RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Spinal Anesthesia For Enhanced Recovery After Liver Surgery

This study is looking into the best ways to manage pain and help patients recover after liver surgery, specifically comparing two common pain relief methods: epidural and spinal anaesthesia. Both methods involve numbing nerves in the spine to block pain. Researchers believe that spinal anaesthesia might lead to better control of blood pressure and mean patients need less intravenous fluids (given through a drip) after surgery. The aim is to achieve the same excellent pain relief as epidurals but with a quicker recovery, ultimately improving the experience for people undergoing liver resection surgery.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Manitoba

Enrolment target

128

Start

04 Oct 2018

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2031

Hepatectomy Pain, Postoperative Liver Neoplasms

What is this study about?

When you have major surgery, like an operation on your liver (called a hepatectomy), managing pain effectively is really important for your recovery. Strong pain can make it harder to breathe properly, get out of bed, and can sometimes lead to other problems. Doctors want to find the best pain relief yöntem (method) that helps you recover smoothly and reduces the risk of complications. This study focuses on two main ways to block pain during and after your liver operation: epidurals and spinal anaesthesia.

Both epidurals and spinal anaesthesia involve injecting medication near the nerves in your spine to numb a large area of your body. Epidurals are often used for major abdominal surgeries and are known to be very good at controlling pain. However, sometimes epidurals can cause a drop in blood pressure or mean doctors need to give you more fluids through a drip, which can sometimes lead to its own set of problems, like affecting your kidneys.

This study wants to explore if spinal anaesthesia can offer the same excellent pain relief as an epidural but with some potential advantages. Researchers think spinal anaesthesia might help keep your blood pressure more stable after the operation and reduce the amount of fluids you need. The hope is that this could lead to a quicker and smoother recovery, allowing you to get back on your feet faster after liver surgery. This research is important because more and more people are having liver surgery, and finding the best way to help them recover is a key goal for doctors.

Key takeaways

Compares two pain relief methods for liver surgery: epidural vs. spinal anaesthesia.
Aims to see if spinal anaesthesia improves recovery and reduces complications.
Both methods involve injecting pain relief near the spine.
Could lead to better blood pressure control and less fluid needed after surgery.
Participation involves receiving one of the two pain relief methods randomly and close monitoring.
You can withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical care.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 or over who are planning to have liver surgery (a hepatectomy) through a cut in their tummy. You should be generally healthy enough for surgery, with a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 17 and 40.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you're having emergency surgery, if your liver surgery is planned to be done keyhole (laparoscopic), or if you've already had a liver transplant or previous major liver surgery. Also, if you have severe blood clotting problems or certain other medical conditions that make spinal or epidural anaesthesia unsafe, you wouldn't be able to participate. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are also not eligible.

Your doctor will check all your health details carefully to see if this study is right for you and if it's safe for you to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you scheduled for liver surgery with a cut in your abdomen?
Are you generally healthy enough for major surgery?
Do you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 17 and 40?
Are you not pregnant or breastfeeding?
Have you not had a liver transplant or previous major liver surgery?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would receive either epidural or spinal anaesthesia for your liver surgery. The doctors would decide which method you get, like tossing a coin. You would have your surgery as planned, and then your recovery would be closely watched. This would involve regular checks of your pain levels, blood pressure, and how much fluid you're receiving. The study team would follow your progress in the hospital and potentially for a short period after you go home to see how well you're recovering. The total duration of your participation would cover your hospital stay and any follow-up checks, which your doctor can explain in more detail.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer some potential benefits, as spinal anaesthesia could lead to a faster recovery and fewer fluid-related issues compared to current standard epidural care. However, it's important to remember that this is a research study, and we don't know for sure if one method is better than the other yet; that's what the study aims to find out. Both epidural and spinal anaesthesia carry some small risks, which your anaesthetist will discuss with you, such as temporary low blood pressure or headaches, though serious complications are rare. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting the quality of your medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Manitoba
Verified postcode
Winnipeg, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is liver surgery?

Liver surgery, also called a hepatectomy, is an operation to remove part of your liver. This might be done to treat cancer or other liver conditions.

What's the difference between epidural and spinal anaesthesia?

Both involve injecting medicine near your spine to numb a large area. Spinal anaesthesia gives a single shot that works quickly, while an epidural involves placing a small tube to give continuous pain relief.

Why are researchers comparing these two methods?

They want to see if spinal anaesthesia can provide the same good pain relief as an epidural, but with advantages like more stable blood pressure and needing less fluids, leading to a quicker recovery after liver surgery.

Will I still have general anaesthesia?

Yes, you will still have a general anaesthetic to make you unconscious during your liver surgery, in addition to the epidural or spinal anaesthesia for pain relief.

Will I get to choose which pain relief I receive?

No, in this study, the method you receive (epidural or spinal) will be decided randomly, like flipping a coin, to ensure a fair comparison between the two.

How to find out more

Alex Grunfeld, MD

alexander.grunfeld@umanitoba.ca 204-787-1125 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.