Nerve block to treat severe belly pain in the emergency department

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This early-phase study compares the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) using bupivacaine to standard systemic pain medications for adults with intractable nonsurgical abdominal pain in the emergency department. It uses an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to measure pain reduction and assess how feasible it is to implement ESPB in a busy ED setting. The trial examines non-inferiority of ESPB on pain scores and whether it reduces morphine milligram equivalents used for control. Feasibility considerations include time, provider willingness, patient acceptance, and supply availability. The study is conducted at UC Irvine's Department of Emergency Medicine with trained ED physicians performing ultrasound-guided ESPB.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Over 18 years of age
* Abdominal pain that is intractable, defined as pain persisting despite administration of more than one dose of narcotic medication
* Nonsurgical abdominal pain, determined by either a benign abdominal exam not warranting a computed tomography (CT) scan, or a CT scan showing no identifiable surgical process
* Patient may present from the Emergency Department (ED) or may be an admitted inpatient

Exclusion Criteria:

* Under 18 years of age
* Pregnant, confirmed by a positive pregnancy test sent on all female patients of childbearing age presenting with abdominal pain
* Psychiatric patients
* Unable to verbalize a pain score, or impaired decision-making capacity (e.g., obtunded, intoxicated, lethargic, critically ill, intubated, or cognitively impaired)
* Any contraindication to nerve blocks, such as infection overlying the injection site, a bleeding disorder, or an allergy to anesthetic
* Surgical abdomen requiring serial abdominal exams

Where it's running

• UC Irvine, Department of Emergency Medicine
  Orange, California, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Megan E Guy, MD
• Email: guym@hs.uci.edu
• Phone: 805-295-9404

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Cervical ESPB to help pain after proximal humerus repair

  This study tests whether a cervical erector spinae plane block helps manage postoperative pain after surgery to fix a proximal humeral fracture in adults under general anesthesia.

  Recruiting Menoufia University · Shibīn al Kawm, Menoufia · NCT07824466

• Single-level vs two-level erector spinae plane block for breast surgery

  This study tests whether a single-level ESPB provides similar pain relief to a two-level ESPB for adults undergoing breast surgery.

  Recruiting Atatürk Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital · Yenimahalle, Ankara · NCT07747623

• Midpoint transverse process to pleura block vs erector spinae plane block for thoracic herpes zoster pain

  This study compares two ultrasound-guided nerve blocks to see which better eases pain from thoracic herpes zoster in adults 21–60.

  Recruiting Tanta University · Tanta, El-Gharbia · NCT07732556

• Continuous ESP Block for Analgesia After CABG Surgery

  This trial tests whether a continuous erector spinae plane (ESP) block with ropivacaine, delivered via catheter and patient-controlled analgesia, provides better postoperative pain relief than placebo in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

  Recruiting Phase 3 Instituto do Coracao · São Paulo, São Paulo · NCT07666178

• External Oblique Intercostal Plane Block vs Erector Spinae Plane Block for Paediatric Upper Abdominal Surgeries

  This study tests whether two ultrasound-guided nerve blocks—external oblique intercostal plane and erector spinae plane—provide different pain relief for children undergoing upper abdominal surgery.

  Recruiting Alexandria University · Alexandria · NCT07617545

• Quadro‑Iliac Plane Block versus Erector Spinae Plane for pain after total hip replacement

  This will test whether the quadro‑iliac plane block or the erector spinae plane block controls pain better after total hip replacement in adults having spinal anesthesia.

  Recruiting Tanta University · Tanta, El-Gharbia · NCT07537036

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.