Awake Thoracic Epidural Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia in Thoracotomy

Launched by CAIRO UNIVERSITY · Apr 15, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking to compare two types of anesthesia used during a surgery called thoracotomy, which involves opening the chest to access the organs inside. One method being studied is called awake thoracic epidural anesthesia, where patients remain awake but receive numbing medicine in their back to block pain. The other method is general anesthesia, where patients are put to sleep during the surgery. The goal is to see which method works better for patients.

To join this study, participants need to be between 18 and 75 years old and must be scheduled for a thoracotomy. They should also be classified as having moderate health issues (ASA physical status II or III). However, some people may not be eligible, like those with certain serious health problems, difficulty breathing, or specific issues with their nervous system. If someone decides to participate, they will receive more information on what to expect during the trial and how the anesthesia methods will be administered. This study is currently recruiting participants, so it’s an opportunity for those who qualify to contribute to important research on anesthesia options.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age from 18 to 75 years old.
• • Both genders.
• • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification II or III.
• • Scheduled for thoracotomy.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Difficult airway management,
• • Hemodynamically unstable patients, obesity (body mass index \>30).
• • Absolute contraindication to thoracic epidural anesthesia such as (patient refusal, allergy to local anesthetics, coagulopathy, active neurologic disorders, skin infection at insertion site, uncooperative patients, uncontrolled cough, and unfavorable anatomy for thoracic epidural).
• • Neurological disorders: risk of seizure, unable to cooperate, intracranial mass or brain edema, extensive pleural adhesions or previous pulmonary resections, hypoxemia (PaO2 \<60) or hypercarbia (PaCO2 \>50)
• • Poor cardiac function (ejection fraction less than 50%).
• • Patients with bad pulmonary function tests.