Does the Speed of Sternal Retraction Affect Postoperative Pain Outcomes
CompletedNot applicableNCT02697812
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Brief summary (from the registry)
In North America, almost ½ million people undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery annually and over 1/3rd develop chronic chest pain. The current study will randomize cardiac surgery patients to undergo slow sternal retraction for heart exposure (over 15 min.) versus standard-of-care (sternal opening over 30 seconds) and examine the incidence and severity of chronic post-sternotomy pain (CPSP) and quality-of life 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. The severity of acute post-operative pain will also be measured. Increased retraction time reduces forces required, which should translate to reduced nerve/tissue damage. If effective, this simple change in practice could be readily implemented with a major impact for patients and the health care system overall.
Study details
- Official title
- Does the Speed of Sternal Retraction During Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Affect Postoperative Pain Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Conditions
- Interventions
- Procedure: slow sternal retraction
- Sponsor
- Dr. Tarit Saha
- Organization
- Queen's University
- Start date
- 2014-01
- Primary completion
- 2019-12
- Sex
- All
- Age range
- from 18 Years to 75 Years
- Results posted
- No results posted in this snapshot
- Countries
- Canada
- Total sites listed
- 1
Eligibility criteria
Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: * elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery * understand written informed consent * ASA I,II or III Exclusion Criteria: * revision cardiac surgery * current alcohol/substance abuse * pre-existing chronic pain requiring chronic analgesic use * rest pain in proposed surgical area preoperatively * chronic steroid use * inability to perform postoperative assessments
Canadian sites (1)
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02697812