Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal Nerve Blocks
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Thoracic
Sponsor: University of Virginia

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 1 of 10 
 
PROTOCOL 
 
Background 
1. Provide the scientific background, rationale and relevance of this project.   
INSTRUCTIONS 
• This should include a referenced systematic evidenced-based review when possible.   
• If this study involves qualitative research explain the major constructs of your study.  
• Do not state in this section what you plan to do in this study.  This information 
should be entered later under “What will be done in this protocol?” 
• Do not include the bibliography in this section. 
• For studies submitted under the Expedited review criteria, this section need not be 
more than a few paragraphs.  
• For those studies where data will be analyzed collaboratively by multiple sites doing 
a similar study for which there is no common protocol (Collaborative Site Analysis 
Study) include a description of the common scientific goals/ procedures/data points. 
• If this is a FIVE YEAR UPDATE make sure the information throughout the protocol 
includes the most current information.  
Post-surgery pain management is critical for ensuring timely patient recovery and 
minimizing complications. Part of the multimodal approach to managing severe acute pain in the 
days following surgeries is the use of nerve blocks. The relatively short-lived effect of 
commonly used local anesthetics recently prompted the development and subsequent approval of 
a liposomal formulation of bupivacaine (Exparel; Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Parsippany, New 
Jersey). It has demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics compared to bupivacaine HCl, with a 
slower release into blood stream of up to 96 hours after administration, following a single dose 
wound infiltration at the end of various surgeries (summarized in (1)). Studies using other modes 
of administration reported similar results (2, 3).  
Thoracic surgeries pose an exceptional challenge as they are one of the most painful 
surgeries and poor pain-management contributes to reduced quality of life and severely delayed 
recovery (4, 5). The anesthesiology protocol within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery 
(ERAS) program at medical centers across the world aim to increase patient comfort after 
surgery while reducing complications and use of opioids. As a common part of this protocol, 
intercostal nerve blocks with liposomal bupivacaine are regularly utilized for reduction of post-
thoracotomy pain and studies show that it may be just as or more effective than bupivacaine HCl 
for treatment of pain, decreasing hospital stays and reducing incidence of complications (6-8).  
Despite its frequent use in the surgical room for nerve blocks, the pharmacokinetics of a 
single dose injection of liposomal bupivacaine at the intercostal nerves has never been 
investigated. The aim of this study is to assess the pharmacokinetics of liposomal bupivacaine 
injected at the intercostal nerves to aid in the standardization of post-thoracotomy pain 
management. Further, the information gleaned from this study will allow for the optimal use of 
additional local anesthetics, particularly those administered intravenously, for the purpose of 
obtaining maximal pain relief while minimizing the occurrence of local anesthetic toxicity.  

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 2 of 10 
 
 
Objectives/Hypothesis  
INSTRUCTIONS:   
If this study involves biomedical research clearly state the objectives and hypotheses and 
clearly define the primary and any secondary outcome measures.  If this study involves 
qualitative research clearly state your research hypothesis or question.  
 
This section should not include information already included in other sections such as 
background information or information from the procedures section.  
 
The intent of this prospective study is to evaluate the serum concentrations of liposomal 
bupivacaine following a surgeon administered, single dose injection at the intercostal nerves, at 
the start of thoracotomies. The primary end points will be to assess the time to peak serum 
concentration/s of liposomal bupivacaine (Tmax) and peak serum concentration/s (Cmax) after a 
single-dose injection in the intercostal nerves. We will also determine pharmacokinetic 
parameters such as area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC) and time apparent 
terminal elimination half-life (T1/2). In doing so, we will obtain serum bupivacaine 
concentrations at various times following wound infiltration. Additionally, we will monitor pain 
levels in the patients through the 96-hour period after intercostal nerve block injection.  
 
Study Design: Biomedical 
1.  Will controls be used? 
No 
 
►IF YES, explain the kind of controls to be used. 
Answer/Response: N/A 
 
2. What is the study design?  
Example:  case series, case control study, cohort study, randomized control study, 
single-blind, double-blind, met-analysis, systematic reviews, other.  You may also view 
the IRB-HSR Learning Shot on this topic to help you answer this question.  
(http://www.virginia.edu/vpr/irb/learningshots/Writing_protocol_June09/player.html 
Pharmacokinetic study of single-dose surgeon administered liposomal bupivacaine  
 
3. Does the study involve a placebo? 
No 
 
►IF YES, provide a justification for the use of a placebo 
Answer/Response: N/A 
 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 3 of 10 
Human Participants 
Ages: >18___ 
Sex: 
_Male and Female___ 
Race: __Any__ 
 
Subjects- see below 
INSTRUCTIONS: For question 1-4 below insert an exact #.  Ranges or OPEN is not 
allowed.  This # should be the maximum # you expect to need to enroll (i.e. sign 
consent) If you are only collecting specimens the number of participants should equate 
to the # of specimens you need.  If you are collecting only data from a chart review the 
number should designate the number of subjects whose medical records you plan to 
review.  Age/ Sex/Race criteria should designate the demographics of participants from 
whom you will obtain the specimen/data. 
1.  Provide target # of subjects (at all sites) needed to complete protocol. 
INSTRUCTIONS: If this is NOT a database protocol, this number should be the same as 
the number of subjects needed to obtain statistically significant results.    
15 
 
2.  Describe expected rate of screen failure/ dropouts/withdrawals from all sites.   
We estimate a 25% rate of withdrawal/failure/dropout. This percentage also includes those 
patients who decline to consent. As such, we will aim to consent 20 patients.   
 
3.  How many subjects will be enrolled at all sites?    
INSTRUCTIONS: This number must be the same or higher than the # from question # 1 
in order to account for the # of screen failures, dropouts, withdrawals described in 
question # 2.  
20 
 
4.  How many subjects will sign a consent form under this UVa protocol?     
INSTRUCTIONS: If the protocol does not have a consent form- the number listed here 
should reflect such things as the number of subjects from whom specimens will be 
obtained, the number of charts to be reviewed etc.  
20 
 
 
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
• The inclusion and exclusion criteria should be written in bullet format. 
• This item applicable if the study will require consent (verbal or written).        Unless there 
is a scientific reason for not recruiting a certain type of vulnerable population(e.g. not 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 4 of 10 
enrolling fetuses, neonates or children in a study regarding Alzheimer’s) list the 
following vulnerable populations under either Inclusion or Exclusion criteria below:  
pregnant women, fetuses, neonates, children, prisoners, cognitively impaired, 
educational or economically disadvantage, non- English speaking subjects . 
• If you will not enroll subjects who do not speak English because certain procedures 
cannot be carried out if the subject does not speak English (e.g. a survey is not validated 
in other languages) insert the following as an Inclusion Criteria:  Willingness and ability 
to comply with scheduled visits and study procedures.   
• If this is a collection of only retrospective* specimens or data, the inclusion criteria must 
include a start and stop date for when specimens/ data will be collected.   
• The stop date must be prior to the version date of this protocol. 
• *Retrospective:  all specimens are in a lab at the time this protocol is approved by the 
IRB.  All data exists in medical records or records from previous studies at the time this 
protocol is approved by the IRB.   
1.  List the criteria for inclusion  
• >18 years of age 
• Undergoing thoracotomy 
 
2.  List the criteria for exclusion 
• Non-English speaking 
• Pregnant women 
• Prisoners 
• Weighing <50 kg  
• Allergy to local anesthetics 
• Patients unable to understand the risks and benefits of the study and to consent for 
themselves 
 
 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 5 of 10 
3.  List any restrictions on use of other drugs or treatments. 
N/A 
Statistical Considerations 
1. 
Is stratification/randomization involved? 
No 
 
►IF YES, describe the stratification/ randomization scheme. 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
The stratification factors and/or the randomization plan should be identified. If there is 
no randomization component or important patient characteristics that will be used in 
treatment allocation or data analysis, a statement to this effect should be included. 
 
Stratification factors: These are pretreatment patient characteristics which could be 
balanced across treatment arms by design or may be used to determine starting dose or 
treatment allocation. 
 
If randomization is going to be used, the details of the randomization plan should be 
described.  
 
The description should include: 
--the method and timing of randomization 
--the type of randomization scheme that will be used in the study 
--whether or not the randomization masked/blinded/if so, then to whom is it 
masked/blinded 
--who has access to the randomization scheme 
N/A 
 
►IF YES, who will generate the randomization scheme? N/A 
_____ Sponsor 
_____ UVa Statistician.   Insert name Answer/Response: 
_____ UVa Investigational Drug Service (IDS) 
_____ Other:  Specify   Answer/Response: 
 
2.  What are the statistical considerations for the protocol?  
The objectives section and the statistical section should correspond, and any objective for 
which analysis is unfeasible should be deleted.  Also, the estimates and non-statistical 
assumptions of the statistical section should be supported by discussion in the background 
section. 
 
The answer to this question should include: 
--Study Design/Endpoints 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 6 of 10 
--Recap of study objectives and endpoint definitions. An assessment of how study objectives 
will be assessed by identifying & defining which endpoints will be used to assess each 
component of the study objectives. 
--The study design should include contingencies for early stopping, interim analyses, 
stratification factors (If applicable), and any characteristics to be incorporated in analyses.  
--The power/precision of the study to address the major study endpoint(s), the assumptions 
involved in the determination of power/precision. 
--If statistical hypothesis testing is included then specify the null and alternative hypotheses, 
the test statistic, and the type I and II error rates 
--If precision of an estimate, then provide a definition for precision 
--If other, then specify  
This is a prospective pharmacokinetic study investigating the pharmacokinetic 
parameters of liposomal bupivacaine injected at the intercostal nerves by the surgeon at the start 
of a thoracotomy. The primary endpoint of this study is to evaluate the time to peak serum 
concentration/s of liposomal bupivacaine (Tmax) as well as maximal serum concentration/s 
(Cmax). Additional end-points will include the assessment of area under serum concentration-time 
curve (AUC) and observed terminal elimination half-life of liposomal bupivacaine (T1/2). These 
parameters will allow us to generate a pharmacokinetic profile of liposomal bupivacaine injected 
in the intercostal nerves by determining serum bupivacaine concentrations at various set times 
following wound infiltration at the intercostal nerves. This study will only have one group and a 
sample size of 15 subjects. 
We do not anticipate stopping this study early. We may conduct an interim analysis of the 
pharmacokinetic data to assess whether the chosen blood draw times are sufficient to properly 
analyze the pharmacokinetics. In other words, if after interim analysis we note undetectable 
levels of the anesthetic at the first few time points or if we do not reach peak plasma 
concentration by the last time point, we will adjust blood draws to reflect these results in order to 
obtain the most complete pharmacokinetic data and to minimize blood draws.  
 
3.  Provide a justification for the sample size used in this protocol.   
Include the anticipated accrual rate, the accrual goal for the study, including accrual goals by 
strata if appropriate, adjustments for drop-outs etc. and study duration. 
Answer/Response:  
The data to aid in the determination of sample size calculation are inadequate. However, 
published studies investigating the pharmacokinetics of liposomal bupivacaine all enrolled a 
small number of patients. The most relevant and similar to our study is the data published by 
Viscusi et al. As such, our determination of sample size is based on this previous report. Viscusi 
et al. assessed the pharmacokinetics of 266mg liposomal bupivacaine injected in the epidural 
space (3). Here, the total subject number was 7 and the confidence intervals for Tmax were very 
large: 8 – 48 hours with the median being 24 hours. We believe that a sample size of 15 subjects 
for our study would be sufficient to obtain better confidence intervals for our Tmax target. We 
anticipate that the drop-out rate will be 25% and as such, will aim to consent 20 patients and  
anticipate that the study will last for 3 months.   
 
 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 7 of 10 
4.  What is your plan for primary variable analysis? 
Include a sketch of the analysis to assess primary study objectives. 
Answer/Response: N/A 
 
5.  What is your plan for secondary variable analysis?  
Include the following:  
--A sketch of the analysis to assess secondary study objectives. 
--For phase III studies, the power/precision of the study to address the secondary objective(s). 
Answer/Response: N/A 
 
6. Have you been working with a statistician in designing this protocol? 
Yes 
 
IF YES, what is their name?   
Answer/Response: Eric Schneider, Ph.D. 
 
 
 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 8 of 10 
7.  Will data from multiple sites be combined during analysis?   
N/A 
INSTRUCTIONS:  IF YES, answer the following questions 
 
7(a).  Does the study involve randomization?   
No 
 
 
IF YES, will randomization be done at each site or among sites?   
Answer/Response: N/A 
 
 
7(b).  Has the sample size calculation considered the variation among sites?  
N/A 
 
 
7(c).  When combining the data from multiple sites to assess the study results, is the 
effect of the treatment to be tested (or the association to be tested) assumed to be the 
same across sites or vary among sites? What is the modelling strategy? 
N/A 
 
 
7(d). Is there a common protocol used in all sites?  
N/A 
 
 
IF NO, how will differences among sites, such as those related to the 
implementation, inclusion criteria, patient characteristics, or other sites 
characteristics, be considered to assess the study results? 
Answer/Response: N/A 
 
 
Study Procedures-Biomedical Research 
 
1.  What will be done in this protocol?    
INSTRUCTIONS:  
This should include everything that will be done as part of this protocol. Do not repeat 
information that is included in other sections such as Background or Hypothesis 
sections.  
This section should include an indication of which research interventions if any offer a 
prospect for direct benefit and which interventions (invasive measurements, collection 
of blood, tissue, data, surveys, etc.) are being done solely to answer a research question 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 9 of 10 
and generate generalizable knowledge. If the interventions done solely for research 
purposes are associated with greater than minimal risk they need to be justified. 
Describe and justify any control and experimental arm and include method, dose, and 
duration of drug administration. Reference any claim of clinical equipoise if applicable.   
 
If you are obtaining specimens or data, provide information regarding the type of 
specimen/data, amount of specimen needed and how the specimen/data will be 
obtained and what analysis will be done with the specimen/data. 
 
Special note for studies with waiver of consent/waiver of documentation of consent:  
Include a statement regarding how subjects will be recruited. For other studies this 
information is captured in Recruitment does not need to be duplicated in this section. 
In this study, patients who are undergoing thoracotomies will be consented separately from the 
surgery itself. Patients will be consented for the study on the day of the surgery in the Surgical 
Admission Suites (SAS), prior to being taken to the OR. The study participants will be given a 
standard (266 mg/20ml) single dose injection of liposomal bupivacaine by the surgeon at the 
start of the surgery. Immediately prior to the injection of the local anesthetic, 5 ml of blood will 
be drawn from the patient via the arterial line. The arterial line will be placed as part of standard 
surgery procedure and not for the purposes of the study. Blood will then be drawn from the 
patient after the injection of the local anesthetic at 5 mins, 15 mins, 30 mins, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 
48, 72 and 96 h. Each blood draw will be 5 ml. 
The arterial line will not remain in the patient for the purposes of the study and will be removed 
per standard procedure. If more blood samples are needed after the arterial line is removed, we 
will first attempt to obtain blood an existing venous catheter. If blood cannot be obtained this 
way, a venipuncture will be performed.  
Blood samples will be analyzed for the following pharmacokinetic parameters: area under the 
serum concentration-time infinity (AUC), maximum observed serum concentration (Cmax), time 
to attain Cmax (Tmax), and apparent terminal elimination half-life (T1/2). 
At the same time of blood samples, pain scores will be recorded on a standard ten-point pain 
scale. These pain scores will be omitted if the patient is under general anesthesia.   
 
2. If this protocol involves study treatment, explain how a subject will be transitioned from 
study treatment when they have completed their participation in the study.   
Example:  If the subject will be taking an investigational drug, will they need to be put 
back on an approved drug when they have completed the study?  If yes, explain how 
this will be accomplished and who will cover the cost.  If the subject has a device 
implanted will it be removed?  Again- who will cover the cost of the removal?   
Instructions: Answer NA if this study does not involve a study treatment.   
Answer/Response:  N/A 
 
 
 
 

Pharmacokinetics of Single-Dose Liposomal Bupivacaine in Surgeon Performed Intercostal 
Nerve Blocks 
 
UVA Study Tracking:  
HSR Submission Number: 12324 
Version Date: 11/14/17 
Page Number: 10 of 10 
Subject Compliance with Study Procedures 
1.  Explain how the study team will monitor the subject for compliance with the study 
procedures. 
 (e.g. study team will administer study drug/ study interventions, study drug inventory of 
dispensed and returned drug, diary etc.) 
The blood draws will first be done by surgery personnel followed by the post-surgery 
care team. A member of the study team will be present at all blood draws. 
 
2.  Describe criteria for when a subject is considered to be non-compliant with study 
procedures.   
(e.g. subject returns more than 20% of the study drug, subject misses 20% of study 
visits) 
Answer/Response: Subject declines to complete all of the blood draws.   
Bibliography 
INSTRUCTIONS:  Provide a current bibliography supporting the hypothesis, background and 
methodology including references to papers and abstracts that have resulted from previous 
work by the investigator and references to the work of others. 
 
References 
1. Hu, D., Onel, E., Singla, N., Kramer, W.G., and Hadzic, A. (2013) Pharmacokinetic profile of 
liposome bupivacaine injection following a single administration at the surgical site. Clin.Drug 
Investig. 33, 109-115 
2. Davidson, E.M., Barenholz, Y., Cohen, R., Haroutiunian, S., Kagan, L., and Ginosar, Y. 
(2010) High-dose bupivacaine remotely loaded into multivesicular liposomes demonstrates slow 
drug release without systemic toxic plasma concentrations after subcutaneous administration in 
humans. Anesth.Analg. 110, 1018-1023 
3. Viscusi, E.R., Candiotti, K.A., Onel, E., Morren, M., and Ludbrook, G.L. (2012) The 
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of liposome bupivacaine administered via a single 
epidural injection to healthy volunteers. Reg.Anesth.Pain Med. 37, 616-622 
4. De Cosmo, G., Aceto, P., Gualtieri, E., and Congedo, E. (2009) Analgesia in thoracic surgery: 
review. Minerva Anestesiol. 75, 393-400 
5. Wenk, M., and Schug, S.A. (2011) Perioperative pain management after thoracotomy. 
Curr.Opin.Anaesthesiol. 24, 8-12 
6. Khalil, K.G., Boutrous, M.L., Irani, A.D., Miller, C.C., Pawelek, T.R., Estrera, A.L., and Safi, 
H.J. Operative Intercostal Nerve Blocks With Long-Acting Bupivacaine Liposome for Pain 
Control After Thoracotomy. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 100, 2013-2018 
7. Mehran, R.J., Walsh, G.L., Zalpour, A., Cata, J.P., Correa, A.M., Antonoff, M.B., and Rice, 
D.C. (2017) Intercostal Nerve Blocks With Liposomal Bupivacaine: Demonstration of Safety, 
and Potential Benefits. Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.  
8. Rice, D.C., Cata, J.P., Mena, G.E., Rodriguez-Restrepo, A., Correa, A.M., and Mehran, R.J. 
Posterior Intercostal Nerve Block With Liposomal Bupivacaine: An Alternative to Thoracic 
Epidural Analgesia. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 99, 1953-1960