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Cryoanalgesia and Post-thoracotomy Pain in Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery

NCT05255146 · Status: WITHDRAWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Last updated 2026-05-08

No results posted yet for this study

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.

Conditions

  • Cryotherapy Effect
  • Post Operative Pain

Interventions

DEVICE

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Alberta

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Abeline R Watkins, BSc · UofA Research/Department of Cardiac Surgery

  • Andrew O'Connell, MD · UofA Department of Cardiac Surgery

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-09-30
Primary Completion
2026-05-04
Completion
2026-05-04

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05255146 on ClinicalTrials.gov