Can a steady drip of local anesthetic speed recovery after open-heart surgery?

NCT ID NCT01828788

Symptom relief Sponsor: University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 06, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a continuous infusion of the local anesthetic ropivacaine, delivered through small catheters placed near the breastbone, can improve recovery after cardiac surgery. The study focuses on patients at higher risk of respiratory complications, such as older adults, those with obesity, or those with chronic bronchitis. The goal is to see if better pain control can help patients cough, breathe deeply, and move earlier, potentially reducing lung complications and shortening hospital stays.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Ropivacaine, a local anesthetic, delivered continuously through small catheters placed near the breastbone after cardiac surgery
What this could lead to: If effective, this approach could reduce respiratory complications and shorten hospital stays for patients at higher risk after cardiac surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a phase 2 trial, so results are preliminary. The benefit may be modest, and there are risks associated with the catheter placement and local anesthetic infusion.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

120 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Apr 2013

Finished

Jan 2015

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 85 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Scheduled cardiac surgery (aortic or mitral valve replacement, or coronary bypass surgery) with sternotomy. * Patients will be at risk of noncardiac postoperative complications, i.e. age over 75, BMI over 30, pulmonary disease, or active smoking habit Exclusion Criteria: * surgery in emergency * thoracotomy * cardiac graft * redo * aortic dissection * age over 85 * pregnancy * patient's refusal * minor or adult under legal protection * psychiatric ongoing disease * addiction to opiates * ongoing opiate treatment * inability to use a PCA device * respiratory insufficiency (Vital capacity or maximal expired volume per sec. \< 50% of the expected value, or mean PAP \> 50 mmHg) * cardiac failure or EF \< 40% or intra-aortic balloon use * pulmonary hypertension over 50 mmHg * severe renal insufficiency * history of allergy or intolerance to: morphine, acetaminophen, ropivacaine.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chronic bronchitis Obesity obesity disorder Pain, Postoperative

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Chronic bronchitis Elderly patients Obesity Scheduled cardiac surgery Sternotomy

Can a steady drip of local anesthetic speed recovery after open-heart surgery?

What the study statuses mean