Segmental Thoracic vs Lumbar Spinal: Recovery After Elective Cesarean

November 2, 2026 updated by: Nezir Yılmaz, Adiyaman University Research Hospital

Effect of Thoracic Segmental Spinal Anesthesia Versus Conventional Lumbar Spinal Anesthesia on Early Mobilization and Obstetric Quality of Recovery in Elective Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 45 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section
  • ASA II-III
  • Age 18-45 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to spinal anesthesia
  • Coagulopathy or anticoagulant use
  • Infection at puncture site
  • Severe cardiac disease
  • Patient refusal

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Thoracic segmental spinal anesthesia

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

Spinal anesthesia will be performed at the thoracic interspace (T10-11)
Active Comparator: Lumbar 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)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Obstetric Quality of Recovery-11 score
Time Frame: at Postoperative 24th hours

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.
at Postoperative 24th hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean arterial pressure
Time Frame: 0, 5, 15, 30, 45 minutes intraoperatively

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.
0, 5, 15, 30, 45 minutes intraoperatively
Heart rate
Time Frame: 0. - 5. - 15. - 30. - 45. minutes intraoperatively

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.
0. - 5. - 15. - 30. - 45. minutes intraoperatively
Onset time of sensory block
Time Frame: Within 15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection

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.
Within 15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection
Number of blocked dermatomes
Time Frame: 15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection.

Highest and lowest blocked dermatome levels assessed by pinprick testing, and the total number of blocked dermatomes calculated from them.
15 minutes after completion of intrathecal injection.
Motor block (modified Bromage scale)
Time Frame: 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery

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).
1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery
VAS scores
Time Frame: 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery

Numeric rating scale (0-10) pain scores at rest and on movement. 0 refer no pain and 10 refer the worst pain
1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Adiyaman University Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

November 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 21, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

November 4, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 2, 2026

Last Verified

October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ADYU-ANS-NY-016

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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