Effect of Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block Using Magnesium Sulfate Added to Dexamethasone on Quality of Recovery and Chronic Post Operative Pain Following Open Abdominal Cancer Surgery.
Postoperative Pain · Open Abdominal Cancer Surgery · Quality of Recovery · Chronic Postoperative Pain
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 18 years - 70 years
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 72 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial is designed to evaluate whether adding magnesium sulfate to a dexamethasone-augmented, ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block improves early postoperative recovery and analgesia in adult patients undergoing open abdominal cancer surgery.
A total of 72 participants will be allocated into two groups. Both groups will receive a standard TAP block using bupivacaine and dexamethasone, while the intervention group will additionally receive magnesium sulfate.
The primary outcome of the study is the early quality of recovery assessed at 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, total opioid consumption, time to first rescue analgesia, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, patient satisfaction, block-related complications, intraoperative opioid requirements, hemodynamic parameters, and the incidence of chronic postoperative pain assessed through six months of follow-up.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- •Age 18-70 years.
- ASA physical status I-III.
- Scheduled for elective abdominal cancer surgery.
- Able to understand the study protocol and complete the QoR-15 questionnaire. Provided written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- • Patient refusal.
- Allergy to local anesthetics, dexamethasone, magnesium sulfate, or study medications.
- Coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy.
- Local infection at the injection site.
- Severe hepatic or renal impairment.
- Neuromuscular disorders.
- Chronic opioid use or chronic pain syndromes.
- Pregnancy or lactation in females .
- BMI \>35 kg/m².
- Cognitive impairment or inability to communicate effectively.
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- Quadruple masked
Group D
Patients will receive bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP block using:20ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine 100mg mixed with 8mg dexamethasone (2ml) and diluted to 40ml with normal saline (18ml),20ml per side.
Drug: Bupivacaine · Drug: Dexamethasone
Group DM
Patients will receive bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP block using:20ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine 100mg mixed with 8mg dexamethasone (2ml),250mg magnesium sulfate (2.5ml) and diluted to 40ml with normal saline (15.5ml),20ml per side
Drug: Bupivacaine · Drug: Dexamethasone · Drug: Magnesium sulfate
Bupivacaine DRUG
Patients will receive bilateral ultrasound-guided TAP block using:20ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine 100mg total volume 40ml ,20ml volume per side in both groups.
Dexamethasone DRUG
Dexamethasone 8 mg will be administered as an adjunct to TAP block in both groups
Magnesium sulfate DRUG
Magnesium sulfate 250 mg will be administered as an adjunct to TAP block in DM group only
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) score
Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively
The Quality of Recovery-15 questionnaire will be used to assess the quality of postoperative recovery 24 hours after surgery, evaluating five dimensions: physical comfort, emotional state, psychological support, physical independence, and pain, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 150 (higher scores indicate better recovery).
Secondary measures
Chronic Postoperative Pain
Time frame: Through 6 months postoperatively
Assessing the presence or absence of chronic postoperative pain and its intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain)minimum value of 0, maximum value of 10, where higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Postoperative Pain Intensity
Time frame: At arrival to Post- Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) (0 hour), 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.]
Evaluating postoperative pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
Time to First Request for Rescue Analgesia
Time frame: Within the first 24 hours postoperatively
Recording the duration from the end of surgery until the patient first requests rescue analgesia (when Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)is 4 or more).
Patient Satisfaction
Time frame: At 24 hours postoperatively
Evaluating patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management using a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from very dissatisfied to very satisfied)(minimum value of 1, maximum value of 5, where higher scores mean a better outcome).
TAP Block-Related Complications and Adverse Effects
Time frame: Intraoperatively and throughout the 24-hour postoperative period
Evaluating the overall incidence of any block-related complications or adverse events (including block failure, local anesthetic systemic toxicity, hematoma, infection, pneumothorax, nerve injury, or magnesium-related side effects), reported as the percentage of affected patients out of the total study population
Intraoperative Fentanyl Requirements
Time frame: Intraoperatively (during the surgical procedure)
Measuring the total intraoperative consumption of fentanyl.
Postoperative Nausea
Time frame: During the first 24 hours postoperatively
Recording the incidence of postoperative nausea episodes
Postoperative Vomiting
Time frame: During the first 24 hours postoperatively
Recording the incidence of postoperative vomiting episodes.
Total Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Time frame: During the first 24 hours postoperatively
Measuring the total morphine consumption required by the patient as rescue analgesia.
Heart rate
Time frame: At baseline, after block, every 15 minutes intraoperatively, and at the end of surgery (extubation period)
Assessing heart rate values.
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Time frame: At baseline, after block, every 15 minutes intraoperatively, and at the end of surgery (extubation period).
Assessing Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) values
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Time frame: At baseline, after block, every 15 minutes intraoperatively, and at the end of surgery (extubation period)
Assessing peripheral oxygen saturation levels.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, EgyptAsyut, EgyptStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut University
- Study start
- Dec 1, 2026 Estimated
- Primary completion
- Dec 1, 2028 Estimated
- Study completion
- Dec 1, 2028 Estimated
- First posted
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
Effect of Magnesium Sulfate Added to Dexamethasone-Augmented Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block on Early Quality of Recovery and Chronic Post Operative Pain Following Open Abdominal Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026