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Pain Control After Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy

This study is looking at different ways to manage pain after a minimally invasive esophagectomy (surgery to remove part of your esophagus). Researchers are comparing three pain control methods: local intercostal nerve blocks (injections near the ribs), cryo-analgesia (using cold to numb nerves) combined with intercostal nerve blocks, and serratus plane catheter blocks (a type of nerve block) combined with intercostal nerve blocks. You might be able to join if you are an adult having a minimally invasive esophagectomy at Swedish Medical Center-First Hill. The main goal is to see how much your pain changes over time after surgery. This study is currently recruiting 30 participants.

Study design
This is a pilot randomized controlled trial, meaning participants are randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. A total of 30 patients are planned to be enrolled.
What's involved
You will be enrolled and randomized at your preoperative clinic visit. On the day of surgery, you will receive the assigned pain intervention and be followed until hospital discharge.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
After hospital discharge, follow-up data will be collected in the Swedish Thoracic Surgery Clinic for up to 1 year post-operatively.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05906134

Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Pain Control Trial

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
Swedish Medical Center
~30 participants
Updated 2025-07-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Local intercostal nerve blockCryo-analgesia and intercostal nerve blockSerratus plane catheter blocks and intercostal nerve blocksThoracic epidural catheter

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Post Operative Pain Change Over Time
Measured over Baseline (prior to OR) to every 12 hours postoperatively thru Post Operative Day 4.
+10 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Postoperative Pain, Acute
Postoperative Complications

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NCT05906134

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Swedish Cancer Institute

    Seattle, Washingtonstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Brian Louie, M.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Swedish Cancer Institute

Who to contact

Brian Louie, M.D.
[email protected]
(206) 215-6800
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

3-hole with R video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)
Ivor Lewis R VATS

Exclusion

Age \<18
Unable to consent
Additional surgical procedures planned
Patients with previous thoracic surgery
Patient with chronic pain on a daily regimen of narcotics
Non-English speaking
Contraindications to neuraxial anesthesia (ongoing anticoagulation, anticipated post-operative therapeutic anticoagulation, spinal cord stimulators, anatomic abnormalities preventing epidural placement)

What this trial measures

  • Post Operative Pain Change Over TimeBaseline (prior to OR) to every 12 hours postoperatively thru Post Operative Day 4.

    Compare post-operative pain score changes over time between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative PainBaseline (Prior to OR)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative PainPost-Op Time 0

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 1 (AM)Post Operative Day 1 (AM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 1 (PM)Post Operative Day 1 (PM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 2 (AM)Post Operative Day 2 (AM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 2 (PM)Post Operative Day 2 (PM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 3 (AM)Post Operative Day 3 (AM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 3 (PM)Post Operative Day 3 (PM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 4 (AM)Post Operative Day 4 (AM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.

  • Post Operative Pain Day 4 (PM)Post Operative Day 4 (PM)

    Compare single timepoint post-operative pain scores between intercostal nerve blocks, cryo-analgesia, and serratus plane catheters in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. Patients will be asked specifically about thoracic/chest pain and asked to rate this pain on a Likert pain scale of 0-10, 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain they can imagine.