British Journal of Anaesthesia

Effect of intraperitoneal ropivacaine during and after cytoreductive surgery on time-interval to adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer: a randomised, double-blind phase III trial

In a previous phase II trial, intraperitoneal local anaesthetics shortened the time interval between surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, an endpoint associated with improved survival in advanced ovarian cancer. Our objective was to test this in a phase III trial. A double-blind, phase III parallel superiority trial was conducted at two university hospitals in Sweden, within a public and centralised healthcare system. Women >18 yr with advanced ovarian cancer scheduled for cytoreductive surgery, an ASA physical status of 1-3 with no speech/language issues, were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned using a central computerised system to receive either ropivacaine 0.2% or saline 0.9% (placebo) intraperitoneally during and after surgery. The primary endpoint was time to return to intended oncologic therapy (RIOT), analysed using t-test and linear regression adjusted for centre. Of the 225 women randomised between August 2020 and December 2023 (ropivacaine n=113; placebo n=112), 175 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (ropivacaine n=86; placebo n=89). Median age: ropivacaine group 64 yr (56-73 yr), placebo group: 66 yr (57-74 yr). The mean RIOT in the ropivacaine group was 26.5 days vs 25.8 days in the placebo group, with a mean difference of 0.7 days (-2.2 to 3.4 days; P=0.65). Per-protocol analysis of 166 women yielded similar results, mean difference of 0.5 days (-2.4 to 3.4 days; P=0.74) days. There were no differences in short-term recovery or postoperative morbidity. Intraperitoneal local anaesthetic did not shorten the time to RIOT among women undergoing surgery for advanced ovarian cancer in this trial. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04065009), European Union Clinical Trials Register (2019-003299-38/SE).

Return to intended oncologic therapy: a potentially valuable endpoint for perioperative research in cancer patients?

Intraperitoneal ropivacaine reduces time interval to initiation of chemotherapy after surgery for advanced ovarian cancer: randomised controlled double-blind pilot study

Advanced-stage ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis; surgical resection with the intent to leave no residual tumour followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment. Local anaesthetics (LA) have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. We hypothesised that intraperitoneal LA (IPLA) would lead to improved postoperative recovery, better pain relief, and earlier start of chemotherapy. This was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in 40 women undergoing open abdominal cytoreductive surgery. Patients were randomised to receive either intraperitoneal ropivacaine (Group IPLA) or saline (Group Placebo) perioperatively. Except for study drug, patients were treated similarly. Intraoperatively, ropivacaine 2 mg ml No complications from LA administration were recorded. Pain intensity and rescue analgesic consumption were similar between groups. Time to initiation of chemotherapy was significantly shorter in Group IPLA (median 21 [inter-quartile range 21-29] vs 29 [inter-quartile range 21-40] days; P=0.021). Other parameters including time to home readiness, home discharge and incidence, and complexity of postoperative complications were similar between the groups. Intraperitoneal ropivacaine during and for 72 h after operation after cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer is safe and reduces the time interval to initiation of chemotherapy. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these initial findings. NCT02256228.