Open TAP block versus wound catheter for children having abdominal surgery
Official title: TAP-blockad Vid öppen Bukkirurgi Hos Barn
Run by Uppsala University · NCT07352683 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether an open TAP block or a continuous wound catheter gives better postoperative pain relief for children aged 1–15 undergoing open abdominal surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 1 Year to 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 88 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Uppsala University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Uppsala) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 1, 2030 |
| Study ends | January 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | January 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07352683 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children aged 1–15 years who are scheduled for elective or acute open abdominal surgery and do not meet exclusion criteria are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with chronic abdominal pain, a known allergy to local anesthetics, stage 4 renal failure, significant psychiatric illness, or those undergoing non-open (e.g., laparoscopic) procedures may not benefit or may be ineligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Children aged 1–15 scheduled for elective or acute open abdominal surgery at Akademiska sjukhuset will receive either an open transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block or continuous local anesthetic infusion via a wound catheter for postoperative pain control. Pain scores, additional analgesic use, and adverse events will be recorded in the immediate postoperative period and over the first 24–72 hours after surgery. The comparison focuses on efficacy of local/regional techniques to reduce pain and systemic opioid requirements. Patients with chronic abdominal pain, known allergy to local anesthetic, stage 4 renal failure, or significant psychiatric illness are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the better technique could reduce postoperative pain and opioid needs for children after open abdominal surgery.
How similar studies have gone: TAP blocks and wound catheters have each shown benefit for postoperative analgesia in prior studies, but direct head-to-head comparisons in pediatric open abdominal surgery are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 1-15 years * Scheduled for elective or acute open adominal surgical procedure Exclusion Criteria: * chronic abdominal pain * known allergy to local analgetic * Stage 4 renal failure * psychiatric ailnment
Where it's running
-
Akademiska sjukhuset
Uppsala, Sweden Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Oskar Nensén, MD, PhD — Uppsala University
- Study coordinator: Oskar Nensén, MD, PhD
- Email: oskar.nensen@uu.se
- Phone: +46186110000
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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.