Receive an injection before lung surgery to help prevent pain afterward

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Recruiting

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether injecting ropivacaine (a numbing medication) mixed with Diprospan (a steroid) into the surgical incision before lung surgery can better prevent pain after the operation. About 80% of patients still experience significant pain after this type of lung surgery, even though it's minimally invasive. The study wants to see if adding the steroid helps the numbing medication work longer and reduce inflammation, keeping you more comfortable as you recover.

After lung surgery, many patients develop acute pain that can lead to serious complications and even chronic pain lasting months. While numbing medications injected at the incision help, their effect doesn't last long enough. This medication combines two approaches—numbing plus anti-inflammatory action—to see if it can keep patients comfortable longer and prevent pain from becoming a long-term problem.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 8 and 64 years old
you are scheduled for elective lung surgery (wedge resection, segmentectomy, or lobectomy) under general anesthesia
you are in good enough health to have surgery (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–III)
you can understand the study and agree to participate by signing a consent form
you are able and willing to complete follow-up visits and pain assessments

You likely don't qualify if…

you have an allergy to opioids or steroids
you regularly use opioid pain medications or have used them within the past month
you have used pain or sleep medications within 24 hours before surgery
you have serious medical conditions like neurological disorders, severe liver or kidney problems, or heart failure
you are pregnant or breastfeeding

What participation looks like

If you join this study, before your scheduled lung surgery, you'll receive an injection of numbing medication with or without the steroid into the area around your planned incision. One group will receive the medication combination, and the other group will receive the numbing medication alone (you won't know which one you're getting). After surgery, you'll be asked to rate your pain at regular intervals during your hospital stay and at follow-up visits, helping doctors understand how well the treatment works.

Pain relief medication injected before lung surgery

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)