Epidural vs Wound Infusion Catheter (E-WIC) v1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Comparison of the Efficacy of Thoracic Epidural Analgesia and a Local Anaesthetic Wound Infusion Catheter after Laparoscopic Colectomy within the Enhanced Recovery Programme : a pilot RCT

• IRAS ID

  28403

• Contact name

  Nader Francis

• Sponsor organisation

  Yeovil District Hospital

• Eudract number

  2009-014375-50

• ISRCTN Number

  not available

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A

• Research summary

  Until recently operations for bowel cancer were carried out by conventional open surgery, involving a large cut on the abdomen. New techniques have made it possible to carry out this type of operation laparoscopically (by keyhole surgery) while still providing the same cancer cure rates as traditional surgery. There have also been improvements in the way patients are cared for before, during and after bowel operations. An Enhanced Recovery Programme aims to improve recovery by providing patients with extra nourishing drinks before and after operation and encouraging early mobility and feeding after the operation. It also involves using a method of pain relief called epidural (a pain killing injection into the back) and pain killing tablets. However, epidural is technically demanding to insert, requires intensive nursing care and sometimes has some complications. This is a pilot study to help in the planning of a major trial looking at one way of replacing the epidural by a simpler method of pain control. The method, called a wound infusion catheter, involves placing a fine plastic tube into the wound to allow a pain killing solution to spread within the wound area after surgery. This may have the benefit of reducing the time in theatre and stay in hospital after surgery. It also aims to reduce the risk of developing complications of epidural. All patients in the pilot study will have a key-hole operation to remove part of their bowel. Half of the patients will have an epidural catheter placed just before the operation while the other half will have a wound infusion catheter after surgery and to continue for 48 hours. The patients will be assessed for pain control, length of hospital stay, function after surgery including mobility, and their experience of the pain control method and taking part in the trial.

• REC name

  South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  09/H0206/66

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Feb 2010

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion