Evaluating Opioid-Sparing Pain Control Methods for Adults Undergoing Gender Affirming Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are comparing different pain management methods available for patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery. The study aims to find out if any of these standard care options are more effective in controlling surgery-related pain. It focuses on adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria who are having one of several specified gender-affirming surgeries performed by designated surgeons. Participants receive combinations of anesthetic nerve blocks and local anesthetics tailored to their specific surgery type. These include various ultrasound-guided nerve blocks such as pudendal, femoral, brachial plexus, spermatic cord blocks, and transversus abdominis plane blocks, as well as local injections of bupivacaine with or without epinephrine. The timing of these blocks varies from before incision to during and after surgery. During the study, participants pain location and intensity are tracked daily from the first postoperative day until about 30 days after surgery. Opioid use and side effects like urinary retention, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues are monitored closely. Patient satisfaction with pain and comfort is assessed, along with complications and hospital stay length. Follow-up visits and questionnaires support comprehensive safety and effectiveness evaluations over approximately one month.

Development of Effective, Opioid Sparing Techniques for Peri-operative Pain Management of Transgender Patients Undergoing Gender Affirming Surgeries