Trial Outcomes & Findings for Neuromuscular Blockade for Post-Cardiac Arrest Care (NCT NCT02260258)

NCT ID: NCT02260258

Last Updated: 2021-01-29

Results Overview

Change in median serum lactate level between enrollment and 24-hours after the receipt of study drug. A negative number indicates that the lactate levels were lower at 24 hours compared to their level at receipt of study drug.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

83 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

24 hours

Results posted on

2021-01-29

Participant Flow

Between December 2014 and May 2019, we recruited adult patients (aged ≥18 years) who experienced a cardiac arrest and subsequently had sustained ROSC (≥20 minutes) but remained unresponsive and were undergoing TTM between 32℃ and 36℃. We added an additional inclusion criterion of a minimum serum lactate level of ≥2mmol/L early in study enrollment.

Of 818 patients assessed for eligibility, 83 met inclusion criteria and were randomized to treatment.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Rocuronium
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Overall Study
STARTED
39
44
Overall Study
COMPLETED
37
43
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
2
1

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Rocuronium
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Overall Study
2 patients in NMB arm and 1 in control arm had clinical changes that precluded drug administration
2
1

Baseline Characteristics

Neuromuscular Blockade for Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Total
n=80 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
66 years
n=5 Participants
64 years
n=7 Participants
65 years
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
17 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
31 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
29 Participants
n=7 Participants
49 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % White)
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
22 Participants
n=7 Participants
42 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % Black/African-American)
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % Asian)
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % American Indian/Native Alaskan)
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % Other)
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race (n, % Unknown/Not Reported)
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
15 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
37 participants
n=5 Participants
43 participants
n=7 Participants
80 participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Congestive Heart Failure
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
12 Participants
n=7 Participants
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Atrial Fibrillation
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Coronary Artery Disease
14 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Prior Cardiac Arrest
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Chronic Pulmonary Disease
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
9 Participants
n=7 Participants
21 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Liver Cirrhosis
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Kidney Disease
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
14 Participants
n=7 Participants
23 Participants
n=5 Participants
Past Medical History: Active Malignancy
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Location (n, % Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest)
35 Participants
n=5 Participants
40 Participants
n=7 Participants
75 Participants
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Initial Rhythm (n, % Shockable)
17 Participants
n=5 Participants
16 Participants
n=7 Participants
33 Participants
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Estimated Low-Flow Time (minutes, median, IQR)
4 minutes
n=5 Participants
2 minutes
n=7 Participants
3 minutes
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Witnessed (n, % yes)
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
26 Participants
n=7 Participants
53 Participants
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Bystander Cardipulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Provided (n, % yes)
24 Participants
n=5 Participants
26 Participants
n=7 Participants
50 Participants
n=5 Participants
Arrest Characteristics: Arrest Etiology (n, % cardiac)
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
30 Participants
n=7 Participants
57 Participants
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: Time from ROSC to Study Drug (hours, median, IQR)
7.5 hours
n=5 Participants
6.3 hours
n=7 Participants
6.5 hours
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: pH (median, IQR)
7.3 pH
n=5 Participants
7.3 pH
n=7 Participants
7.3 pH
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide (pCO2) median, IQR
41.5 mmHg
n=5 Participants
40.0 mmHg
n=7 Participants
41.5 mmHg
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: Partial Pressure of Oxygen (pO2) median, IQR
100.0 mmHg
n=5 Participants
161.0 mmHg
n=7 Participants
132.5 mmHg
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: Shock Stratification (n, % shock)
19 Participants
n=5 Participants
21 Participants
n=7 Participants
40 Participants
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: S-T Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) present (n, % yes)
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Characteristics at Enrollment: Target temperature (median, IQR)
35 celsius
n=5 Participants
34 celsius
n=7 Participants
35 celsius
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 24 hours

Change in median serum lactate level between enrollment and 24-hours after the receipt of study drug. A negative number indicates that the lactate levels were lower at 24 hours compared to their level at receipt of study drug.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Change in Lactate Over 24 Hours
-2.2 mmol/L
-2.3 mmol/L

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 24 hours

Interaction between allocated treatment and time: ratio of geometric mean differences over 24 hours in log lactate values between the two groups.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=80 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Change in Lactate Over 24 Hours: Effect Estimate
1.3 Ratio
Interval 1.0 to 1.8

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of hospitalization, limit 180 days

Time from return of spontaneous circulation to target temperature

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Time ROSC to Target Temperature
6.8 Hours
Interval 5.3 to 9.4
8.3 Hours
Interval 4.7 to 11.2

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Length of Stay Truncated at 28 Days

Population: ICU survivors row include only the 14 patients in each arm who survived to ICU discharge (n=14 in each arm).

Length of stay in ICU

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stay
All patients
6.0 days
Interval 3.0 to 11.0
4.0 days
Interval 3.0 to 7.0
Length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Stay
ICU survivors
9.0 days
Interval 6.0 to 16.0
5.0 days
Interval 4.0 to 12.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of hospitalization, limit 180 days

Population: Includes all patients, and also patients surviving to discontinuation of mechanical ventilation (n=14 in each group). Two patients discharged from the hospital on mechanical ventilation have duration truncated at time of discharge and are considered survivors to extubation.

Mechanical Ventilation Duration in Hours

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Mechanical Ventilation Duration
All patients
102.0 Hours
Interval 64.3 to 206.4
82.7 Hours
Interval 47.4 to 160.7
Mechanical Ventilation Duration
Survivors to extubation
126.3 Hours
Interval 76.1 to 280.6
66.9 Hours
Interval 55.6 to 172.7

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of hospitalization, limit 180 days

In-hospital survival

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Survival
14 Participants
14 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of hospitalization, limit 180 days

Modified Rankin scale to assess neurological outcome at discharge. The scale ranges from 0 to 6, and is used for measuring the performance of daily activities. The score is as follows: * 0: No symptoms * 1: No significant disability (able to carry out all usual activities, despite some symptoms) * 2: Slight disability (able to look after own affairs without assistance, but unable to carry out all previous activities) * 3: Moderate disability (requires some help, but able to walk unassisted) * 4: Moderately severe disability (unable to attend to own bodily needs without assistance, and unable to walk unassisted) * 5: Severe disability (requires constant nursing care and attention, bedridden, incontinent) * 6: Dead. Higher cores represent worse outcomes. Good and bad neurological outcome will be defined as a score of 0-3 and 4-6 respectively. This outcome reports the number of patients with a good neurological outcome( modified Rankin score ≤ 3)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Number of Participants With Rankin Score ≤3
11 Participants
9 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Duration of hospitalization, limit 180 days

Medical Research Council Scale : Measured for 6 muscle groups (3 in the upper limbs and 3 in the lower limbs). Maximum score is 30 (grade 5 for each group) and minimum is 0 (grade 0 for each group). If muscle group strength was not symmetric bilaterally, higher measurement used. Higher scores indicate better outcomes. Grade 5: Muscle contracts normally against full resistance. Grade 4: Muscle strength is reduced but muscle contraction can still move joint against resistance. Grade 3: Muscle strength is further reduced such that the joint can be moved only against gravity with the examiner's resistance completely removed. Grade 2: Muscle can move only if the resistance of gravity is removed. As an example, the elbow can be fully flexed only if the arm is maintained in a horizontal plane. Grade 1: Only a trace or flicker of movement is seen or felt in the muscle or fasciculations are observed in the muscle. Grade 0: No movement is observed

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Rocuronium
n=37 Participants
Patients will receive a bolus dose of 1 mg/kg, then a continuous I.V. infusion as per standard intensive care unit practice. Of note, protocol allows for use of cistatracurium in place of rocuronium for either reasons of drug-shortage or clinical conditions (if institutional preferences for dose adjustment in liver or renal insufficiency arise). Rocuronium: Neuromuscular Blockade
Usual Care
n=43 Participants
Patients will receive 100 mL of normal saline over 5-10 minutes at the beginning of the study in addition to usual care. Normal Saline: Normal Saline
Muscle Weakness Score
30 Points
Interval 28.0 to 30.0
30 Points
Interval 27.0 to 30.0

Adverse Events

Rocuronium

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 23 deaths

Usual Care

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 29 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Mike Donnino

BIDMC

Phone: 6177542882

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place