TAP block versus ESP block for pain after elective cesarean
TAP Block Versus ESP Block in Patients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This will test whether the TAP block or the ESP block gives better pain relief for women having an elective cesarean section.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | University of Padova Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Padova) |
| Trial ID | NCT07292662 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a single-center, randomized trial at the University Hospital of Padua comparing bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks and erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks given after standard spinal anesthesia in elective cesarean patients. A total of 156 women aged 18–45 will be randomized to one of the two ultrasound-guided regional techniques, with pain measured on an 11‑point numeric rating scale at 6, 12, and 24 hours both at rest and on movement. Secondary outcomes include opioid consumption, time to first rescue analgesia, time to ambulation, and initiation of breastfeeding. The protocol follows ethical safeguards and plans to report all results transparently.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Women aged 18–45 planning an elective cesarean who can give informed consent, with no prior uterine surgery and meeting the study's medical and laboratory safety criteria, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with drug allergies, significant cardiac, renal, hepatic or coagulation disorders, degenerative neurologic disease, previous cesarean or uterine surgery, pre‑pregnancy weight under 55 kg, or those having an emergency cesarean are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the preferred block could improve post‑cesarean pain control, reduce opioid use, and speed recovery including earlier ambulation and breastfeeding.
How similar studies have performed: TAP blocks are established for abdominal wall pain and small studies suggest ESP blocks may provide broader somatic and visceral analgesia, but high-quality comparative data in cesarean patients remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 45 years * Elective cesarean section * Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy to any of the drugs used in the study * Heart disease with impaired cardiac function * Stage III or higher kidney failure * Coagulation disorders (platelets \<100,000/μL or INR \>1.5) or severe liver disease * Degenerative central nervous system diseases or peripheral neuropathies * Previous uterine surgery (e.g., myomectomy) * Previous cesarean section Pre-pregnancy weight \<55 kg
Where this trial is running
Padova
- University Hospital of Padua — Padova, Italy (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Lorenzo Alfonsi, MD
- Email: lorenzo.alfonsi@aopd.veneto.it
- Phone: +390498213090
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.