Pecto-Intercostal Fascial Plane Block Study

Phase 4 Completed 100 enrolled University of Wisconsin, Madison

RandomizedParallel-groupDouble-blindSupportive care

Summary

This study is being done to see if bilateral pecto-intercostal fascial plane blocks (PIFB) with a mixture of liposomal and standard bupivacaine decrease pain and opioid requirements in patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy compared to controls (sham blocks with saline). 100 participants will be recruited and can expect to be on study for 100 days.

Timeline

Start: 2022-03-28
Primary completion: 2023-09-03
Completion: 2023-11-30

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper Total opioid consumption in the first 72 hours was not significantly different between groups (SPIP intervention: 165 (IQR 103-284) MME vs saline placebo: 205 (IQR 145-282) MME, p=0.30). PMID 40850695 ↗

Publications

Simon ER, Mallery A, Silva J, de Biasi A, Osaki S, Krause BM, Meyer P. Superficial parasternal intercostal plane blocks with liposomal bupivacaine did not significantly reduce opioid use after cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2025 Aug 24:rapm-2025-106952. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2025-106952. Online ahead of print.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Bupivacaine	Other / unclassified	0.25 %	Other
Subject	Bupivacaine	Other / unclassified	10 ml	Other
Subject	Bupivacaine	Other / unclassified	15 ml	Other
Subject	Bupivacaine	Other / unclassified	133 mg	Other