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NCT Number: NCT07602452

Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Bilateral Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Colorectal Surgery

This study aims to compare the ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and oblique subcostal transverse abdominal plane block (OSTAPB) for postoperative analgesia in colorectal surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block Bilateral Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Colorectal Surgery Postoperative Analgesia

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cairo University

Cairo, 12613, Egypt

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Dina Z Khalaf, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Michael W Halim, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Mohammed M Alarousy, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201149404478

Shady R Mikhail, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Tamer K Khair, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Colorectal surgery remains the therapeutic cornerstone for the management of a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders encompassing malignancies and inflammatory conditions.

Oblique subcostal transverse abdominal plane block (OSTAPB) is a regional block technique that involves injecting local anesthetics between the transverse abdominal muscle plane and the internal oblique abdominal muscle plane.

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a novel technique that specifically targets the ventral rami, dorsal rami, and rami communicantes of the spinal nerves. Local anesthetic agents were observed to extend cranially and caudally over numerous dermatomal levels following injection.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 to 75 years old.
  • Both sexes.
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II-III.
  • Scheduled for open colorectal surgery under general anesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

  • History of opioid abuse.
  • Chronic opioid consumption.
  • Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2.
  • Severe cardiac insufficiency, defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure.
  • Renal failure, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m².
  • Hepatic encephalopathy.
  • Having a skin infection at or near the puncture site.
  • Coagulopathy, defined as platelet count < 100,000/mm³, INR > 1.5, or use of anticoagulant therapy that could not be withheld.
  • Allergy to drugs used in the study.
  • History of previous or recurrent laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures.

Treatment and study plan

Erector spinae plane block

Other

Patients will receive ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block.

Oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block

Other

Patients will receive ultrasound-guided oblique subcostal transversus abdominis plane block.

Primary outcomes

  1. Degree of pain

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Each patient will be instructed about postoperative pain assessment with the numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS (0 represents "no pain" while 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable"). NRS will be assessed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Time to the first rescue analgesia

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Time to the first request for the rescue analgesia will be recorded from end of surgery to first dose of morphine administrated.

  2. Intraoperative fentanyl consumption

    Time frame: Intraoperatively

    Additional fentanyl bolus dosages of 1 µg/kg IV will be administered if heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure elevated more than 20% of the baseline (after exclusion of other causes than pain).

  3. Total morphine consumption

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Rescue analgesia of morphine will be given as 3 mg bolus (maximum dose of 0.5 mg/kg/24hours) if the numeric rating scale (NRS) > 3 to be repeated after 30 min if pain persists until the NRS < 4.

  4. Mean arterial pressure

    Time frame: Till end of surgery (Up to 2 hours)

    Mean arterial pressure will be recorded at:

    • T0: Baseline reading preoperatively (in the preoperative holding area).
    • T1: Immediately before intubation.
    • T2: 15 minutes after intubation.
    • T3: 30 minutes after intubation.
    • T4: 45 minutes after intubation.
    • T5: 60 minutes after intubation.
    • T6: At the end of surgery.

  5. Heart rate

    Time frame: Till end of surgery (Up to 2 hours)

    Heart rate will be recorded at:

    • T0: Baseline reading preoperatively (in the preoperative holding area).
    • T1: Immediately before intubation.
    • T2: 15 minutes after intubation.
    • T3: 30 minutes after intubation.
    • T4: 45 minutes after intubation.
    • T5: 60 minutes after intubation.
    • T6: At the end of surgery.

  6. Degree of patient satisfaction

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Degree of patient satisfaction will be assessed on a 5-point Likert scale patient satisfaction (1, extremely dissatisfied; 2, unsatisfied; 3, neutral; 4, satisfied; 5, extremely satisfied).

  7. Quality of Recovery

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Quality of Recovery (QOR- 15) scale will be recorded at 24 hours after surgery. Each item on the QoR-15 scale is scored from 0 (unfavourable) to 10 (favourable), resulting in an aggregate score from 0 (no recovery) to 150 (total recovery).

  8. Incidence of adverse events

    Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively

    Incidence of adverse events such as bradycardia, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, or any other complication will be recorded.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Mohammed M Alarousy, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201149404478

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Ultrasound-Guided Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Bilateral Oblique Subcostal Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 22, 2026
Registry last updated
May 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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