Comparing periarticular vasoconstrictor infiltration and erector spinae plane block to reduce bleeding and pain in lumbar fusion
Official title: EFFICACY OF PERIARTICULAR VASOCONSTRICTOR INFILTRATION (PVI) VERSUS ERECTOR SPINAE PLANE BLOCK (ESP) IN REDUCING BLEEDING AND POSTOPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL IN LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY: RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL.
Run by Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau · NCT07550114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will try periarticular vasoconstrictor infiltration versus erector spinae plane block to see if one reduces blood loss and postoperative pain in adults having lumbar fusion surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 62 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Barcelona, Barcelona and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 8, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 8, 2028 |
| Study ends | March 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | April 24, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07550114 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (over 18) with ASA I–III scheduled for primary lumbar or thoracolumbar fusion who can provide informed consent and are not on high-dose chronic opioids are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with contraindications such as allergy to study drugs, coagulopathy, infection at the block site, neuromuscular disease affecting assessment, chronic high-dose opioid use, cognitive impairment, or pregnancy are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a randomized 1:1 multicenter trial enrolling adults undergoing primary lumbar or thoracolumbar fusion (up to three levels) at two hospitals in Spain. Participants receive ultrasound-guided ropivacaine 0.2% with epinephrine either as a high-volume periarticular vasoconstrictor infiltration (PVI) in multiple tissue planes or as a standard erector spinae plane (ESP) block (20 mL per side), with both groups managed under standardized general anesthesia, multimodal analgesia, and tranexamic acid. The primary outcome is intraoperative blood loss measured by surgical aspirate minus irrigation plus gravimetric gauze weight; secondary outcomes include surgical field quality, pain scores at multiple time points, and opioid consumption. The trial enrolls about 62 patients across Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Barcelona) and Hospital Quirón Salud Murcia (Murcia).
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred technique could lower intraoperative bleeding and postoperative pain, potentially reducing transfusions and opioid needs.
How similar studies have gone: Erector spinae plane blocks have supportive evidence for postoperative analgesia, PVI is a promising high-volume vasoconstrictive approach based on WALANT principles, and there are no prior randomized head-to-head trials comparing PVI versus ESP in lumbar fusion.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * More than 18 years old. * ASA I-III * Scheduled primary spinal instrumentation surgery (lumbar/thoracolumbar fusion) * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy/contraindication to study drugs (ropivacaine, epinephrine) * Coagulopathy. * Infection at block site * Neuromuscular disease affecting evaluation. * Chronic opioid use (\>30mg morphine equivalents/day) * Cognitive impairment preventing pain reporting. * Pregnancy
Where it's running
-
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Hospital Quiron Murcia
Murcia, Murcia, Spain Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Mireia MD, PhD Rodriguez Prieto, Anesthesiologist
- Email: mrodriguezpr@santpau.cat
- Phone: 677896054
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
PECS II vs SPSIP nerve blocks for pain after mastectomy
This study tests whether two ultrasound-guided nerve blocks (PECS II and SPSIP) differ in how much opioid patients need after mastectomy.
-
Palatal Shield Technique to Reduce Pain and Improve Healing After Free Gingival Graft
This randomized trial tests whether a collagen sponge with a protective palatal shield made of flowable resin helps reduce pain and improve healing after free gingival graft harvest.
-
Perfusion Index to Measure Postoperative Pain in Kids After Adenotonsillectomy
This study tests whether the perfusion index can reliably reflect pain levels in children aged 1–12 after adenotonsillectomy, comparing standard care with an added glossopharyngeal nerve block.
-
Anterior Knee Nerves Block vs Femoral Nerve Block for Knee Arthroscopy
This trial tests whether an anterior nerves of the knee (ANK) block provides similar pain relief to a femoral nerve block after knee arthroscopy in adults, aiming to reduce quadriceps weakness.
-
Natural Biopolymer-Based Irrigant for Root Canal Cleaning
This trial tests a chitosan nanoparticle irrigant to improve cleaning and disinfection in single-rooted teeth with asymptomatic pulp necrosis undergoing endodontic treatment.
-
Postoperative Pain Trajectories After Endometriosis Surgery
This study tests how pain changes after endometriosis surgery and whether perioperative pain testing can predict who will have ongoing pain.
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.