RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07332546

EOIB for Pain After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

External Oblique Intercostal Block for Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sponsor

Shiyou Wei

Enrollment

56 participants

Start Date

Jan 15, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Postoperative Pain Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Summary

This prospective, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial will evaluate whether bilateral ultrasound-guided external oblique intercostal block (EOIB) reduces postoperative opioid consumption and improves pain control after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, compared with no block.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 85 Years

Inclusion Criteria4

Aged 18-85 years, regardless of gender
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-III
Scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Ability to use the intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) system

Exclusion Criteria7

Hepatic disease (e.g., liver enzyme levels ≥ 2× the upper limit of normal)
Renal disease (e.g., serum creatinine levels ≥ 2× the upper limit of normal)
Allergy or known hypersensitivity to local anesthetics
Females who are pregnant or lactating
Conversion to open surgery
Coagulopathy or current use of anticoagulant medications
Opioid use for more than 2 weeks in the past 6 months

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

OTHERExternal oblique intercostal block (EOIB)

Bilateral ultrasound-guided external oblique intercostal block performed under sterile conditions after induction of general anesthesia and before surgical incision. Using an in-plane technique, the block is performed at the level of the 6th rib in the 6th-7th intercostal space. A local anesthetic mixture is injected with a total volume of 15 mL per side (prepared by mixing 0.75% ropivacaine with normal saline).

OTHERStandard care without regional block

Participants do not receive any regional anesthesia/nerve block (including external oblique intercostal block). All participants receive standard general anesthesia and the same standardized postoperative multimodal analgesia regimen as per protocol, including intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with butorphanol.