered Intraoperative Transversus Abdominis Plane Block With Bupivacaine Against Liposomal Bupivacaine: The TINGLE Trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2021 Jul 1;64(7):888-898. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002008. — View Citation

Tsai HC, Yoshida T, Chuang TY, Yang SF, Chang CC, Yao HY, Tai YT, Lin JA, Chen KY. Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: An Updated Review of Anatomy and Techniques. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:8284363. doi: 10.1155/2017/8284363. Epub 2017 Oct 31. — View Citation

Wong DJ, Curran T, Poylin VY, Cataldo TE. Surgeon-delivered laparoscopic transversus abdominis plane blocks are non-inferior to anesthesia-delivered ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane blocks: a blinded, randomized non-inferiority trial. Surg Endosc. 2020 Jul;34(7):3011-3019. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07097-y. Epub 2019 Sep 4. Erratum In: Surg Endosc. 2020 Mar 18;: — View Citation

Wong KA, Cabrera AG, Argiroff AL, Pechman DM, Parides MK, Vazzana JT, Moran-Atkin EM, Choi JJ, Camacho DR. Transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine and its effect on opiate use after weight loss surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2020 Jul;16(7):886-893. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2020.03.031. Epub 2020 Apr 10. — View Citation

* Note: There are 30 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Reduced opiate use in both TAP block arms.	Demonstrate a statistically significant change in postoperative opiate use as measured in oral morphine milligram equivalents on postoperative days 0-7.	7 days
Secondary	Increase in opiate-free participants by day 7	Demonstrate a change in proportion of subjects that are opiate-free on postoperative days 0-7.	7 days
Secondary	Reduction in post-operative resting pain scores	Demonstrate a statistically significant change in maximum resting numeric rating scale (NRS) at the following time points in postoperative days: 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 0-7.	7 days
Secondary	Improvement in patient satisfaction regarding pain control	Demonstrate change in patient satisfaction with regard to pain control (very satisfied, satisfied, unsatisfied).	7 days
Secondary	Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events	Specific AEs measured will be nausea, headache, rash, itching, hematoma, ecchymosis, seizures	7 days