Pain After Lung Cancer Surgery - Comparing Traditional Versus Prolonged Release Nerve Blockades

Pain After Thoracoscopic Lung Surgery - the Effect of Intercostal Nerve Blockades With Standard Bupivacaine and Liposomal Bupivacaine - a Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial

To investigate the effect of liposomal bupivacaine compared with bupivacaine hydrochloride for intercostal blockades for patients undergoing Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive routine procedure. It's less invasive than thoracotomy but postoperative pain is still a problem.

At Aalborg University Hospital, intercostal blockades with bupivacaine is used as standard pain treatment for patients undergoing VATS. Adding adjuvants to the blockades may prolong the effect.

The aim of this study is to examine if intercostal nerve blockades with liposomal bupivacaine improves postoperative pain management compared to intercostal nerve blockades with bupivacaine hydrochloride.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults independent of sex with an age of ≥ 18 years
• Patients undergoing VATS as a part of either examination or treatment of lung cancer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are unable to understand oral and written information.
• Patients with known chronic pain in the thorax which have been persisting for at least six months before the day of surgery.
• Pregnant and nursing women.
• Patients with hypersensitivity / allergy / Intolerance to dexamethasone or bupivacaine.
• Patients receiving a planned preoperative epidural blockade during their stay.
• Patients converted to open surgery.