Adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine for pain relief after abdominal surgery
Official title: Comparison of Pain Relief by Bupivacaine With Dexmedetomidine and Bupivacaine Alone in Transversus Abdominis Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgeries.
Run by Sheikh Zayed Medical College · NCT07285083 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will try adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in a TAP block to see if adults having elective abdominal surgery get better pain relief and need less extra pain medicine than with bupivacaine alone.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 21 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Sheikh Zayed Medical College Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab Province) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 2025 |
| Study ends | December 2025 |
| Registry record updated | December 22, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07285083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 21–45 who are having elective abdominal surgery at the study site and can give informed consent are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are pregnant, have severe allergies to local anesthetics, have pre-existing chronic pain conditions, or are outside the 21–45 age range are not eligible and would not be expected to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized, controlled trial at Sheikh Zayed Medical College will enroll 80 adults aged 21–45 undergoing elective abdominal surgery and randomize them to receive an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with either bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine or bupivacaine alone at the end of surgery. Pain will be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at multiple time points up to 12 hours postoperatively, with rescue analgesia given if VAS > 4. Secondary outcomes include Ramsay Sedation Score, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and occurrence of side effects such as hypotension, bradycardia, and nausea. Data will be analyzed using SPSS with significance set at p < 0.05 to determine whether adding dexmedetomidine prolongs analgesia or reduces additional analgesic needs without unacceptable side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding dexmedetomidine could provide longer-lasting pain relief after abdominal surgery and reduce the need for extra opioid or rescue analgesics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials and meta-analyses of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetics for peripheral and TAP blocks have generally shown longer analgesia and reduced opioid use, though they have also reported increased sedation and occasional hemodynamic effects.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 21 to 45 years. 2. Undergoing elective abdominal surgery (exploratory laparotomy, ileostomy reversal, laparoscopic/open cholecystectomy, mesh repair of paraumbilical hernias). 3. The patient must be capable of providing informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy. 2. Severe allergies to local anesthetics. 3. Pre-existing chronic pain conditions. 4. Participation in another clinical trial within the past 30 days.
Where it's running
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Sheikh Zayed Medical College
Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab Province, Pakistan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Rameesha Musharaf, FCPS ANESTHESIA (PGR)
- Email: rameeshamusharaf96@gmail.com
- Phone: 0092-334-5038000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.