Sensory Distribution and Postoperative Analgesia of Ultrasound-Guided Interfascial Plane Blocks in Living Liver Donors

Living liver donor hepatectomy at our institution routinely includes ultrasound-guided interfascial plane blocks as part of postoperative analgesia. Although these blocks have become increasingly used in donor hepatectomy, their cutaneous sensory distributions and block-related dermatomal coverage have not been systematically evaluated, with only anecdotal reports available in the literature.

This prospective observational study aims to assess both the sensory blockade patterns and the early postoperative analgesic performance of interfascial plane blocks administered to living liver donors. Following surgery, all consenting donors receive the institution's standard block protocol. Cutaneous sensory mapping is performed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) at the second postoperative hour. Pain intensity and analgesic requirements within the first 24 hours are also recorded.

The study is designed to provide objective data on the dermatomal coverage and postoperative analgesic effects of contemporary ultrasound-guided interfascial plane blocks used in living liver donor surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Bahcesehir Unişversity Medicalpark Goztepe hospital

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

Adult living liver donors undergoing elective donor hepatectomy
Age 18 to 65 years
ASA physical status I-II
Patients who have received ultrasound-guided interfascial plane blocks as part of their postoperative analgesia
Ability to cooperate with postoperative sensory mapping procedures
Patients who agree to participate and provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Patients who refuse to participate or do not provide written informed consent
Patients who have not received any ultrasound-guided interfascial plane block
ASA physical status > II
Presence of surgical incisions or wound complications preventing reliable sensory mapping
Prior major abdominal surgery that may alter cutaneous innervation patterns
Cognitive impairment limiting the ability to cooperate with sensory testing
Known psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, mania, schizophrenia) that may interfere with postoperative assessment
Local infection, skin disease, or dermatologic condition preventing accurate cutaneous mapping
Allergy or contraindication to local anesthetics used in the block

Treatment and study plan

interfascial plane block

Other

Ultrasound-guided interfascial plane blocks are administered at the end of surgery. Block selection and needle entry points are determined according to the surgical incision line and the location of abdominal drains. All blocks are performed under real-time ultrasound guidance using the institution's standardized protocol.

patient controlled analgesia device

Other

Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia is initiated in the postoperative period according to the institution's standard protocol. PCA settings, opioid type, basal infusion (if applicable), and bolus doses follow routine clinical practice and are recorded for analysis. PCA use during the first 24 hours is monitored to assess postoperative analgesic requirements.

cutaneus sensory mapping

Other

Cutaneous sensory mapping is performed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) at the second postoperative hour. Sensory blockade is assessed using a standardized pinprick test applied radially from medial to lateral directions. The borders of the blocked and unblocked regions are marked on the skin using a UV-visible dermatographic pen. Mapping is conducted over the mid-abdominal and lateral abdominal regions, and the total cutaneous coverage areas are subsequently calculated for analysis.

Primary outcomes

Cutaneous sensory block area mapping for different regional anesthesia techniques in liver donor surgery

Time frame: At 120 minutes after block administration in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

The cutaneous sensory block area produced by the regional anesthesia technique will be evaluated at the 120th minute post-block using a standardized pinprick test. Sensory borders will be identified radially and marked on the skin with a UV-visible marker. Each mapped region will be photographed with a calibrated reference scale placed on the skin. These images will be processed using a predefined digital template to calculate the total blocked surface area in square centimeters. The resulting measurements will be used to characterize the sensory distribution of the interfascial plane blocks in living liver donors.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bahçeşehir University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Assessment of Sensory Block Distribution and Postoperative Analgesia Following Ultrasound-Guided Interfascial Plane Blocks in Living Liver Donors: A Prospective Observational Study

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2026
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Nov 26, 2025
Registry last updated: May 26, 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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Completed