TAP Block Versus ESP Block in Patients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Section: a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study is comparing two types of pain relief techniques-TAP block and ESP block-for women having an elective cesarean section. Both techniques involve injecting local anesthetic under ultrasound guidance to numb nerves and reduce pain after surgery. The TAP block mainly relieves pain in the abdominal wall, while the ESP block may reduce both abdominal wall and deeper, organ-related pain. The main goal is to see if there's a difference in pain at rest six hours after surgery. The study will also look at pain at later time points, the amount of opioid medication needed, how quickly women can walk, and when they start breastfeeding. A total of 156 women will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two blocks after standard spinal anesthesia. Pain will be measured using a simple 0-10 scale at 6, 12, and 24 hours, both at rest and during movement. The study follows strict ethical rules, ensures patient privacy, and all results-whether positive or negative-will be shared to help improve pain management after cesarean delivery.

NCT Number	NCT07292662
Lead Sponsor	University of Padova
Conditions	Cesarean Delivery, Regional Anesthesia Block
Enrollment	90 participants
Start Date	2026-01-07
Primary Completion	2027-10 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-10 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-13