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Cryoanalgesia and Post-thoracotomy Pain in Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
Sponsor: University of Alberta
Summary
Minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery is often associated with chronic pain syndrome, out of keeping with the extent of surgical dissection. This is thought to be because of damage to the intercostal nerves by compression and traction by the surgical equipment. Cryoanalgesia is long-standing technique that freezes nerves locally to temporarily block pain sensation, which is currently used to treat acute post-operative pain in lung dissections and the Nuss procedure. We intend to perform a trial to assess whether using cryoanalgesia on intercostal nerves intraoperatively, reduces post-operative pain following minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
100
Start Date
2025-09
Completion Date
2026-05
Last Updated
2025-03-25
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Atricure Inc. Nitrous oxide Cryoprobe
Cryoanalgesia will be given by applying a nitrous oxide-cooled probe (AtriCure, Inc. 2000) locally to intercostal nerves in the 4th, 5th, and 6th rib spaces after completion of the surgical repair and before surgical closure. The probe will be cooled to -60°C and held on each location for 60 sec.