Serratus plane block to reduce pain during pleural drainage in the ICU.

Evaluation of the Analgesia by Serratus Plane Block During Pleural Drainage in Intensive Care Unit.

Phase 3 Interventional Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens · NCT03984656

This study will test whether a serratus plane nerve block with lidocaine reduces pain for awake adults in the ICU who need pleural drainage.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment70 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens Academic / other
Locations1 site (Amiens)
Trial IDNCT03984656 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Pleural drainage under local anesthesia is often painful for conscious ICU patients, and better pain control may help early rehabilitation and shorten ICU stay. This Phase 3 interventional study will compare a serratus plane block using lidocaine with standard local anesthesia in non‑intubated ICU patients undergoing pleural drainage. Investigators will record pain scores during and after the procedure, opioid consumption, patient satisfaction, and any block‑related complications. Participants are adult, conscious ICU patients without contraindications to local anesthetics or coagulopathy and able to give informed consent, treated at CHU Amiens.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are conscious, non‑intubated adults in the ICU who require pleural drainage, can give informed consent, and have no contraindication to local anesthetics or coagulation disorders.

Not a fit: Patients who are intubated or sedated, pregnant or breastfeeding, under legal guardianship, have coagulation disorders, or have contraindications to lidocaine/ropivacaine may not benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, the serratus plane block could provide better pain relief during pleural drainage, reduce opioid use, and improve recovery for ICU patients.

How similar studies have performed: Serratus plane block has reduced pain and opioid use after thoracic and breast surgery in prior studies, but it has not been tested specifically for pleural drainage in ICU patients.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* patients over 18 years old.
* non-intubated patient with spontaneous ventilation
* free and informed consent of the patient,
* affiliated to a social security scheme
* hospitalized in ICU unit including surgical ICU, cardiothoracic and respiratory ICU or cardiothoracic and respiratory continuous care unit.
* requiring pleural drainage gas or fluid
* conscious patient, not sedated.

Exclusion Criteria:

* patient under the age of 18 years old.
* patient refusal
* under curatorship or deprivation of liberty
* pregnant, parturient or breastfeeding woman
* contraindication to Lidocaine or Ropivacaine
* coagulation disorders

Where this trial is running

Amiens

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 AnalgesiaLidocaineIntensive Care Unitserratus plane blockanalgesiapleural drainagelidocaineintensive care unit
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.