Phase 4
Completed N=70
Sternal Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine vs. Saline Prior to Incision in Cardiac Surgery
Cardiovascular Surgery · Pain, Postoperative · Block
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04333095 ↗
Enrolled (actual)
70
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Oct 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Total Postoperative Opioid Measured in Milligram Morphine Equivalent (MME) at 72 Hours — 29.4; 25.8 Milligram Morphine Equivalent (MME)
◆ Published Evidence
No publication linked
No peer-reviewed publication reporting this trial's results has been linked yet. This can indicate results are unpublished — a known publication-bias signal. We re-check periodically.
Summary
The purpose of this study is to find out what effects (good and bad) that the study medicine called "liposomal bupivacaine" has on subjects that are undergoing a sternotomy. Liposomal bupivacaine solution, is a drug that the doctor will inject before they make the cut through patient's breastbone (sternotomy). Normally pain medicine like this is given right before the surgeon closes up the patient's breastbone, at the end of the surgery. For this study, they want to see if giving the medicine before they make the cut into the patient's breastbone helps their pain. They also want to find out if patients feel less pain after surgery with the study drug than they do with saline and possibly decrease the need for pain medicine. Subjects will be in the study for about 72 hours or until they are discharged from the hospital.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Total Postoperative Opioid Measured in Milligram Morphine Equivalent (MME) at 72 Hours |
29.4; 25.8 | — |
| PRIMARY Intraoperative Opioid Usage Measured in Milligram Morphine Equivalent (MME) |
114.9; 124.8 | — |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Age greater than 18 years
- Undergoing a surgical procedure through mini- or full sternotomy.
Exclusion Criteria
- Clinical instability
- Allergic to liposomal bupivacaine solution or any of its ingredients
- Maximum-allowed dosage of local analgesia will be exceeded by the injection amount of liposomal bupivacaine used in this study ( 45
- Pregnant or nursing
- Chronic home opioid usage
- Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) < 30%
- Low cardiac output requiring mechanical or inotropic support
- End-stage renal disease
- Cirrhosis
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04333095). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.