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Comparison of Exparel to Bupivacaine With Dexamethasone in TAP Block

Comparison Between Bupivacaine Extended-Release Liposome Injection (Exparel) Versus Bupivacaine With Dexamethasone in Transversus Abdominis Plane Block: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02179892
Acronym
TapBlock
Enrollment
9
Registered
2014-07-02
Start date
2014-07-31
Completion date
2015-06-06
Last updated
2017-08-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

anesthesia, surgery, pain

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and duration of bupivacaine extended-release liposome injection (Exparel) versus bupivacaine with dexamethasone in transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for patients undergoing abdominal surgery at Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown. The investigators hypothesize that Exparel will provide greater postoperative pain relief than bupivacaine with dexamethasone. The investigators plan to enroll up to 50 male and female subjects meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria who will be randomized to receive either Exparel (Group 1) or bupivacaine with epinephrine and dexamethasone (Group 2) in the TAP block to achieve at least 22 subjects in each group

Detailed description

Group 1 will be administered 266 mg of Exparel, diluted to 30 mL. Group 2 will be given 28 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine and 8mg/2 mL dexamethasone.Before injection of the study medication, 2mL of normal saline with be injected under ultrasound visualization to ensure needle tip is in the transversus abdominis plane.Randomization will occur following the written informed consent and prior to the start of the surgical procedure. Postoperatively, study patients will receive intravenous acetaminophen 1000mg every 8 hours for 3 doses, then oral acetaminophen 650mg every 6 hours. Subjects will also have patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with morphine or hydromorphone. The research staff recording data will be blinded to the treatment group. Demographic data will be recorded, including age, date of birth, height and weight to ensure similarity between the two groups. A medical history will be obtained as well as surgical and anesthesia details. Study patients will be followed for 72 hours postoperatively to record the amount of opioid consumption, as well as other pain score data using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).The subject's participation will end 72 hours after surgery. A telephone interview will occur with the subject if hospital discharge occurs prior to 72 hours.

Interventions

DRUGBupivacaine Extended-Release Liposome Injection (Exparel)

266mg/30mL of Exparel will be injected via unilateral TAP block

DRUGBupivacaine and Dexamethasone Injection

As a combination injection, 28 ml of 0.375% bupivacaine and 8 mg/2ml of dexamethasone will be injected via unilateral TAP block.

DRUGIV Acetaminophen

Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen 1000 mg every 8 hours for 8 doses.

Oral acetaminophen 650 mg every 6 hours.

Sponsors

Colette Curtis MD
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female patients undergoing scheduled abdominal surgery at Emory University Hospital or Emory University Hospital Midtown * Patients willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Patients less than 18 years of age, since Exparel has not been studied in this age group * Patients who are pregnant or lactating, since Exparel has not been shown to be safe in this population, and because of potential drug transfer to child * Patients with uncontrolled diabetes since dexamethasone may cause hyperglycemia * Patients with liver dysfunction, since bupivacaine is hepatically metabolized * Patients with renal failure, since bupivacaine is renally excreted, defined as requiring hemodialysis or renal replacement therapy * Patients with allergy to one of the study drugs * Patients with local infection, which may be exacerbated by dexamethasone * Patients with significant opioid tolerance, defined as taking at least 60 mg oral morphine per day, 3 mg oral oxycodone per day, 25 mcg/hr fentanyl patch, 25 mg oral oxymorphone per day, 8 mg of oral hydromorphone per day or an equianalgesic dose of another opioid for one week or longer * Patients with known coagulopathy, since bleeding risk is higher Patients who are getting neuraxial anesthesia for surgery

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean Opioid ConsumptionPost Surgery (Up to 72 Hours)The investigators will collect the total amount of opioid consumption for the 72 hour post operative period in each group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at RestPost-Surgery 24 Hours, 48 Hours, 72 HoursThe VAS method of pain assessment (scale of 1- 10) will be used to measure the participant's pain level at rest each day during the 72 hours post surgical period. One represents the lowest level of pain and 10 represents the highest level of pain.
Mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With MovementPost-Surgery 24 Hours, 48 Hours, 72 HoursThe VAS method of pain assessment (scale of 1-10) will be used to measure the patient's level of pain with movement each day during the 72 hour post surgical period. One represents the lowest level of pain and 10 represents the highest level of pain.
Mean Time of First Opioid UsePost-surgery (Up to 72 Hours)The time of first opioid use after surgery will be recorded for up to 72 hours.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were recruited from the Emory University Hospital and the Emory University Hospital Midtown between July 2014 through June 2015.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Group 1-Exparel
Bupivacaine Extended-Release Liposome Injection (Exparel) was administered via TAP block procedure Bupivacaine Extended-Release Liposome Injection (Exparel): 266mg/30mL of Exparel was injected via unilateral TAP block
5
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IV
Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone Injection was administered via TAP block procedure. Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone Injection: As a combination injection, 28 ml of 0.375% bupivacaine and 8 mg/2ml of dexamethasone was injected via unilateral TAP block.
4
Total9

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGroup 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVTotalGroup 1-Exparel
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
3 Participants7 Participants4 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
4 participants9 participants5 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants2 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants7 Participants4 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 50 / 4
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 50 / 4
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 50 / 4

Outcome results

Primary

Mean Opioid Consumption

The investigators will collect the total amount of opioid consumption for the 72 hour post operative period in each group.

Time frame: Post Surgery (Up to 72 Hours)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Group 1-ExparelMean Opioid Consumption507 milligramsStandard Deviation 602
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Opioid Consumption392 milligramsStandard Deviation 133
Secondary

Mean Time of First Opioid Use

The time of first opioid use after surgery will be recorded for up to 72 hours.

Time frame: Post-surgery (Up to 72 Hours)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Group 1-ExparelMean Time of First Opioid Use58 hoursStandard Deviation 29
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Time of First Opioid Use46 hoursStandard Deviation 31
Secondary

Mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest

The VAS method of pain assessment (scale of 1- 10) will be used to measure the participant's pain level at rest each day during the 72 hours post surgical period. One represents the lowest level of pain and 10 represents the highest level of pain.

Time frame: Post-Surgery 24 Hours, 48 Hours, 72 Hours

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest24 Hours Post Surgery4.2 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.9
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest48 Hours Post Surgery1.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.6
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest72 Hours Post Surgery1.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest24 Hours Post Surgery3.5 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.3
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest48 Hours Post Surgery3.3 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.6
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score at Rest72 Hours Post Surgery3.5 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.6
Secondary

Mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement

The VAS method of pain assessment (scale of 1-10) will be used to measure the patient's level of pain with movement each day during the 72 hour post surgical period. One represents the lowest level of pain and 10 represents the highest level of pain.

Time frame: Post-Surgery 24 Hours, 48 Hours, 72 Hours

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement24 Hours Post Surgery6.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.4
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement48 Hours Post Surgery6.6 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.1
Group 1-ExparelMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement72 Hours Post Surgery3.6 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.9
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement24 Hours Post Surgery5.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.7
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement48 Hours Post Surgery6.3 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.3
Group 2-Bupivacaine and Dexamethasone IVMean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Pain Score With Movement72 Hours Post Surgery4.8 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.9

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026