Can a nerve block replace morphine for Post-Cesarean pain?
NCT ID NCT07807592
First seen Sep 08, 2026 · Last updated Sep 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether an ultrasound-guided nerve block can match the pain relief of spinal morphine after a cesarean delivery. The block uses bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine injected near the quadratus lumborum muscle. Researchers will measure how much extra morphine women need in the first 24 hours after surgery. The goal is to find a pain control method with fewer side effects, such as itching and nausea, while still supporting recovery and bonding with the baby.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block with bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine, compared to intrathecal morphine
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this nerve block could offer a safer alternative to spinal morphine, reducing side effects like itching and nausea while still controlling pain after cesarean delivery.
- What could go wrong
- The block may not provide pain relief as strong or as long-lasting as morphine. The trial is small (80 participants) and results may not apply to all women or all cesarean settings.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 80 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 45 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years • Singleton pregnancy • Term pregnancy (≥ 37 weeks gestation) • Scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II or III • Ability to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to spinal anesthesia or regional nerve blockade • Known hypersensitivity to any study medication (bupivacaine, dexmedetomidine, morphine) • Significant cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, or renal disease • Preeclampsia or eclampsia • Coagulopathy or bleeding diathesis • Infection at the injection site • Chronic pain conditions • Current opioid use or substance abuse • History of psychiatric illness that may interfere with pain assessment • Emergency cesarean delivery
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.