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Hepatic Hilar Nerve Block Versus Sham in Pain Control During Liver Ablation and TACE Procedures

Liver Cancer | Pain Control

This study is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of a novel liver specific nerve block in improving pain control during painful liver interventional radiology procedures including liver tumoral ablation and trans arterial chemoembolization, two procedures aimed at controlling liver tumors, but that can be associated with significant pain. This novel hepatic specific nerve block was designed by us and initial retrospective results suggests it might help in controlling such liver procedural derived pain. The study was designed to compare the liver block to a sham procedure in a blinded context and to follow the participants over three days post-procedure to asses for pain levels.

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Participation Requirements

  • Sex:

    ALL

  • Eligible Ages:

    18 and up

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients referred to the Interventional Radiology department and approved for a chemo-embolization or radiofrequency ablation of malignant primary or secondary liver tumour.
2. At least 18 y.o.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients in whom the vascular anatomy prevents safe access to the hepatic hilum or patients in whom general anaesthesia was performed.
2. Patients who have known allergy to any anaesthetic agent in the regular protocol (fentanyl, midazolam, ropivacaine).
3. Patients with signs of skin infection at the entry site of the needle used to perform the nerve block
4. Patients with signs of infection such as fever or acute increase in wight blood cell count.
5. Patients with uncorrectable abnormal coagulation status (INR \>1.5 and platelets \< 50000 without use of anticoagulation agents).
6. Patients with pre-existing conditions, which, in the opinion of the investigator, interfere with the conduct of the study (these reasons will be recorded)
7. Patients, who are uncooperative, cannot follow instructions, or who are unlikely to comply with follow-up appointments or fill-out the post-procedural pain questionnaires.
8. Patients with a mental state that may preclude completion of the study procedure or are unable to provide informed consent.

Study Location

McGill University Health Centre
McGill University Health Centre
Montréal, Quebec
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Louis-Martin Boucher, MD/PhD

[email protected]
514 934-1934
Study Sponsored By
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Participants Required
More Information
Study ID: NCT04769713