Dexamethasone for Post-operative Pain After Cesarean Delivery Under Neuraxial Anesthesia. (NCT07257406) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Dexamethasone for Post-operative Pain After Cesarean Delivery Under Neuraxial Anesthesia.
Canada87 participantsStarted 2018-09-13
Plain-language summary
After surgery pain in women who have had a cesarean delivery is a determining factor in the quality and duration of their hospital stay. Insufficient pain relief can lead to longer hospitalization and long term pain, which can result in long term use of pain medication. A classic method to alleviate pain after cesarean delivery is by injecting morphine into the spinal fluid, in the women's back, in addition to prescribing morphine by mouth as needed after the surgery. However, the negative effects associated with morphine and morphine-like drugs, limit the doses used, their pain relief capacity, and can negatively affect the after surgical experience of women. An approach which uses pain relief that acts on different pain pathways to treat after surgery pain helps limit the negative effects of different drugs. The potential benefit of dexamethasone as pain relief in women who have had a cesarean delivery is all the more interesting because of its minimal negative effects compared to morphine-like drugs. Its low cost, its effectiveness to prevent nausea, and its impact on the general condition of patients make dexamethasone even more attractive.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
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:
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Cesarean delivery
* Planned spinal or combined neuraxial anesthesia
* Presence of an investigator in the delivery room
* Pregnancy \> 34 weeks gestation
Exclusion Criteria:
* Cesarean delivery under general anesthesia
* Inability to understand French or English
* Allergy or hypersensitivity to dexamethasone
* Allergy to hydromorphone
* Allergy to NSAIDs
* Acute kidney injury or chronic kidney failure
* Preeclampsia
* Extremely urgent cesarean section
* Urgent cesarean section with non-reassuring fetal monitoring
* Known maternal heart disease
* High-grade placental abnormality
* Diabetes (pregnancy or pre-existing)
* Systemic infection, sepsis, fever
* Regular use of dexamethasone in the last year
* Weight greater than 120 kg and less than 70 kg
* Height less than 150 cm
* Chronic pain and/or chronic use of opioids
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Visual Analog Pain Score (VAS) 6 hours post-operatively at first rise