New pain relief method may rival epidurals after colon surgery

NCT ID NCT01552226

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Trinity Health Michigan Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study compared two standard pain relief methods after colon or rectal surgery: a preperitoneal catheter that delivers local anesthetic near the surgical site, and an epidural catheter placed before surgery. Researchers measured pain scores and how much extra pain medication patients needed. The goal was to see if the simpler preperitoneal method works as well as the epidural.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: On-Q Silver Soaker catheter (delivers local anesthetic) and epidural catheter (delivers epidural analgesia)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that a simpler, less invasive pain relief method works as well as an epidural after colon or rectal surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study (98 participants) comparing two standard methods. It does not test a new drug or cure, so results may not change practice widely.

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.

colon carcinoma colonic neoplasm Diverticulosis, Colonic rectal cancer rectal neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

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

COLON CANCER COLONIC DIVERTICULOSIS RECTAL CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106, United States

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