Real-time ultrasound guidance for thoracic epidural catheter placement
Official title: Application of Real-time Ultrasound-guidance in Thoracic Epidural Catheter Placement on Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Thoracic or Abdominal Surgeries
Run by University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) · NCT07100769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether real-time ultrasound helps anesthesiologists place thoracic epidural catheters successfully on the first attempt in people having thoracic or abdominal surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 16 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ho Chi Minh City, Cho Lon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 23, 2025 |
| Main results expected | March 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | April 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 3, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07100769 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults scheduled for major thoracic or abdominal surgery who have consented to thoracic epidural analgesia and have no contraindications to neuraxial procedures.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with contraindications to central neuraxial analgesia, spinal deformities, allergies to the study medications, or inability to cooperate 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
The trial enrolls consecutive patients scheduled for major thoracic or abdominal surgery who consent to thoracic epidural analgesia. An attending anesthesiologist performs real-time ultrasound-guided thoracic epidural catheter placement using a paramedian-cross view while the patient is prone and monitored. After catheter placement the team gives a 3 ml 2% lidocaine test dose and checks sensory level with cold at 30 minutes, then initiates epidural analgesia with a 0.1 ml/kg bolus followed by continuous infusion of 0.1% ropivacaine. Primary outcomes are first-attempt success rate and procedure duration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technique could increase first-attempt success, shorten procedure time, reduce multiple needle passes, and improve postoperative pain control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on ultrasound guidance for epidural and spinal procedures has shown improved placement and fewer attempts in some settings, but real-time ultrasound specifically for thoracic epidurals remains less well established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients are scheduled for major thoracic or abdominal surgeries who have consented to thoracic epidural analgesia Exclusion Criteria: * Patients have contraindications for central neuraxial analgesia, allergic to medications used in the study, unable to cooperate due to cognitive impairment or behavioral limitations, spinal deformities or other spinal pathologies.
Where it's running
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University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, Cho Lon, Vietnam Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: PHAN TON NGOC VU, Phd — The University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City
- Study coordinator: TON NU BAO TRAN, Master
- Email: tran.tnb@umc.edu.vn
- Phone: +84707702599
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.