Finding the best pain relief method after minimally invasive chest surgery for pectus excavatum

The Use of Video-assisted Intercostal Nerve Cryoablation, Erector Spinae Block, and Thoracic Epidural for Postoperative Analgesia After Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum

Not applicable Interventional University of Colorado, Denver · NCT04211935

This study is testing which pain relief method works best for people recovering from minimally invasive chest surgery for pectus excavatum.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment158 (estimated)
Ages13 Years to 18 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Colorado, Denver Academic / other
Locations1 site (Aurora, Colorado)
Trial IDNCT04211935 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of three different postoperative pain management techniques—Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA), Epidural Analgesia (ESB), and Intravenous Narcotics (INC)—for patients undergoing minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). The study will involve a prospective randomized design, where participants will be assigned to one of the three pain control methods while following a multimodal enhanced recovery pathway. The goal is to determine which method provides the best pain relief while minimizing narcotic use and ensuring patient safety.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are patients aged 13 to 18 years who are scheduled to undergo MIRPE for pectus excavatum.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 13 years, older than 18 years, or have a history of chronic narcotic use or previous thoracic surgeries will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved pain management strategies for patients undergoing surgery for pectus excavatum, enhancing their recovery experience.

How similar studies have performed: While previous studies have shown comparable outcomes for ESB and INC, this trial is novel as it directly compares these techniques in a prospective manner.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients with a pectus excavatum deformity that will undergo a MIRPE procedure will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* \< 13 years old
* \> 18 years old
* chronic narcotic preoperative use
* previous repair of pectus excavatum deformity
* previous thoracic surgery
* pregnancy

Where this trial is running

Aurora, Colorado

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Pectus ExcavatumPain, Postoperative
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.