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Comparative Effects of ESP Block and EOIP Block on Postoperative Respiratory Recovery Following Liver Resection

Comparative Effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block and External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block on Postoperative Respiratory Recovery Following Liver Resection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07740382
Enrollment
116
Registered
2026-07-31
Start date
2026-08-15
Completion date
2027-01-01
Last updated
2026-08-17

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

Conditions

Liver Resection, Upper Abdominal Surgeries

Brief summary

This study evaluates respiratory recovery as a multidimensional construct using clinically relevant and measurable parameters, including LUS, diaphragmatic excursion, oxygen requirement, and PPCs. The investigators hypothesize that bilateral ESP block improves postoperative respiratory function compared with EOIP block following open hepatic surgery. The investigators further hypothesize that this improvement is mediated, in part, by superior analgesia.

Interventions

PROCEDUREUltrasound-guided bilateral external oblique intercostal plane (EOIP) block

Bilateral ESP block * after induction of general anesthesia and before surgical incision. * T7 or T8 transverse process, selected consistently by protocol. * high-frequency linear probe when feasible; curvilinear probe in larger habitus. In-plane cranial-to-caudal or caudal-to-cranial approach to the fascial plane deep to erector spinae muscle and superficial to the transverse process. * Injectate: 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine per side after negative aspiration; hydrodissection used to confirm correct plane. Bilateral EOIP block * after induction of general anesthesia and before surgical incision. * ultrasound-guided injection into the fascial plane between the external oblique muscle and the intercostal muscle/external intercostal membrane near the 6th-8th intercostal spaces on each side, following the institutional standardized approach. * Injectate: 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine per side Safter negative aspiration.

PROCEDUREUltrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) block

An ultrasound-guided bilateral ESP block will be performed after induction of general anaesthesia and before surgical incision. The block will be administered at the T7 or T8 transverse process using an in-plane ultrasound-guided approach. Twenty millilitres of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected on each side into the fascial plane deep to the erector spinae muscle and superficial to the transverse process after negative aspiration. Correct spread of local anaesthetic will be confirmed by hydrodissection.

Sponsors

Menoufia University
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Liver Institute, Egypt
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Adult patients aged 18-75 years * Adult with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III * Scheduled for elective hepatic surgery via upper abdominal incisions will be eligible. * All participants will be required to understand the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Patient refusal * Coagulopathy (INR\>1.4 or platelet count\<8 x 104) * Contraindications to fascial plane blocks * Infection at the puncture site * Known allergy to study medications * Chronic opioid use or chronic pain syndromes * Severe chronic respiratory failure requiring home oxygen or noninvasive ventilation * Pregnancy * Body mass index\>40 kg/m² * When ultrasound imaging will be deemed unreliable * Emergency surgery * Hemodynamic instability * Reoperation during the same hospital admission. * Patients scheduled preoperatively for elective postoperative mechanical ventilation or planned ICU intubation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Right diaphragmatic excursionBaseline, and 1, 6, and 24 hours after surgery.Right diaphragmatic excursion will be measured during quiet tidal breathing in the semi-recumbent position using M-mode ultrasonography through a right subcostal hepatic acoustic window. Three consecutive respiratory cycles will be recorded and averaged at each assessment measured in cm.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean postoperative pain intensity at rest, during coughing or deep breathingPain scores at rest (PACU 30 minutes, 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours) and during coughing or deep breathing (6, 12, and 24 hours).Postoperative pain intensity at rest will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale NRS score 0-10. Postoperative pain intensity during coughing or deep breathing will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale NRS score 0-10.
Mean cumulative postoperative opioid consumption and Mean intraoperative opioid consumptionFirst 24 postoperative hours.Total cumulative opioid consumption during the first 24 postoperative hours. Measured in Morphine milligram equivalents (MME). Total opioid administered during the intraoperative period from induction of anesthesia until completion of surgery. Measured in Morphine milligram equivalents (MME).
Number of participants requiring supplemental oxygenFirst 24 postoperative hours.Number of participants requiring supplemental oxygen or escalation of oxygen therapy beyond standard postoperative care to maintain peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≥94%, according to institutional postoperative care protocols. Number of participants (%)
Number of participants with early postoperative pulmonary complicationsWithin 7 postoperative days.Number of participants who develop early postoperative pulmonary complications within 7 days after surgery, including clinically significant atelectasis. Number of participants (%)
Mean lung ultrasound scoreDuring the first 24 postoperative hours at predefined assessment time points.Lung ultrasound score will be assessed using a standardized 12-zone protocol lung ultrasound score 0-36.

Countries

Egypt

Contacts

CONTACTNevine Mostafa Soliman
nevinemostafa@gmail.com01128861471

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 18, 2026