Comparing two pain relief methods after breast reconstruction surgery
Official title: ESPBs vs TAPs for Satisfactory Analgesia Following DIEP Surgery
Run by University of Kansas Medical Center · NCT06091241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing whether a new pain relief method before breast reconstruction surgery can help women feel less pain afterward compared to a standard method, with the goal of reducing the need for opioid medications.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 102 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Kansas Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kansas City, Kansas) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | July 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06091241 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adult women with breast cancer who are classified as ASA 1-3 and are scheduled for DIEP flap surgery.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are chronic opioid users or have contraindications to local anesthetics or regional analgesia may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of two different regional anesthesia techniques, Erector Spinae Plane blocks (ESPBs) and Transversus Abdominis Plane blocks (TAPs), for managing postoperative pain in women undergoing Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap surgery. The study aims to determine if preoperative ESPBs can provide pain relief comparable to TAPs, potentially reducing the need for opioid pain medications. Participants will receive one of the two interventions before their surgery, and their pain levels will be monitored postoperatively to assess the effectiveness of each technique.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved pain management strategies for patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery, enhancing recovery and reducing opioid dependency.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that ESPBs can effectively reduce opioid requirements in similar surgical procedures, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult women with breast cancer, ASA 1-3, undergoing DIEP flap surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic opioid use contraindications to local anesthetics or regional analgesia Inability to communicate intensity of pain on a numeric analog scale
Where it's running
-
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Rachel Keller
- Email: rkeller@kumc.edu
- Phone: 9139458072
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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.