Could a simple nerve block replace opioids for Children's ear surgery pain?
NCT ID NCT07276906
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compares a nerve block (injecting numbing medicine near the ear) to standard painkillers (fentanyl and ketorolac) for children aged 6 months to 6 years having ear tube surgery. The goal is to see if the nerve block works just as well for pain control, with fewer side effects like nausea or breathing trouble. Three hundred children will be randomly assigned to one of the two approaches, and both families and doctors won't know which treatment was given.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- bupivacaine (nerve block) vs. fentanyl and ketorolac (standard care)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a safer, opioid-free way to manage pain after ear tube surgery in children, reducing risks like nausea and breathing problems.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-center trial with 300 children, so results may not apply broadly. The nerve block might not control pain as well as standard drugs, and there is a small risk of side effects from the local anesthetic.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Children and Woman's Hospital
Mobile, Alabama, 36604, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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