Pain, PostoperativePhase 2/3NCT07590752
"Dexa vs Dexmedetomidine With Bupivacaine in TAP Block for Laparotomy Analgesia
A Phase 2/3 study testing Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1 and Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2 in people with Pain, Postoperative and Opioid Use, run by Sahiwal medical college sahiwal at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Transversus abdominis plane block is a regional anesthetic technique which blocks the abdominal neural afferents by introducing local anesthetic into the neuro-fascial plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle and gives analgesia from the skin to parietal peritoneum. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain, Postoperative, Opioid Use, Laparotomy
- What is being tested?
- Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1 and Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 96 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 3 Mar 2024to 4 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients undergoing laparotomy.
- Patients aged 25 to 65 years.
- Both genders.
- Patients with ASA Class I, II.
Who cannot join
- Patients who do not give consent.
- Patients with Comorbidities like DM, HTN, CKD, CLD.
- Patients with bleeding disorders.
- Infection at site of injection.
- Allergy to any drug, local anaesthetic, or other drugs used.
- Patients with polytrauma.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Sahiwal Medical College
Sahiwal, Punjab Province, 57000
Dr Rao Riaz ul Haq, FCPS, 009240452470, slmcswl@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Comparison Of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine As An Adjuvant To 0.25% Bupivacaine In Ultrasound Guided Tap Block On Post-Op Analgesia Duration In Patients Undergoing Laparotomy
Transversus abdominis plane block is a regional anesthetic technique which blocks the abdominal neural afferents by introducing local anesthetic into the neuro-fascial plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle and gives analgesia from the skin to parietal peritoneum. There are studies showing evidence of improved post operative analgesia with addition of adjuvants such as dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone in comparison with plane local anesthesia in terms of time to rescue analgesia and the overall quantity of analgesic used post operatively.
Read the detailed description
After approval of synopsis by the research board and ethical committee and Research department CPSP Karachi, the data collection process will begin. The study will be conducted in the Anesthesia Department of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital Sahiwal. Written informed consent will be obtained from all the patients included in the study. Patients aged between 25 to 65 years, belonging to ASA class-I and class-II, scheduled for laparotomy will be divided into 2 groups of 48 patients each:
- Group A: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2 ml Dexamethasone 8mg.
- Group B: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2ml Dexmedetomidine (1µg/Kg diluted in 2ml saline).
At the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed in both groups using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation. Patients will be observed for any complication like signs of local anesthetic toxicity or hematoma formation at site of block. In PACU and surgical unit, Visual Analogue Scale Score (VAS) will be recorded at arrival to PACU 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours post-operative. A VAS score of ≤3 will be considered satisfactory pain relief. If patients have inadequate analgesia, supplementary rescue analgesia will be given in the form of IV ketorolac 30mg at VAS ≥4. The time of first request for rescue analgesic will be recorded. Post-operative nausea and vomiting will be documented according to a categorical scale: 0 none, 1 nausea, 2 vomiting, 3 nausea and vomiting. Hemodynamic variables such as heart rate and mean arterial pressure will be recorded. The primary outcome will be to compare the time for first rescue analgesia. The secondary outcome will be assessment of postoperative pain using VAS score at 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs.
- Conditions
- Pain, Postoperative, Opioid Use, Laparotomy
- Being tested
- Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1, Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1Drug
Also called Bupivacaine+Dexamethasone
At the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation.
Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2Drug
Also called Bupivacaine+ Dexamethasone +Dexmedetomidine
At the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed in both groups using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| GROUP A | Other | GROUP BUPIVACAINE+DEXAMETHASONE Receives: Drug: Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1 |
| GROUP B | Other | GROUP BUPIVACAINE+DEXAMETHASONE+DEXMEDETOMIDINE Receives: Drug: Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2 |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
postoperative pain
Duration of postop analgesia
Measured: 24 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 May 2026
- Study start3 Mar 2024
- Primary completion3 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion4 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pain, PostoperativeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- * Group A: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2 ml Dexamethasone 8mg. * Group B: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2ml Dexmedetomidine (1µg/Kg diluted in 2ml saline).
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sahiwal medical college sahiwal
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mariam Mumtaz, Sahiwal medical college sahiwal
- Investigators
- Adeel Riaz, MD, Study director, Sahiwal medical college sahiwal
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07590752
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 161/IRB/SLMC/SWL
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 15 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be available on request after completion of study i.e. July 2026
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison Of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine As An Adjuvant To 0.25% Bupivacaine In Ultrasound Guided Tap Block On Post-Op Analgesia Duration In Patients Undergoing Laparotomy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07590752
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 161/IRB/SLMC/SWL
- Conditions
- Pain, Postoperative, Opioid Use, Laparotomy
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 96 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Sahiwal medical college sahiwalOther government
- Study start
- 3 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 3 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 4 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Transversus abdominis plane block is a regional anesthetic technique which blocks the abdominal neural afferents by introducing local anesthetic into the neuro-fascial plane between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle and gives analgesia from the skin to parietal peritoneum. There are studies showing evidence of improved post operative analgesia with addition of adjuvants such as dexmedetomidine or dexamethasone in comparison with plane local anesthesia in terms of time to rescue analgesia and the overall quantity of analgesic used post operatively.
Detailed description
After approval of synopsis by the research board and ethical committee and Research department CPSP Karachi, the data collection process will begin. The study will be conducted in the Anesthesia Department of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital Sahiwal. Written informed consent will be obtained from all the patients included in the study. Patients aged between 25 to 65 years, belonging to ASA class-I and class-II, scheduled for laparotomy will be divided into 2 groups of 48 patients each:
- Group A: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2 ml Dexamethasone 8mg.
- Group B: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2ml Dexmedetomidine (1µg/Kg diluted in 2ml saline).
At the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed in both groups using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation. Patients will be observed for any complication like signs of local anesthetic toxicity or hematoma formation at site of block. In PACU and surgical unit, Visual Analogue Scale Score (VAS) will be recorded at arrival to PACU 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours post-operative. A VAS score of ≤3 will be considered satisfactory pain relief. If patients have inadequate analgesia, supplementary rescue analgesia will be given in the form of IV ketorolac 30mg at VAS ≥4. The time of first request for rescue analgesic will be recorded. Post-operative nausea and vomiting will be documented according to a categorical scale: 0 none, 1 nausea, 2 vomiting, 3 nausea and vomiting. Hemodynamic variables such as heart rate and mean arterial pressure will be recorded. The primary outcome will be to compare the time for first rescue analgesia. The secondary outcome will be assessment of postoperative pain using VAS score at 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- * Group A: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2 ml Dexamethasone 8mg. * Group B: Patients who will receive transversus abdominis plane block with - 18ml Bupivacaine 0.25%+ 2ml Dexmedetomidine (1µg/Kg diluted in 2ml saline).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| GROUP A | Other | Drug: Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1GROUP BUPIVACAINE+DEXAMETHASONE |
| GROUP B | Other | Drug: Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2GROUP BUPIVACAINE+DEXAMETHASONE+DEXMEDETOMIDINE |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients undergoing laparotomy.
- Patients aged 25 to 65 years.
- Both genders.
- Patients with ASA Class I, II.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Patients who do not give consent.
- Patients with Comorbidities like DM, HTN, CKD, CLD.
- Patients with bleeding disorders.
- Infection at site of injection.
- Allergy to any drug, local anaesthetic, or other drugs used.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1Also: Bupivacaine+DexamethasoneAt the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation. | Drug | GROUP A |
| Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2Also: Bupivacaine+ Dexamethasone +DexmedetomidineAt the end of the surgery, bilateral Ultrasound (U/S) guided TAP block will be performed in both groups using ultrasound machine. The patient will be in supine position and a high frequency linear probe will be placed transverse to abdominal wall between the costal margin and iliac crest at mid axillary line. The needle will be introduced in plane of the ultrasound probe directly under the probe and advanced until it reaches the plane between the internal oblique and transverse abdominis muscles. Upon reaching the plane and after negative aspiration test for blood, 2ml of saline will be injected to confirm correct needle position, after which the patient will receive the TAP block as per the group allocation. | Drug | GROUP B |
Primary outcome
postoperative pain
Time frame: 24 hours
Duration of postop analgesia
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data will be available on request after completion of study i.e. July 2026
Related trials for Pain, Postoperative
RecruitingPhase 4
ESP Blocks for Posterior Spinal Fusion
Postoperative Pain
Recruiting
Effect of Cryotherapeutic and Nanotherapeutic Sodium Hypochlorite on Post-Operative Endodontic Pain.
Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis, Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis
RecruitingPhase 2
REctus Sheath Trial
Acute Pain, Postoperative Pain, Acute
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Pectoral Nerve Block (PECS) Using Magnesium Sulfate Added to Dexamethasone on Quality of Recovery and Chronic Post-Mastectomy Pain
Breast Cancer, Postoperative Pain
Active, not recruitingPhase 4
Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Pain in Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section at Assuit University Hospital
Cesarean Section
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Adeel Riaz, MD study director
Sahiwal medical college sahiwal
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#1 and Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj_#2 in people with Pain, Postoperative and Opioid Use, run by Sahiwal medical college sahiwal at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Dr Maryam Mumtaz, MBBS (00923336238201, Maryamsumra3@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
postoperative pain (time frame: 24 hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 May 2026.