Comparing pain management methods after pectus surgery
Official title: Prospective Randomized Trial of Efficacy and Safety of Erector Spinae Catheter and Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation Protocols After Pectus Surgery
Run by Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati · NCT06682208 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether using an ES catheter or cryoablation helps people recovering from pectus surgery manage their pain better and reach their physical therapy goals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 176 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 8, 2024 |
| Main results expected | April 2029 |
| Study ends | April 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06682208 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 21 who have a history of pectus excavatum and are scheduled for the Nuss procedure.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with prior pectus repair, chronic pain conditions, or severe developmental delays may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial involves participants who are scheduled to undergo the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum. They will be randomly assigned to receive either an ES catheter or cryoablation for postoperative pain management. The study aims to evaluate various outcomes, including the time to achieve physical therapy goals, opioid usage, sensation recovery, and the incidence of neuropathic pain over a 12-month period. Participants will complete surveys to assess their recovery and pain levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved pain management strategies for patients recovering from pectus surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored pain management techniques in surgical settings, but this specific comparison of ES catheter and cryoablation is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 12 - 21 years * History of pectus excavatum * Scheduled for Nuss procedure Exclusion Criteria: * Prior pectus repair * Other concomitant surgeries * Chronic pain conditions including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome * Non-English speaking - rationale: the questionnaires used in the study are in English language and the social and cultural factors of pain perception of non-English speaking patients could affect the study power * Severe developmental delays including cognitive (difficulties understanding), motor (cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy), and speech delays (difficulties communicating) * History of or active renal or liver disease * Major surgery requiring opioids in the last 2 years * Severe respiratory problems (such as obstructive sleep apnea, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, or pneumonia within the last month) * Cardiac conditions including, but not limited to, cyanotic heart disease, hypoplastic left ventricle, arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension with ongoing treatment, Kawasaki disease, or cardiomyopathies. Participants with asymptomatic valvular lesions or defects may be included * BMI \>35 * Pregnant or breastfeeding females
Where it's running
-
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Charlotte Walter, MD — Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Charlotte Walter, MD
- Email: Charlotte.Walter@cchmc.org
- Phone: 513-636-4408
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Serratus plane blocks for pain after minimally invasive chest repair in teens and young adults
This study tests whether two regional nerve blocks (serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block vs serratus anterior plane block) lead to lower opioid use after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum in patients aged 15–25.
-
Understanding subtypes of chronic musculoskeletal pain in youth
This observational study tests whether distinct brain and immune profiles can explain chronic musculoskeletal pain in teens and young adults to guide more precise treatments.
-
Intraoperative cryoanalgesia versus thoracic epidural block for pain control after minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair
This trial will try intraoperative cryoanalgesia versus a thoracic epidural block to see which controls pain better after minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair in patients aged 13 and older.
-
Modified versus classic Nuss repair for pectus excavatum in adolescents
This research will see if the modified or classic Nuss procedure gives shorter surgery time, less postoperative pain, shorter ICU stays, and better cosmetic results for teens with pectus excavatum.
-
Timing of nerve-freezing pain relief after Nuss repair for pectus excavatum
We will test how quickly a nerve-freezing procedure (percutaneous intercostal cryoneurolysis) reduces chest skin sensitivity in people having Nuss surgery for pectus excavatum.
-
Comparing one-minute and two-minute cryoanalgesia for pain management in Nuss surgery
This study is testing whether using cryoanalgesia for one minute instead of two minutes can help reduce pain after Nuss surgery for people with pectus excavatum.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.