Fascial Plane BlockNCT07739277
Transverse vs. Longitudinal Serratus Anterior Plane Block in Breast Surgery
A study testing Transverse SAP Block and Longitudinal SAP Block in people with Fascial Plane Block and Pain, Postoperative, run by Ankara Etlik City Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the analgesic efficacy of transverse versus longitudinal ultrasound probe orientations during Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block in patients undergoing breast surgery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Fascial Plane Block, Pain, Postoperative, Breast Surgery
- What is being tested?
- Transverse SAP Block and Longitudinal SAP Block
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 70 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 6 Aug 2026to 19 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients aged between 18 and 65 years
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I, II, or III
- BMI between 18 - 30 kg/m2
- Patients scheduled for elective breast surgery
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Known allergy to local anesthetics
- Infection at the injection site
- Severe coagulopathy or use of anticoagulants
- Chronic opioid use or history of neuropathic pain
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Ankara Etlik City Hospital
Ankara, Yenimahalle\Ankara, 06170
İbrahim MD Topcu, 05437860316, ibrahimtpc78@gmail.com
Musa Assoc.Prof Zengin, 00905307716235, musazengin@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of Transverse Versus Longitudinal Ultrasound Probe Orientation for Serratus Anterior Plane Block on Postoperative Pain in Breast Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the analgesic efficacy of transverse versus longitudinal ultrasound probe orientations during Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block in patients undergoing breast surgery. The study hypothesizes that the longitudinal approach (probe parallel to the ribs) may provide better craniocaudal spread of the local anesthetic, thereby resulting in lower postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and reduced opioid consumption compared to the standard transverse approach.
- Conditions
- Fascial Plane Block, Pain, Postoperative, Breast Surgery, Acute Pain, Mastectomy
- Being tested
- Transverse SAP Block, Longitudinal SAP Block
- Keywords
- Serratus Anterior Plane Block, Regional Anesthesia, Postoperative Analgesia, Breast Surgery
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative, Acute Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Transverse SAP BlockProcedure or surgery
Transverse serratus anterior plane block will be performed on the patients using 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance.
Longitudinal SAP BlockProcedure or surgery
Longitudinal serratus anterior plane block will be performed on the patients using 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Transverse SAP Block | Active comparator | Patients will receive an ultrasound-guided Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block at the 4th rib level. The ultrasound probe will be placed in a transverse orientation (perpendicular to the ribs). A total of 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine will be injected into the fascial plane. Receives: Procedure: Transverse SAP Block |
| Longitudinal SAP Block | Active comparator | Patients will receive an ultrasound-guided Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block at the 4th rib level. The ultrasound probe will be placed in a longitudinal orientation (parallel to the ribs in the craniocaudal axis). A total of 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine will be injected into the fascial plane. Receives: Procedure: Longitudinal SAP Block |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst pain) at rest. Pain assessment will be made at 4 hour after surgery.
Measured: 4 hour after surgery
Secondary outcomes (5)
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst pain) at rest and when coughing. Pain assessment will be made at 1, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery.
Measured: Up to 24 hours
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst pain) while coughing. Pain assessment will be made at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery.
Measured: Up to 24 hours
Total Postoperative Opioid Consumption
The total amount of opioid consumed by the patient will be recorded.
Measured: Up to 24 hours
Area Under Curve for Pain
Cumulative 24-hour pain burden calculated by the trapezoidal rule
Measured: Up to 24 hours
Assessment of Sensory Blockade Extent
Sensory extent will be assessed using pinprick testing with a 20-gauge hypodermic needle.
Measured: Evaluated at 20 minutes following block administration.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Jul 2026
- Study start6 Aug 2026
- Primary completion8 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion19 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Fascial Plane BlockStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ankara Etlik City HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara Etlik City Hospital
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, İbrahim Topcu, Ankara Etlik City Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07739277
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AEŞH-EK-2026-152
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Transverse Versus Longitudinal Ultrasound Probe Orientation for Serratus Anterior Plane Block on Postoperative Pain in Breast Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07739277
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AEŞH-EK-2026-152
- Conditions
- Fascial Plane Block, Pain, Postoperative, Breast Surgery, Acute Pain, Mastectomy
- Keywords
- Serratus Anterior Plane Block, Regional Anesthesia, Postoperative Analgesia, Breast Surgery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 70 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara Etlik City HospitalOther government
- Study start
- 6 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 19 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 31 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the analgesic efficacy of transverse versus longitudinal ultrasound probe orientations during Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block in patients undergoing breast surgery. The study hypothesizes that the longitudinal approach (probe parallel to the ribs) may provide better craniocaudal spread of the local anesthetic, thereby resulting in lower postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and reduced opioid consumption compared to the standard transverse approach.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Transverse SAP Block | Active comparator | Procedure: Transverse SAP BlockPatients will receive an ultrasound-guided Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block at the 4th rib level. The ultrasound probe will be placed in a transverse orientation (perpendicular to the ribs). A total of 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine will be injected into the fascial plane. |
| Longitudinal SAP Block | Active comparator | Procedure: Longitudinal SAP BlockPatients will receive an ultrasound-guided Serratus Anterior Plane (SAP) block at the 4th rib level. The ultrasound probe will be placed in a longitudinal orientation (parallel to the ribs in the craniocaudal axis). A total of 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine will be injected into the fascial plane. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Patients aged between 18 and 65 years
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I, II, or III
- BMI between 18 - 30 kg/m2
- Patients scheduled for elective breast surgery
- Ability to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Known allergy to local anesthetics
- Infection at the injection site
- Severe coagulopathy or use of anticoagulants
- Chronic opioid use or history of neuropathic pain
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transverse SAP BlockTransverse serratus anterior plane block will be performed on the patients using 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance. | Procedure or surgery | Transverse SAP Block |
| Longitudinal SAP BlockLongitudinal serratus anterior plane block will be performed on the patients using 20 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine under ultrasound guidance. | Procedure or surgery | Longitudinal SAP Block |
Primary outcome
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Time frame: 4 hour after surgery
Pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale from 0 mm (no pain) to 100 mm (worst pain) at rest. Pain assessment will be made at 4 hour after surgery.
5 secondary outcomes
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Total Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Area Under Curve for Pain
Time frame: Up to 24 hours
Assessment of Sensory Blockade Extent
Time frame: Evaluated at 20 minutes following block administration.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transverse SAP Block and Longitudinal SAP Block in people with Fascial Plane Block and Pain, Postoperative, run by Ankara Etlik City Hospital at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact İbrahim MD Topcu (05437860316, ibrahimtpc78@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Postoperative Pain Intensity (time frame: 4 hour after surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2026.