An interventional study of Lumbar spinal anesthesia and Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia in Cesarean, sponsored by Adiyaman University Research Hospital. Not yet recruiting. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-04.
Sponsored by Adiyaman University Research Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This randomized controlled trial compares thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia (T10-11) with conventional lumbar spinal anesthesia (L4-5) in patients undergoing elective cesarean section. The primary outcome is postoperative quality of recovery assessed with the ObsQoR-11 score. Secondary outcomes include block characteristics (onset time, number of blocked dermatomes, presence of sacral sparing, and postoperative motor block assessed with the Bromage scale), hemodynamic parameters, vasopressor and anticholinergic requirements, perioperative complications, and time to first mobilization.
Cesarean delivery is most commonly performed under lumbar spinal anesthesia. Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia, performed at a higher interspace, may produce a more segmental block with less lower-limb motor involvement. Evidence in obstetric patients is limited. This trial will test whether the level of spinal injection, with agent, dose, and volume held constant, affects postoperative recovery after elective cesarean delivery.
Prospective, single-center, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 1:1 allocation. (Computer-generated block randomization) Patients and outcome assessors will be masked to allocation; the anesthesiologist performing the block cannot be masked.
All patients will receive isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% 1.5 mL (7.5 mg) with fentanyl 25 mcg (0.5 mL), total volume 2 mL, identical in both arms. Lumbar arm: L4-5 interspace. Thoracic arm: T10-11 interspace. The level will be identified by landmark technique with the patient in the sitting position, using a 26 G pencil-point spinal needle.
Spinal success will be tested by sensory and motor examination. Sensory block (onset, blocked dermatomes, sacral sparing) will be tested with pinprick, and motor block with the modified Bromage scale. Surgery will start when the block reaches T5. In case of a patchy block or inadequate sensory level, conversion to general anesthesia is planned.
Patients will be monitored with standard ASA monitoring. Hypotension will be defined as mean arterial pressure below 60 mmHg or a decrease of more than 20% from baseline, and will be treated with ephedrine 5 mg IV boluses. Bradycardia will be defined as a heart rate below 50 beats/min and will be treated with atropine 0.5 mg IV. Fluid replacement, antiemetic prophylaxis, postoperative analgesia, and the mobilization protocol will be identical in both arms.
Adiyaman University Research Hospital is the lead sponsor of 51 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
ASA physical status
The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants allocated to this arm will receive spinal anesthesia at the T10-11 interspace for elective cesarean delivery. After injection, onset time of the block, the number of blocked dermatomes, and the presence or absence of sacral sparing will be recorded, and motor block will be assessed with the modified Bromage scale at predefined intervals during the first 24 postoperative hours . All procedures will be performed by experienced anesthesiologists under standard monitoring. Fluid co-loading, hypotension and bradycardia thresholds with the corresponding vasopressor and atropine
Procedure: Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia
Lumbar Spinal Anesthesia Participants in this group will receive conventional spinal anesthesia performed at the lumbar interspace Procedure/Surgery: Lumbar Spinal Anesthesia- (L4-5). The goal is to achieve a standard sensory block level adequate for cesarean delivery. All procedures will be performed by experienced anesthesiologists under standardized conditions. Intraoperative management, including hemodynamic support and fluid administration, will follow the same institutional protocol as in the thoracic group.
Procedure: Lumbar spinal anesthesia
Participants in this group will receive conventional spinal anesthesia performed at the lumbar interspace ( L4-5)
Spinal anesthesia will be performed at the thoracic interspace (T10-11)
Obstetric Quality of Recovery-11 score
Quality of recovery was assessed using the Obstetric Quality of Recovery-11 (ObsQoR-11) questionnaire. Each item is scored from 0 to 10, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 110, where 110 indicates the best possible recovery and 0 indicates the worst.
Time frame: at Postoperative 24th hours
Mean arterial pressure
Mean arterial pressure (MAP), defined as the time-weighted average arterial pressure over a single cardiac cycle, was calculated using the standard formula: MAP = \[(2 × diastolic blood pressure) + systolic blood pressure\] / 3. Continuous or intermittent MAP measurements were used to assess hemodynamic stability and adequacy of organ perfusion throughout the perioperative period. Intraoperative hypotension was predefined as a MAP \<6o mmHg.
Time frame: 0, 5, 15, 30, 45 minutes intraoperatively
Heart rate
Heart rate (HR), expressed as beats per minute (bpm), was continuously monitored using standard electrocardiography. HR was used as an indicator of autonomic and hemodynamic response throughout the perioperative period. Tachycardia was predefined as HR \>100 bpm and bradycardia as HR \<50 bpm.
Time frame: 0. - 5. - 15. - 30. - 45. minutes intraoperatively
Onset time of sensory block
Time from completion of intrathecal injection to loss of sensation to pinprick at the \[ T4\] dermatome, assessed every 1 minute until the level is reached.
Time frame: Within 15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection
Number of blocked dermatomes
Highest and lowest blocked dermatome levels assessed by pinprick testing, and the total number of blocked dermatomes calculated from them.
Time frame: 15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection.
Motor block (modified Bromage scale)
Motor block will be assessed with the modified Bromage scale (0 = able to raise the extended leg; 1 = unable to raise the extended leg but able to flex the knee; 2 = unable to flex the knee but able to move the foot; 3 = unable to move the leg or foot).
Time frame: 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery
VAS scores
Numeric rating scale (0-10) pain scores at rest and on movement. 0 refer no pain and 10 refer the worst pain
Time frame: 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Undecided
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Adiyaman University Research Hospital