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Clinical Trials/NCT07202416
NCT07202416RecruitingNot Applicable

Comparison of Erector Spinae Plane Block and Intrathecal Morphine for Assessements of Quality of Recovery After Caesarean Section: a Randomized Controlled Trial

AUSL Romagna Rimini2 sites in 1 country52 target enrollmentStarted: June 18, 2025Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Enrollment
52
Locations
2
Primary Endpoint
QoR-11 questionnaire score

Study Overview

Brief Summary

Cesarean section is a surgical procedure that involves significant pain, which is managed through a multimodal pharmacological approach.The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the quality of hospitalization after cesarean section using the QRo11 questionnaire in patients treated with a postoperative Erector Spinae Plane Block compared to those treated with intrathecal morphine.

Detailed Description

Cesarean section is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide and is associated with significant postoperative pain. Effective pain control is crucial to enhance maternal recovery, improve mobilization, support breastfeeding, and reduce hospital stay. Traditionally, intrathecal morphine has been widely used as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen. However, its use may be limited by opioid-related side effects such as nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and respiratory depression.

Regional anesthesia techniques targeting the thoracic paravertebral space have recently been introduced to improve postoperative pain control while reducing opioid consumption. The Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block is a relatively simple and safe fascial plane block that has shown promising results in different surgical settings, including obstetric procedures.

The primary aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the quality of recovery after cesarean section using the validated Quality of Recovery-11 (QoR-11) questionnaire. Patients will be allocated to receive either a postoperative ESP block or intrathecal morphine as part of their analgesic protocol.

Secondary endpoints include postoperative pain scores, opioid consumption, incidence of opioid-related side effects, time to mobilization, breastfeeding outcomes, and duration of hospital stay.

This study will provide new evidence on the role of the ESP block in cesarean section and may contribute to optimizing multimodal analgesia strategies for mothers undergoing this procedure.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 45 Years (Adult)
Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • •Adult women aged 18-45 years
  • •ASA physical status II-III
  • •Full-term singleton pregnancy scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria

  • •Coagulation disorders
  • •Emergency surgery
  • •Preoperative infection (including infection at the ESPB puncture site)
  • •Any contraindication to neuraxial analgesia
  • •History of chronic pain
  • •Use of opioids
  • •Allergy to local anesthetics
  • •Hypersensitivity to any drug used in the study
  • •Inability to understand or use verbal pain assessment scales
  • •Refusal to participate in the study

Arms & Interventions

Erector Spinae Plane Block

Experimental

Patients in this group will receive an ultrasound-guided bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block at the end of cesarean section, in addition to standard spinal anesthesia without intrathecal morphine.

Intervention: Erector spinae plane block (Procedure)

Intrathecal MorphineITM

Active Comparator

Patients in this group will receive a standard dose of intrathecal morphine during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section. No additional fascial plane block will be performed.

Intervention: Intrathecal morphine (Procedure)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

QoR-11 questionnaire score

Time Frame: day 1 after surgery

Assessment of QoR-11 questionnaire score

QoR-11 questionnaire score

Time Frame: day 1 after surgery

Assessment of QoR-11 questionnaire score

Secondary Outcomes

  • rescue dose(day 1 after surgery)
  • complications(day 1 after surgery)
  • breastfeeding latch(day 1 after surgery)
  • Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores(4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after cesarean section)
  • Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores(4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after cesarean section)
  • rescue dose(day 1 after surgery)
  • complications(day 1 after surgery)
  • breastfeeding latch(day 1 after surgery)

Investigators

Sponsor
AUSL Romagna Rimini
Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Domenico Pietro Santonastaso

MD

AUSL Romagna Rimini

Study Sites (2)

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