NCT07669441 Early Labor Pre-Marking for Epidural Analgesia: Ultrasound vs Manual Palpation
| NCT ID | NCT07669441 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC) |
| Condition | Labor Pain |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 100 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-06-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-08-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 100 participants in total. It began in 2026-06-01 with a primary completion date of 2026-08-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if finding and marking the best spot on the back early in labor helps doctors perform epidural pain relief more successfully in pregnant women. Usually, epidural pain relief is requested when labor pain is already severe, which makes it hard for women to hold still. This makes it difficult to find the right needle spot, leading to more needle attempts The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does using ultrasound to mark the back early in labor (before severe pain starts) help the doctor place the needle correctly on first try without adjusting it? * Does this early marking method lower the number of needle attempts and the time it takes to finish the procedure? Researchers will compare marking the back using an ultrasound machine to the standard method of feeling the spine with hands. Both methods will be done early in the waiting room to avoid the challenges caused by severe pain. Importantly, neither the pregnant women nor the doctors performing the epidural will know which marking method was used. This design prevents personal beliefs or expectations from affecting the procedure, making the study results objective and trustworthy. Participants will, if consented and participated in the study: * Have their lower back examined and marked by a doctor early in labor using either an ultrasound machine or the doctor's hands. * Receive an epidural pain relief in the delivery room when they request it. This will be done by a different doctor who does not know how the back was marked. * Answer short questions about their pain level and how happy they are with the procedure.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Parturients aged 18 years and older, with gestational age at 37 weeks or older. * Actively requesting epidural analgesia for labor pain management without any contraindication to the procedure. Exclusion Criteria: * Parturients with spinal abnormalities or a history of spinal surgery. * Inability to visualize epidural landmarks under ultrasound imaging. * Parturients experiencing severe pain requiring immediate, emergent labor analgesia.
Contact & Investigator
An Vu Nguyen, MD, MSc
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07669441 clinical trial?
This trial is open to female participants only, aged 18 Years or older, studying Labor Pain. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07669441 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07669441 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at an.nv1@umc.edu.vn for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07669441 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07669441 clinical trial?
NCT07669441 is sponsored by University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City (UMC). The principal investigator is An Vu Nguyen, MD, MSc at University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City. The trial plans to enroll 100 participants.