Effect of intravenous lidocaine infusion on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy: a study protocol of double-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial

This study will provide a reliable conclusion investigating the effect of intraoperative intravenous lidocaine infusion on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy. The study includes an appropriate sample size and a double-center, randomized, and double-blind placebo-controlled design, which reduces potential bias. The full analysis set consists of all participants according to the intention-to-treat principle and the per-protocol set will be both performed. Per-protocol analysis will be used for sensitivity analyses. Intravenous lidocaine infusion is only continued until patients are transferred out of the post-anesthesia care unit, while the benefit of prolonged infusion in the ward will not be investigated.