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Local Anesthetic

ESP Block for Kidney Stones

Phase 4
Recruiting
Led By Michael Secko, MD
Research Sponsored by Stony Brook University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 10 minutes after the esp block
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial compares standard care to a spinal injection for kidney stone pain. The injection aims to block pain signals and provide relief. Pain levels will be measured over time after the injection.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults aged 18 to 65 who are experiencing flank pain due to kidney stones and are in the emergency department. They should be generally healthy without serious heart, lung, liver, or kidney problems. Pregnant women and those with allergies to local anesthetics like Ropivacaine can't join. Also excluded are individuals with a history of spine issues or mental disease exacerbations.
What is being tested?
The study is examining if injecting Ropivacaine (an anesthetic) near the spine (ESP block) is better at managing acute pain from kidney stones compared to standard medications alone. Participants will either receive this injection along with standard care or just the standard treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
Ropivacaine may cause side effects such as low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, numbness around the injection area, and rarely nerve damage. Standard care medications' side effects vary depending on what's used but often include stomach upset and drowsiness.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~before the esp block
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and before the esp block for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Baseline Pain before intervention
Pain score at 10 minutes
Pain score at 20 minutes
+2 more
Secondary study objectives
Need for extra opiates

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: ESP Nerve Block for Renal colicActive Control1 Intervention
On top of receiving standard of care, At T8 nerve level, with ultrasound guidance to bathe the nerve
Group II: Standard of careActive Control1 Intervention
Whatever medications the clinician normally treats renal colic with

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
The Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) Block is a regional anesthesia technique that involves injecting a local anesthetic near the erector spinae muscle to block pain signals at the spinal level, providing targeted pain relief for acute conditions like kidney stones. This method is beneficial as it offers effective pain control without the systemic side effects associated with oral or intravenous medications. Other common treatments include NSAIDs or opioids for pain management, which reduce inflammation or alter pain perception, and alpha-blockers that relax urinary tract muscles to facilitate stone passage. Understanding these mechanisms helps kidney stone patients and their healthcare providers select the most effective and least invasive pain management strategy, improving comfort and outcomes during stone passage.

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Who is running the clinical trial?

Stony Brook UniversityLead Sponsor
222 Previous Clinical Trials
42,007 Total Patients Enrolled
Michael Secko, MDPrincipal InvestigatorStonyBrook University Hospital
~5 spots leftby Jul 2025