C-Section pain pump put to the test: could it cut opioid need?

NCT ID NCT05131178

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at whether a continuous pain pump delivering bupivacaine (a numbing medicine) after a C-section reduces the need for stronger opioid painkillers compared to a placebo pump with salt water. One hundred pregnant women having C-sections will be randomly assigned to receive either the active drug or placebo through the pump for up to four days. The goal is to see if the bupivacaine pump alone is responsible for lower opioid use, helping improve recovery after surgery.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: bupivacaine
What this could lead to: If it works, this could confirm that the bupivacaine pump is what reduces opioid use after C-sections, helping guide standard pain management.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 100 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The placebo group also gets standard care, so the difference might be small.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Pain, Postoperative

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

CESAREAN SECTION POST-OPERATIVE PAIN

Contacts and locations

Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado
RECRUITING

Aurora, Colorado, 80011, United States

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