Parasternal Nerve Block in Cardiac Patients

This is a Phase 2, single-institution, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial of patients undergoing a median sternotomy for primary cardiopulmonary bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

78 subjects (39 per treatment arm) will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a single-dose, parasternal nerve block with either 266 mg Exparel or placebo (0.9% normal saline solution). The nerve blocks will be performed under direct visualization at the end of surgery, just prior to sternal closure.

Inclusion criteria

• ≥ 18 years old
• non-emergent coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (on and off pump)
• median sternotomy

Exclusion criteria

• Concomitant cardiac procedures (e.g. aortic valve repair/replacement, mitral valve repair/replacement, aortic root replacements).
• Redo sternotomy.
• < 50 kg (Exparel® is currently only approved in patients > 50 kg).
• Pregnant or nursing
• History of alcohol, narcotic or illicit drug abuse
• Participation in another study evaluating investigational medications within the past 30 days
• Taking narcotic analgesics within 3 days pre-operatively or perioperative stress-dose steroids.
• Chronic non-cardiac pain (e.g. lower back pain, fibromyalgia) requiring narcotic analgesics.
• Pre-operative mild liver insufficiency as defined by liver function tests [(i.e. alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] ≥ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN: ALT: 0-35 U/L, AST: 0-35 U/L, Alk Phos 35-105 U/L, Total bilirubin: 0-1.2 mg/dL)
• Pre-operative mild renal insufficiency (Cr ≥ 1.5 mg/dL)
• Allergy to amide-type anesthetics
• Recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, low cardiac output requiring inotrope and/or intra-aortic balloon pump support, left ventricular ejection fraction < 30% at time of pre-operative screening/evaluation.
• Unable to provide informed consent or unable to understand how to use pain rating scales.
• Inability to understand or operate the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) machine.