Comparing paravertebral block methods to improve chest numbness and pain control after VATS lung resection
Official title: Sensory Anesthesia Achieved Through Different Paravertebral Block Approaches for Post-Operative Pain Management After Videothoracoscopic Lung Resection
Run by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · NCT07063602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will try three different paravertebral block methods to see which gives the best chest numbness and pain control after VATS lung surgery for adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montreal, Quebec) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 10, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 10, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07063602 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 or older scheduled for VATS lung resection with ASA physical status 1–3 and no contraindication to paravertebral block are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who need epidural analgesia, have contraindications to paravertebral block (coagulopathy, allergy, difficult visualization), convert to thoracotomy, are pregnant, or cannot reliably report sensation are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study maps the areas of sensory anesthesia produced by three paravertebral block approaches used during video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung resection. Patients receive the usual single peroperative injection of local anesthetic guided by thoracoscopy, and investigators objectively test which thoracic skin areas become numb after each approach. The goal is to separate technical failures (no sensory block) from intrinsic limits of each technique (pain from unanesthetized areas or pain despite anesthesia) to better tailor postoperative analgesia. Findings will inform optimization of regional analgesia strategies to reduce opioid use and improve recovery after VATS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help clinicians choose the paravertebral technique that provides more reliable chest numbness and better post-VATS pain control, potentially reducing opioid use.
How similar studies have gone: Paravertebral blocks are an established option for thoracic analgesia with mixed reported effectiveness, and while prior work shows benefit over systemic opioids in many cases, direct comparative sensory mapping of multiple paravertebral techniques is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18 years and older * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 1-3 Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to the paravertebral block (coagulopathy, use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents other than aspirin that have not been stopped according to hospital guidelines, thoracoscopic visualization of the paravertebral space expected to be difficult or impossible, anterior spinal surgery with potential discontinuity of the paravertebral space) * Epidural analgesia preferred (high risk of thoracotomy, marginal lung function) * Surgical criteria: conversion to thoracotomy necessary and thoracic epidural or other form of regional analgesia implemented post-operatively * Known allergy to local anesthetics * Language barrier, psychiatric, physical or mental condition making pain assessment impossible despite prior education * Pregnancy * Patient refusal to participate
Where it's running
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Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Alex Moore, MD — Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)
- Study coordinator: Alex Moore, MD
- Email: alex.moore@umontreal.ca
- Phone: 514-890-8000
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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.