Optimal postoperative pain management after VATS lung resection by thoracic epidural analgesia, continuous paravertebral block or single-shot intercostal nerve block (OPtriAL): study protocol of a three-arm multicentre randomised controlled trial

Table 1 SPIRIT flow diagram: Schedule of assessments

Assessment	Indication for VATS anatomic resection after multidisciplinary meeting	Baseline (Pre-operative outpatient clinic consultation)	Day 0 (day of the operation)	POD* 1	POD 2	POD 3	Hospital discharge	Postoperative outpatient clinic consultation (2–3 weeks after operation)
Time point	t-1	t0	t1	t2	t3	t4	t5	t6
Assessment of eligibility	X	X**
Written informed consent		X
NRS pain score at rest		X						X
Morning				X	X	X
Afternoon			X	X	X	X
Evening			X	X	X	X
NRS pain score during movement		X						X
Morning				X	X	X
Afternoon			X	X	X	X
Evening			X	X	X	X
QoR-15 questionnaire		X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Dosage of used opioids and analgesics			X	X	X	X		X
Patient satisfaction			X	X	X	X
Postoperative complications							X	X
Patient mobility			X	X	X	X
Hospitalisation***								X
iMTA—iMCQ		X						X
iMTA—iPCQ		X						X

*POD: postoperative day
**Assessment of eligibility can take place during a multidisciplinary meeting or can take place if the patient is referred to the surgeon for anatomic lung resection without a multidisciplinary meeting beforehand
***Readmission within 30 days after surgery

ISSN: 1471-2482