Supplementary Epidural Analgesia in Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) - The SEAVATS Study
Status:
Active, not recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Whereas it, in the case of conventional thoracotomy, has been demonstrated that thoracic
epidural analgesia is more effective than systemic opioids in terms of pain relief and
preservation of postoperative pulmonary function, the efficacy of epidural analgesia in
video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) procedures, has not been sufficiently studied, but a
beneficial effect might very well be present.
On the other hand, the risks associated with placement of a thoracic epidural catheter are
well known and if similar pain relief can be achieved without it with no or only
insignificant alternative side effects, this would be preferable.
The literature regarding the usefulness of epidural analgesia for reducing pain in
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery is, at best, scarce with two small studies showing some
effect and two showing no difference, none of the studies being blinded randomized controlled
trials of adequate size.
The SEAVATS Study will try to answer this question.