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NCT Number: NCT06653803

Rhomboid Intercostal Block Versus Retrolaminar Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy

Background: Although thoracoscopic sympathectomy is made via small incisions, it is associated with severe postoperative pain. Both Rhomboid intercostal block (RIB) and Retrolaminar block (RLB) are recent techniques used for pain control after such procedures

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of RIB and RLB in providing postoperative analgesia after thoracoscopic sympathectomy in adult patients and their impact on the patient's outcomes.

Patients and Methods: This prospective, randomized (1:1), double-blind clinical trial; will be carried out on 60 patients scheduled for elective thoracoscopic sympathectomy under general anesthesia at our hospital. Patients will be randomly allocated into two equal groups (30 patients each) and will receive: in group A; general anesthesia with intraoperative ipsilateral ultrasound-guided RIB, whereas in group B; general anesthesia with intraoperative ipsilateral ultrasound-guided RLB.

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Key information

Conditions

Post Operative Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Damanhour Teaching Hospital

Damanhūr, El-Beheira, Egypt

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Ahmed M Shaat, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201223482709

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status ≤ II
  • Age from 18 to 60 years
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) < 35 kg/m²

Exclusion criteria

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status > II
  • Age < 18 years or > 60 years
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35
  • Local infection at the puncture site
  • Altered mental status
  • Pregnant women
  • Allergy to study drugs
  • Chronic pain
  • Coagulation abnormalities or on anticoagulants
  • Severe hepatic or kidney disease

Treatment and study plan

Rhomboid Intercostal Block (RIB)

Procedure

Intraoperative Ipsilateral Ultrasound-guided RIB

Retrolaminar Block (RLB)

Procedure

Intraoperative Ipsilateral Ultrasound-guided RLB

Primary outcomes

  1. Mean and Standard deviation of time to the first request of postoperative rescue analgesic (minutes) (mean±SD)

    Time frame: 24 hours after the end of surgery

    The time interval between the block performance and the first request of postoperative analgesia

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean and Standard deviation of Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score (mean±SD)

    Time frame: 24 hours after the end of surgery

    NPRS measures the severity of postoperative pain, it is a 11 point scale from 0-10; where 0=No pain and 10=Worst possible pain (At PACU, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h) after the end of surgery

  2. Mean and Standard deviation of the total dose of the rescue analgesic consumed (milligrams) (mean±SD)

    Time frame: 24 hours after the end of surgery

    The total dose of the rescue analgesic consumed in the first 24 hours after the end of surgery

Study contacts

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

Ahmed M Shaat, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201223482709

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Damanhour Teaching Hospital

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Ultrasound-guided Rhomboid Intercostal Block Versus Retrolaminar Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Oct 22, 2024
Registry last updated
Aug 21, 2025

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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