Intercostal Cryoanalgesia Versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Control After Thoracic Surgery: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial
Abstract
Background: Post-thoracic surgery pain remains a major clinical challenge, with substantial impact on pulmonary function, postoperative recovery, and patient quality of life. Thoracic epidural analgesia is widely regarded as the standard of care; however, it is associated with potential complications, including hypotension, urinary retention, and inadequate analgesia in a subset of patients. Intercostal cryoanalgesia, a peripheral nerve block technique that induces temporary axonal degeneration through controlled freezing, has emerged as a potential alternative for prolonged postoperative pain control.
Objective: The primary objective of this study is to compare postoperative hospital length of stay between intercostal cryoanalgesia and thoracic epidural analgesia. Secondary objectives include the evaluation of postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, adverse effects, postoperative complications, quality of life, quality of recovery, and patient satisfaction.
Methods: This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial comparing intercostal cryoanalgesia with thoracic epidural analgesia for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Fifty adult patients (≥18 y) are randomized 1:1 to either epidural or cryoanalgesia groups. All perioperative and postoperative care is provided by the attending clinical teams according to routine institutional practice, with no influence from the research team beyond randomized…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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