Purpose

In the effort to reduce postoperative opioid use, there has been increasing interest in developing multimodal pain regimens to better manage postoperative pain while minimizing opioid use and their subsequent side effects that can be detrimental to the healing process. Standard of care approaches to better manage postoperative pain include the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol and the use of peripheral and truncal nerve blocks. Truncal nerve blocks are widely used as an additional modality to provide longer lasting postoperative analgesia and have been adopted as part of the standard of care. The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of ERAS alone versus the quadratus lumborum (QL) nerve block on the postoperative pain experience for women with pelvic organ prolapse undergoing robotic assisted sacrocolpopexy. Subjects will be randomized to the ERAS protocol or the QL block. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) does the QL block decrease patient reported pain scores postoperatively; and 2) does the QL block decrease the amount of opioid pain medications in the immediate postoperative period? The primary outcome measure will be median patient reported pain score in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) following surgery.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Genders
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Women undergoing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy with concurrent robotic assisted supracervical or total laparoscopic hysterectomy or robotic assisted sacrocolpopexy after previous hysterectomy 2. Age 18 years old or greater 3. Fluency and literacy in English 4. Capacity to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Lack fluency and literacy in English

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
The study will be a randomized control trial in which patients undergoing robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy with concurrent robotic assisted hysterectomy or robotic assisted sacrocolpopexy after previous hysterectomy will be randomized to one of two standard of care approaches for postoperative pain management: the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol and the quadratus lumborum truncal nerve block. Subjects will undergo one of two standard of care approaches to postoperative pain management and be asked about their pain postoperatively.
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Quadratus Lumborum Block
The QL block will be performed by the regional anesthesia team according to their standard protocol with a uniform quantity and concentration of analgesic agent (ropivacaine 60cc). Intraoperatively, patients will undergo subcutaneous injections of lidocaine (2cc per port site) at each port site. Preoperatively, patients will only receive acetaminophen and no preoperative narcotics or neuro-modulators will be administered. Intraabdominal pressure intraoperative will be standardized among surgeons (plan for 15mm Hg for port placement, then 12 mm Hg once docked). At the conclusion of each surgery, eligible patients will receive a dose of IV ketorolac. Postoperatively, patients will be prescribed a standard regimen of NSAIDs, acetaminophen and opioids. Patients will be asked to rate their pain according to the numeric pain rating scale immediately postoperatively in the PACU and patient opioid requirements while in the PACU will be reviewed in the chart.
  • Procedure: Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Block
    The standard of care QL block will be performed by the regional anesthesia team according to their standard protocol with a uniform quantity and concentration of analgesic agent. Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.
Active Comparator
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol
The ERAS protocol is a multimodal approach to pain control while minimizing opioid medications. Subjects randomized to the ERAS arm will undergo the standard ERAS protocol of early postoperative ambulation, no bowel preparation, and the use of multimodal pain medications including acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Intraabdominal pressure intraoperative will be standardized among surgeons (plan for 15mm Hg for port placement, then 12 mm Hg once docked). At the conclusion of each surgery, eligible patients will receive a dose of IV ketorolac. Postoperatively, patients will be prescribed a standard regimen of NSAIDs, acetaminophen and opioids. Patients will be asked to rate their pain according to the numeric pain rating scale immediately postoperatively in the PACU and patient opioid requirements while in the PACU will be reviewed in the chart.
  • Procedure: Enhanced Recovery After Surgical (ERAS) Protocol
    Subjects randomized to the ERAS arm will undergo the standard ERAS protocol of early postoperative ambulation, no bowel preparation, and the use of multimodal pain medications including acetaminophen and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Patients will subsequently be asked about their pain postoperatively and opioid medication administration will be quantified.

Recruiting Locations

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama 35233
Contact:
Katelyn Donaldson, MD
205-996-7372
katelyndonaldson@uabmc.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Contact

Katelyn Donaldson, MD
205-996-7372
katelyndonaldson@uabmc.edu

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to compare patient reported postoperative pain scores in women undergoing QL block versus ERAS protocol alone prior to minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Secondary aims will explore other outcomes that impact patients' overall postoperative pain experience. Aim #1: To compare the median postoperative patient reported pain score in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group. Aim #2: To compare the maximum postoperative patient reported pain score in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group. Aim #3: To compare the total oral morphine equivalents (OME) in PACU between patients undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy, who are randomized to a preoperative QL block and the ERAS alone group. Aim #4: To compare the rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Aim #5: To compare the rates of overnight admission between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Aim #6: To compare the total time in the PACU between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy. Aim #7: To compare the rates of initial active voiding trial failures between patients in the QL block and ERAS alone groups undergoing minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.