Milestone Reached: Washington University Enrolls 100th Lumpectomy Participant in the CARES Trial

We are thrilled to congratulate the team at Washington University in St. Louis on a significant achievement: enrolling their 100th lumpectomy participant in the CARES (Comparing Analgesic Regimen Effectiveness and Safety after Surgery) Trial. This milestone underscores their strong commitment to improving surgical recovery and advancing the science of pain management.

Advancing Pain Management for a Common Surgical Procedure

The CARES Trial is a crucial international, multicenter study designed to answer a fundamental question: which pain medicines are most effective and safest after outpatient surgery? At Washington University, the team is making a vital contribution by focusing on patients undergoing lumpectomy, a common procedure to remove a small lump of tissue from the breast.

Participants in the trial are randomized to receive one of two pain management strategies:

• A non-opioid regimen: NSAID + acetaminophen

• A low-dose opioid regimen: 10 pills of oxycodone 5 mg (or equivalent) + acetaminophen

The study will follow these patients for up to six months, assessing not only pain levels but also side effects, quality of recovery, sleep, and the risk of prolonged opioid use.

A Major Step Toward Better Care

By enrolling 100 participants in this surgical group, the Washington University team has taken an important step toward gathering the robust data needed to inform evidence-based pain management guidelines. The insights gained from this large cohort will directly help healthcare providers make better decisions, ultimately leading to safer, more effective, and patient-centered recovery for people around the world.

“Reaching 100 lumpectomy participants is a remarkable achievement for our team at Washington University. This milestone reflects the dedication of our research staff, surgeons, and surgical trainees and, most importantly, the trust and generosity of patients who have chosen to take part in CARES. Together, we are helping to generate evidence that will guide safer, more effective pain management not just here in St. Louis, but for surgical patients everywhere.”

— Dr. Simon Haroutounian, Site Principal Investigator, Washington University

We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Simon Haroutounian and the entire Washington University team for their dedicated partnership. We also want to express our gratitude to every participant who has joined the study and made this milestone possible. Their contribution is invaluable to the success of the CARES Trial.

The CARES Trial is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

(PCORI).