Improving pain management for children undergoing major surgeries

Implementing and Personalizing Best-In-Class Opioid-sparing Pain Management for Major Inpatient Surgeries in Children

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10990745

This study is looking at how to create personalized pain relief plans for kids having major surgeries, like heart or spine operations, using a special method that helps reduce the need for strong pain medications, making recovery safer and easier for them.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10990745 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing and implementing personalized pain management protocols for children undergoing major surgeries, specifically cardiac and spine fusion procedures. It aims to utilize a multidose methadone-based approach as part of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, which will be tailored to individual patient needs. By investigating the efficacy and safety of these protocols, the research seeks to minimize opioid use and its associated risks, such as dependence and chronic pain. The study will involve multiple centers and will prioritize safe and effective pain relief strategies for pediatric patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-21 who are scheduled for cardiac surgery or spine fusion procedures.

Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing major surgeries or those outside the age range of 0-21 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce opioid use and its negative side effects in children recovering from major surgeries.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using personalized pain management approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.