Recruiting

RATS-OTC

Sponsor:

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Code:

NCT07184463

Conditions

Thoracic Surgery

Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery

Robotic-assisted Thoracic Surgery

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Evaluation of chronic pain at 3 and 6 months after thoracic surgery

Study Details

Brief summary:

Pulmonary resections are key in treating lung neoplasms, with techniques adapted to tumor size and location. Minimally invasive approaches like VATS have replaced open thoracotomy, but intercostal trocar placement can lead to nerve injury and chronic pain.

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is usually done via a transthoracic (RATS-TT) approach using intercostal trocars. A newer "out of cage" method (RATS-OTC), using subcostal or subxiphoid ports, avoids intercostal access, potentially reducing nerve damage. A French study showed less opioid use and acute pain with RATS-OTC, but chronic pain outcomes are still unknown.

At CHUM, a hybrid RATS technique (RATS-TTH) is also used-intercostal for instruments, but with out-of-cage specimen extraction-to limit intercostal trauma.

Conditions

Thoracic Surgery

Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery

Robotic-assisted Thoracic Surgery

Study ID

NCT07184463

Start date

Dec 5, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients aged 18 years and older
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 1-3

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Language barrier, psychiatric, physical or mental condition making pain assessment impossible despite prior education
  • Patient refusal to participate
  • Patients reoperated by VATS or thoracotomy in the postoperative period in the context of the occurrence of complications

Study Design

Enrollment

120 participants

Anticipated

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

Pulmonary resections surgery with three surgical approaches:

RATS-OTC (no intercostal access)

RATS-TT (intercostal instruments and specimen)

RATS-TTH (intercostal instruments, out-of-cage specimen)

Interventions

Evaluation of chronic pain at 3 and 6 months after thoracic surgery

The presence of persistent postoperative pain, defined as ipsilateral chest pain (on the same side as the surgery) occurring at rest and/or with coughing on a daily basis. Assessed by a 'yes' or 'no' response when asked at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Primary outcome measure

  • Presence of persistent postoperative pain [ Time Frame: 3 and 6 months after surgery ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Alex Moore, MD

514-890-8000alex.moore.med@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Julie Desroches, PhD

514-890-8000anesthesie.recherche.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Locations

Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montreal

Recruiting

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 3E4

Contacts

Alex Moore, MD

514-890-8000alex.moore.med@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Julie Desroches, PhD

514-890-8000anesthesie.recherche.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

More Information

Sponsor

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Last update posted

Feb 23, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • chronic pain

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) on 2026-02-23.