CompletedNot Applicable

Post-Cesarean Gastrointestinal Dysfunction

Turkey (Türkiye)102 participantsStarted 2025-06-15

Plain-language summary

General anesthesia has a range of effects that can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) system dysfunctions in the postoperative period. These effects are linked to various factors, from the pharmacological properties of anesthetic agents to neurohumoral effects triggered by surgical stress. Commonly encountered GI dysfunctions include nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension due to decreased intestinal peristalsis and the postoperative inflammatory response, delayed gastric emptying, ileus, fatigue, and delayed initiation of oral feeding. These conditions can prolong hospital stay, increase treatment costs, and reduce patient comfort. In clinical practice, protecting GI function and preventing complications after general anesthesia are of great importance. One of the main goals of applying Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols is to reduce the surgical stress response, thereby promoting rapid recovery and improving GI functions. Postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction after cesarean section is a common complication that negatively impacts the recovery process. This condition manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and an inability to pass flatus, and it can prolong hospital stay and increase costs. Opioid analgesics are known to negatively affect postoperative GI motility, and regional anesthesia techniques can alleviate these problems by reducing opioid requirements. Fascial plane blocks like the TAP block are thought to reduce somatic and visceral pain by injecting local anesthetics between the deep and superficial layers of the fascia, and may positively influence GI functions through sympathetic blockade. This study aims to observationally investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided transabdominal plane (TAP) block on postoperative gastrointestinal system (GI) dysfunctions in patients who have undergone cesarean section.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years – 50 Years

SexFEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing elective cesarean section surgery under general anesthesia Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II-III Patients able to understand and respond to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain No history of drug or alcohol addiction No coagulation disorders No anatomical abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system No gastrointestinal motility disorders No previous abdominal surgery No allergies to local anesthetic drugs No history of diabetes mellitus No severe systemic diseases No intraoperative surgical complications (such as bleeding, conversion to open surgery, or organ injury) Successful block achievement (for relevant groups) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing emergency cesarean section under general anesthesia Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status IV-V Patients unable to understand the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain (due to cognitive or psychiatric disorders, or mental impairments) Emergency operations Patients with drug or alcohol addiction Coagulation disorders Anatomical abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system Gastrointestinal motility disorders Previous abdominal surgery Allergy to local anesthetic drugs Diabetes mellitus Presence of severe systemic disease Intraoperative surgical complications (such as bleeding, conversion to open surgery, organ injury, etc.) Unsuccessful block placement

What they're measuring

PRO-diGI (Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Gastrointestinal Dysfunction after major abdominal surgery)

Timeframe: 24. hour, 48. hour, 72. hour

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07067021

SponsorElazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-30