Perioperative anaesthesia by local infiltration following median sternotomy - a study protocol.

Introduction: Post-operative pain following open heart surgery is a clinical challenge usually requiring significant amounts of opioids. Long-acting local infiltration anaesthesia may effectively reduce post-operative opioid consumption and improve recovery. The trial is a publicly funded, double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effect of long-acting local infiltration anaesthesia in open heart surgery.

Methods: Two Danish centres are planning to randomise 100 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting to treatment with long-acting infiltration anaesthesia or placebo. We compare an active solution of bupivacaine, adrenaline, clonidine and dexamethasone with saline placebo. The primary outcome measure is the accumulated opioid use within the first 24 post-operative hours. Secondary outcome measures include evaluation of respiratory function, patient-reported pain scores, mobilisation, opioid-associated side effects and long-term opioid consumption.

Conclusion: This trial will define whether the use of long-acting infiltration anaesthesia during heart surgery may reduce acute and prolonged post-operative opioid consumption. Reduction of opioid-related adverse effects may improve recovery.

Funding: The trial is supported by public grants (Dansk Selskab for Anæstesiologi og Intensiv Medicin: 40,000 DKK; Regionernes Medicin og Behandlingspulje 2022: 686,000 DKK). The work of I. S. Modrau is supported by an unrestricted grant from the Health Research Foundation of the Central Denmark Region.

Trial registration: EudraCT 2021-005886-41.