Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
tDCS for Reducing the Incidence of OEI After Cesarean Section
Sponsor: Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University
Summary
Cesarean section is the most common obstetric surgery worldwide. Epidural anesthesia has become the preferred anesthesia method for cesarean sections due to its definite analgesic effect and minimal impact on mother and baby. To ensure postoperative analgesia, intrathecal administration of morphine (the preferred opioid for obstetric intrathecal analgesia) is a routine clinical protocol, but morphine-induced postoperative pruritus is a common adverse reaction. A study targeting the cesarean section population confirmed that the incidence of pruritus after epidural morphine administration is as high as 40%-75%.Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance the activity of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn through the cortical-spinal descending pathway, reverse the inhibitory effect of morphine on them, and restore negative feedback regulation of itch-specific GRPR⁺ neurons; at the same time, it downregulates the phosphorylation level and membrane expression of μ-opioid receptors in the spinal dorsal horn, weakening the receptor activation efficiency of morphine. On the other hand, tDCS can reduce peripheral nerve excitability, decrease mast cell degranulation in the skin, and reduce the release of histamine and tryptase; simultaneously, it inhibits the activation of glial cells in the spinal cord/cortex, decreases the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6, and blocks the vicious cycle of 'inflammation-receptor upregulation-itch exacerbation,' thereby reducing the occurrence of itch.This study aims to explore the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the incidence of morphine-induced itching after cesarean section by inhibiting the central itch perception circuits in cesarean section patients and antagonizing the disinhibitory effects mediated by μ-opioid receptors in the spinal dorsal horn.
Official title: Study on the Preventive and Therapeutic Effects and Mechanism of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Morphine-Induced Itching After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 40 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
104
Start Date
2026-06-15
Completion Date
2027-02-20
Last Updated
2026-07-02
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Transcranial direct current stimulation
Patients in the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) group had the anode of the tDCS device placed on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 area) and the cathode on the right mastoid. The tDCS was administered on the day of surgery (starting within 5 minutes after delivery of the fetus and ending upon transfer to the PACU after surgery). The current intensity was 1.5 mA.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (placebo stimulation)
Sham stimulation group (control group): The anode of the electrical stimulator is placed on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3 region) and the cathode on the right mastoid area. A current of 1.5 mA is applied only during the first 30 seconds after the start of stimulation, after which the current is reduced to 0 mA. All other procedures (electrode placement, stimulation duration, intervention frequency) are the same as those in the experimental group.