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NCT Number: NCT07487246

Paracervical Block With Combined Ketorolac and Lidocaine for Osmotic Dilator Placement

The purpose of this study is to improve pain management for participantswho need osmotic dilators for cervical preparation the day before their second trimester abortion procedure.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

The purpose of this study is to improve pain management for participantswho need osmotic dilators for cervical preparation the day before their second trimester abortion procedure. Osmotic dilators are sticks that are inserted into the cervix. They soak up fluid and expand overnight, gently opening the cervix. We are studying an injection of ketorolac (a liquid anti-inflammatory medication similar to ibuprofen) combined with lidocaine (a liquid numbing medication), which is injected vaginally to the area surrounding the cervix. Ketorolac is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intravenous (IV) and intramuscular injection and has been studied as a paracervical injection for participants having first trimester abortion procedures in the office. It has not previously been studied for osmotic dilator insertion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age >/= 18 years English or Spanish speaking Ability and willingness to sign the informed consent Ability and willingness to comply with the terms of the study including possessing active cell phone with text messaging capabilities Voluntary request for pregnancy termination Ultrasound-confirmed intrauterine pregnancy with an estimated gestational age of 16+0-23+6 weeks gestational age Require osmotic dilator placement one day prior to procedural abortion according to institutional protocol Seeking outpatient abortion services at Rush University Medical Center

Exclusion criteria

Have taken NSAIDs less than 6 hours prior to their clinic visit Contraindications to lidocaine such as allergy to lidocaine, cardiac arrhythmia or heart block, and porphyria Allergic reaction or sensitivity to NSAIDs History of peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal bleed, history of gastric bypass (RYGB) or recent history in last 6 months of gastric sleeve; history of inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) Uncontrolled hypertension, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease Acute renal failure or chronic renal disease Chronic liver disease History of bleeding diathesis Untreated acute cervicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease Require or request PO benzodiazepine or IV sedation for placement of osmotic dilators Require more than 1 day of osmotic dilators Chronic or current narcotic use Current recreational drug use (excluding cannabis) Require transabdominal/transvaginal injection for induced fetal demise prior to abortion

Treatment and study plan

Ketorolac

Drug

Subjects in the treatment group will take oral placebo 30-60 minutes prior to osmotic dilator placement. Immediately prior to placement of osmotic dilators, a 1% lidocaine + ketorolac paracervical block (containing 18 mL of 1% lidocaine combined with 2 mL ketorolac (30mg) will be administered.

oral ibuprofen

Drug

Subjects in the control group will take oral ibuprofen 600mg 30-60 minutes prior to osmotic dilator placement.

Placebo

Drug

Subjects in the treatment group will take oral placebo 30-60 minutes prior to osmotic dilator placement.

Lidocaine HCl 1%

Drug

Immediately prior to placement of osmotic dilators, a 1% lidocaine paracervical block (containing 18 mL of 1% lidocaine combined with 2 mL of saline) will be performed in the following fashion: Two milliliters of the analgesic mixture will be placed at the tenaculum site intracervically. After the tenaculum is placed, the remaining 18 mL of the analgesic mixture will be administered at 4 and 8 o'clock at the cervicovaginal reflection.

Saline

Drug

Immediately prior to placement of osmotic dilators, a 1% lidocaine paracervical block (containing 18 mL of 1% lidocaine combined with 2 mL of saline) will be performed.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain post-osmotic dilator insertion

    Time frame: After placement of last osmotic dilator, and prior to insertion of gauze and speculum removal

    i. Mean difference between arms in NRS immediately after insertion of osmotic dilators

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain with maintenance of osmotic dilators

    Time frame: 5 minutes to 6 hours after insertion of osmotic dilators

    Mean difference between arms in NRS at 5 minutes (in clinic), 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6 hours (all by text-message) after insertion of osmotic dilators.

  2. Patient Satisfaction

    Time frame: 5 minutes after insertion of osmotic dilators

    Mean difference in satisfaction measured with 100mm VAS.

  3. Cervical dilators (exploratory)

    Time frame: Intraoperatively at start of D&E

    Cervical dilation assessed with digital exam after removal of osmotic dilators at time of D&E; mechanical dilation performed during D&E (yes/no)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Cristina MA Barkowski, MSW, DrPH(s)

CONTACT

[email protected]

312-942-6382

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rush University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Paracervical Block With Combined Ketorolac and Lidocaine on Perceived Pain in Osmotic Dilator Placement for Abortion, a Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: PCB-KinD

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 23, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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