Comparing hydromorphone and sufentanil for pain relief during labor

Efficacy and Safety of Hydromorphone-ropivacaine Versus Sufentanil-ropivacaine for Epidural Labor Analgesia: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 2 Interventional Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province · NCT06036797

This study is testing whether hydromorphone works better than sufentanil for pain relief during labor when used with a common numbing medication.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment240 (estimated)
Ages20 Years to 40 Years
SexFemale
SponsorMaternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province Academic / other
Locations1 site (Wuhan, Hubei)
Trial IDNCT06036797 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydromorphone combined with ropivacaine compared to sufentanil combined with ropivacaine for epidural labor analgesia. Participants will be randomly assigned to four groups, receiving different doses of hydromorphone or sufentanil alongside a consistent dose of ropivacaine. The goal is to determine if hydromorphone offers advantages in pain relief during labor and to identify the optimal dose for effective analgesia.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include pregnant women with a single fetus who are classified as ASA physical status II and can provide informed consent.

Not a fit: Patients with severe respiratory or circulatory diseases, or those with placenta previa, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide improved pain management options for women during labor.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored similar analgesic combinations, but the specific comparison of hydromorphone and sufentanil in this context is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II
* a single fetus
* competent to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* severe respiratory diseases including hypoxemia, respiratory failure and severe pneumonia
* severe circulatory diseases including acute decompensated heart failure and peripartum cardiomyopathy
* placenta previa

Where this trial is running

Wuhan, Hubei

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions AnalgesiaLabor Pain
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.