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NCT Number: NCT07233096

Rectus-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block for Liver Transplantation Donors

Postoperative pain control plays a crucial role in enhancing recovery and improving early mobilization in living liver donors. The rectus-intercostal fascial plane (RIFP) block is a novel ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia technique that provides anterior abdominal wall analgesia by targeting the intercostal nerves between the rectus abdominis and intercostal muscle fascia.

This prospective, randomized controlled clinical study aims to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effects of the RIFP block compared with standard intravenous analgesia in living liver donors undergoing donor hepatectomy.

Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups:

Group 1 (RIFP Block): Patients receiving an ultrasound-guided rectus-intercostal fascial plane block using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of surgery, in addition to standard IV PCA (morphine).

Group 2 (Control): Patients receiving only standard IV PCA (morphine) without regional block.

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Key information

Conditions

Liver Transplantation Living Donor Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Postoperative Pain Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

istinye University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This prospective randomized controlled study will include living liver donors undergoing donor hepatectomy. Participants will be divided into two groups: the Rectus-Intercostal Fascial Plane (RIFP) Block Group and the Control Group.

In the RIFP group, patients will receive an ultrasound-guided RIFP block at the end of surgery and postoperative analgesia with intravenous morphine PCA. The control group will receive only intravenous morphine PCA without any regional block.

The primary outcome is total morphine consumption during the first 24 postoperative hours.

Secondary outcomes include pain scores at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours, time to first rescue analgesia, amount of rescue analgesic used, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

This study aims to evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy and opioid-sparing effect of the RIFP block in living liver donors compared with standard intravenous analgesia.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 75 years
  • Patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status I-II
  • Patients scheduled for a living donor hepatectomy

Exclusion criteria

  • Allergy to local anesthetics
  • Coagulopathy
  • Skin infection at the block area
  • Advanced renal failure
  • Chronic pain syndromes
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Psychiatric disorders

Treatment and study plan

Rectus Intercostal Plane Block

Other

Rectus intercostal plane block will be administered bilaterally at the end of the surgery and after skin closure under ultrasound guidance

Control (No Block)

Other

Ultrasound probe placement on the same region without needle insertion or local anesthetic injection to maintain blinding.

Primary outcomes

  1. Morphine consumption

    Time frame: Postoperative 24 hours

    The amount of morphine required by the patient and given by the device will be recorded for the first 24 hours.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative visual analog scale scores

    Time frame: Postoperative 24 hours

    Postoperative pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) (from 0 = no pain to 10 = maximum possible pain) for the first 24 hours.

  2. Rescue analgesic drug consumption

    Time frame: postoperative 24 hours

    The amount of rescue analgesic in mg required by the patient will be recorded for the first 24 hours.

  3. Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting

    Time frame: postoperative 24 hours

    Number of patients developing postoperative nausea and vomiting will be recorded for the first 24 hours

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istinye University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Rectus-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block in Living Liver Donors

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Nov 18, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 25, 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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