Remifentanil and Hyperalgesia: Gradual Withdrawal Versus Immediate Discontinuation

NCT ID: NCT03110653

Last Updated: 2017-10-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-04-15

Study Completion Date

2017-08-30

Brief Summary

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Modern anesthesia has made a lot of progress, however, postoperative pain remains one of the major problems associated with patient discomfort, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs.

Remifentanil is an ultra-short-acting phenylpiperidine opioid analgesic with high lipid solubility and a rapid onset of effect.

Recently, opioid use has also been associated with postoperative opioid-induced hyperalgesia or acute opioid tolerance. An immediate discontinuation of remifentanil has been associated to increased postoperative pain levels.

We would like to investigate whether a gradual post-operative withdrawal of remifentanil is indeed associated with less immediate pain compared to after an abrupt withdrawal in surgical patients undergoing minor surgery.

Detailed Description

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Modern anesthesia has made a lot of progress, however, postoperative pain remains one of the major problems associated with patient discomfort, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs.

Remifentanil is an ultra-short-acting phenylpiperidine opioid analgesic with high lipid solubility and a rapid onset of effect.

It is rapidly metabolized by non-specific blood and tissue esterases, which also ensures rapid recovery. Remifentanil can be given in high doses and is easily titratable. Due to its rapid elimination, a bridge to post-operative analgesia is a necessity when using this drug.

Recently, opioid use has also been associated with postoperative opioid-induced hyperalgesia or acute opioid tolerance. An immediate discontinuation of remifentanil after digestive surgery has been associated to increased postoperative pain levels.

Studies have been done to investigate this phenomenon. Gradual withdrawal of remifentanil seems to be associated with less pain in a rodent population. (4) A recent study by Norwegian colleagues in a human population evaluating two types of pain stimuli seems to confirm this in healthy volunteers. (5) The investigators would like to investigate whether a gradual post-operative withdrawal of remifentanil is indeed associated with less immediate pain compared to after an abrupt withdrawal in surgical patients undergoing minor surgery.

Methods and materials Sample size The primary outcome of the study is to compare the first post-operative demand of analgesic drugs (mins).

Between both groups, we considered a difference of first demand of post-operative analgesia at 35 minutes or more to be of clinical relevance.

Thus, at a two-sided alpha level of 0.05 and power of 90% (Standard deviation 27), the study needs to be conducted on 26 patients, each group consisting of 13 patients.

As data is always lost, the study will be conducted on 30 patients (15 in each group).

Statistical analysis will be done using Mann-Whitney U test.

Blinding procedure and data collection The study is 'double' blinded. Patients, the anesthesiologist and an external observer will be blinded.

A neutral observer will collect data pre-operatively and post-operatively (first 24 hours post-operation).

Concretely, the observer will pre-operatively collect an informed consent form of the patient and, at the same time, asses the patient's state via QoR-40. Both groups will have a remifentanil infusion upon arrival in the PACU. A nurse, independent to the study, will prepare the adequate post-operative syringe (remifentanil diluted at 20 µg/ml or NaCl 0.9%) and will change the syringe according to pre-operative randomization.

Post-operatively, in the PACU, the quantity of morphine used as well as NRS at several times post-operative will be written down.

Once the patient is at the ward, the observer verifies NRS 24 hours post-operatively and, at the same time, patient comfort at 24 hours post-operative will be evaluated through QoR-40 scores.

Study design Protocol Premedication: each group receives alprazolam (0.5 mg) one hour pre-operatively.

Monitoring In both groups, hemodynamic stability will be evaluated by monitoring ECG, heart rhythm, pulse oximetry and (noninvasive) blood pressure, BIS levels, NMT (TOF ratio).

In case blood pressure drops 20% or more from initial measurement, a bolus of ephedrine will be given in both groups.

The total quantity of each drug used will be written down. All drugs are administered intravenously. Different timings will be written down (induction time, incision time, end of surgery time, extubation time).

Group 1 Induction Remifentanil TCI (Minto model) 5 ng/ml Propofol TCI (Schnider model) closed loop (via Toolbox) adjusted to BIS levels between 40-60 Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg Maintenance Remifentanil TCI (minto model) 5 ng/ml Propofol TCI (Schnider model) closed loop (via Toolbox) adjusted to BIS levels between 40-60 Upon the incision Acetaminophen 1g Diclofenac 1mg/kg Dexamethasone 10 mg Morphine 0.15 mg/kg Rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg

End of the surgery Ondansetron 4mg Discontinuation of propofol TCI Extubation based on TOFF ratio \> 90% Remifentanil TCI 2ng/ml Post-operative analgesia (PACU) Remifentanil TCI: gradual withdrawal: reduction of 30% / 15 mins (2 -\> 1.4 -\> 1 -\> 0.7-\> 0.5 -\> 0.35 -\> 0.25 -\> 0 ng/ml) Acetaminophen 1g/6h Diclofenac 1mg/kg /12h Morphine (two mg /5 min if NRS \> 3/10) (As all patients are monitored and under immediate medical surveillance, no limit will be imposed to morphine consumption.)

Group 2 Induction Remifentanil TCI (Minto model) 5 ng/ml Propofol TCI (Schnider model) closed loop (via Toolbox) adjusted to BIS levels between 40-60 Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg Maintenance Remifentanil TCI (Minto model) 5 ng/ml Propofol TCI (Schneider model) closed loop (via Toolbox) adjusted to BIS levels between 40-60 Upon the incision Acetaminophen 1g Diclofenac 1mg/kg Dexamethasone 10 mg Morphine 0.15 mg/kg Rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg

End of the surgery Ondansetron 4mg Discontinuation of propofol TCI Remifentanil TCI 2 ng/ml Extubation based on TOFF ratio \> 0.9 Post-operative analgesia (PACU) Remifentanil abrupt discontinuation / NaCl 0.9% (control group with a reduction of 30% /15 mins) (2 -\> 1.4 -\> 1 -\> 0.7-\> 0.5 -\> 0.35 -\> 0.25 -\> 0 ng/ml) Acetaminophen 1g/6h Diclofenac 1mg/kg /12h Morphine (two mg / 5 min if NRS \> 3/10) (As all patients are monitored and under immediate medical surveillance, no limit will be imposed to morphine consumption.)

Conditions

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Anesthesia Pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Patients, the anesthesiologist and an external observer will be blinded.

Study Groups

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Remifentanil

Remifentanil TCI: gradual withdrawal: reduction of 30% / 15 mins (2 -\> 1.4 -\> 1 -\> 0.7-\> 0.5 -\> 0.35 -\> 0.25 -\> 0 ng/ml)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Remifentanil

Intervention Type DRUG

Remifentanil will be continued postoperatively, while being decreased (gradually by 30% every 15 mins)

NaCl 0.9%

Remifentanil abrupt discontinuation / NaCl 0.9% (control group with a reduction of 30% /15 mins) (2 -\> 1.4 -\> 1 -\> 0.7-\> 0.5 -\> 0.35 -\> 0.25 -\> 0 ng/ml)

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

NaCl 0.9%

Intervention Type DRUG

NaCl 0.9% will be administered postoperatively, while being decreased by 30% every 15 mins.

Interventions

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Remifentanil

Remifentanil will be continued postoperatively, while being decreased (gradually by 30% every 15 mins)

Intervention Type DRUG

NaCl 0.9%

NaCl 0.9% will be administered postoperatively, while being decreased by 30% every 15 mins.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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ultiva physiological serum

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* All patients undergoing a thyroid surgery
* male/female
* from the age of 18 until 65
* ASA physical status of I-III
* Knowledge of French, English or Dutch is required in order to be enrolled in this study.

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnancy
* hypo-/hyperthyroidism
* gastro-duodenal ulcer
* allergy or contraindications to one of the study drugs
* renal insufficiency
* liver insufficiency
* neuropsychiatric disturbance
* BMI \>30
* history of drug and alcohol abuse
* preoperative analgesic drug use
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Université Libre de Bruxelles

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sarah Saxena

Dr

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Luc Barvais

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Erasme Hospital, Brussels

Locations

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Erasme Hospital

Brussels, , Belgium

Site Status

Countries

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Belgium

References

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Saxena S, Gonsette K, Terram W, Huybrechts I, Nahrwold DA, Cappello M, Barvais L, Engelman E. Gradual withdrawal of remifentanil delays initial post-operative analgesic demand after thyroid surgery; double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2019 Apr 25;19(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12871-019-0731-9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 31027480 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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remi074

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id