TAP Versus Thoracic Epidural in Major Abdominal Resections

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2016-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare two standard methods of pain control management used at Spectrum Health for patients undergoing major surgery. The two methods being compared are the thoracic epidural and the TAP block. The thoracic epidural method involves medication being given through a patient's back and the TAP block involves medication being given through a patient's abdomen (belly). The investigators will compare side effects experienced by the patients that take part in this study, including a change in blood pressure, as well as the patients' opinions about their pain management experience after surgery.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Spectrum Health Hospitals
• Treatments: Anesthetics; Bupivacaine; Fentanyl

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients male or female >18 years old who are scheduled to undergo a major abdominal surgery. Abdominal procedures include, but are not limited to: pancreaticoduodenectomies, distal pancreatectomies, bowel resection, liver resection, esophagectomies, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, retroperitoneal excisions and large genitourinary procedures

• Patients determined by their surgeon as medically able to receive a thoracic epidural or a TAP block interchangeably after consideration of both procedures

• Patient agrees to participate in this study and provides informed consent

Exclusion criteria:

• Surgical cases combined with thoracic surgeries

• Surgical cases where the abdominal operation is performed laparoscopically

• Patients that have allergies to lidocaine, bupivacaine, levobupivacaine or hydromorphone

• Patients that are on anticoagulation or antiplatelet medications at time of surgery other than aspirin

• Surgical cases that typically do not require a regional block in addition to general anesthesia (e.g., cutaneous operations)

• Adults unable to provide informed consent

• Children

• Pregnant women

• Prisoners

• Non-English speaking subjects

• Any other medical condition including mental illness or substance abuse deemed by the investigator to be likely to interfere with a subject's ability to provide informed consent, cooperate and take part in this research study