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DeliriumPhase 4PE-PODNCT02213900

Preventing Post-Operative Delirium in Patients Undergoing a Pneumonectomy, Esophagectomy or Thoracotomy

A Phase 4 study testing Haloperidol in people with Delirium and Cognitive Impairment, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a preventative low-dose of Haloperidol to prevent delirium in patients undergoing a esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Haloperidol
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
135 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Sep 2013to Dec 2015
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • At least ≥ 18 years of age and older
  • Undergoing a possible or scheduled thoracotomy
  • English speaking

Who cannot join

  • History of Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease
  • History of Severe Dementia
  • History of Alcohol Abuse
  • On Cholinesterase Inhibitors or Levodopa
  • Pregnant or Nursing
  • Corrected QT interval > 550 milliseconds at the time of randomization
  • History of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Haloperidol Allergy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University Hospital

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Preventing Post-Operative Delirium in Pneumonectomy, Esophagectomy and Thoracotomy Patients

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a preventative low-dose of Haloperidol to prevent delirium in patients undergoing a esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy.

Delirium is state of severe confusion and some symptoms include:

  • Cannot think clearly
  • Have trouble paying attention
  • Have a hard time understanding what is going on around them
  • May see or hear things that are not there. These things seem very real to them.
Read the detailed description

50% of patients who undergo esophageal and/or lung resection suffer from acute brain dysfunction or delirium postoperatively. Delirium is a state of brain failure characterized by disturbance of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention that occurs over a short period of time and tends to fluctuate over the course of the day. Presence of delirium in the post-operative phase is associated with a longer length of both intensive care unit and hospital stay, increased health-care costs, long-term functional and cognitive decline, and an increased risk of in-hospital and post-discharge mortality.

Haloperidol primarily acts by blocking dopamine (D2) receptors. This dopamine blockade in the cerebral cortex improves cognition and reduces delirium. Along with the dopamine blockade, haloperidol has anti-inflammatory properties. It inhibits production of lipopolysaccharide induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Haloperidol also increases levels of Interleukin -1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), an anti-inflammatory cytokine that blocks the action of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. If unchecked, the inflammatory cytokines cause impaired concentration, sleep disturbances, and agitation the cardinal symptoms of delirium; and induce a reduction in cholinergic activity. Given the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on certain cytokines such as interleukin-6, a repetitive cycle of inadequate regulation of inflammation due to cholinergic depletion ensues. Haloperidol with its anti-inflammatory properties seeks to mitigate this repetitive vicious cycle.

Being tested
Haloperidol, Placebo
Keywords
delirium, confusion, surgery, cognitive Impairment, post-traumatic Stress disorder, depression, anxiety
Medical subject headings
Delirium, Cognitive Dysfunction, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Confusion

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • HaloperidolDrug

    0.5mg IV Push immediately after surgery and Q8H following for a total of 4 days

  • PlaceboDrug

Study groups in NCT02213900
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
HaloperidolExperimentalRandomized patients will receive 0.5mg Haloperidol immediately after surgery and Q8H following the initial dose for a total of 4 days.
Receives: Drug: Haloperidol
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorRandomized patients will receive a placebo solution immediately after surgery and Q8H following for a total of 4 days.
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium Incidence

    Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing delirium incidence among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.

    Measured: Up to 30 days

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Days With Delirium

    Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing the number of days with delirium among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.

    Measured: Up to 30 days

  2. Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of Stay

    Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing ICU and hospital length of stay among patients who are status post esophagectomy or pneumonectomy compared to placebo.

    Measured: Date of hospital admission through date of hospital discharge, up to 3 weeks on average.

  3. Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-up

    Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing cognitive impairment at post-operative follow-up among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo. Cognitive status is assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The RBANS measures attention, language, visuospatial/constructional abilities, and memory. It is made up of 12 subtests. The subtests produce 5 index scores and a total scale score. All the subtest scores are summed to calculate a Total Index score. The Total Index score is presented. The Total Index score scale is from 0-100 with higher scores indicating less cognitive impairment.

    Measured: Up to 3 months after hospital discharge on average.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Aug 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2013
  3. Primary completionDec 2015
  4. Study completionDec 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
135 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02213900
Sponsor's protocol ID
VFR-398-Khan
Acronym
PE-POD
Status last verified
Mar 2017
First submitted
18 Mar 2014
Last updated
13 Apr 2017
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Khan BA, Perkins AJ, Campbell NL, Gao S, Khan SH, Wang S, Fuchita M, Weber DJ, Zarzaur BL, Boustani MA, Kesler K. Preventing Postoperative Delirium After Major Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery-A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Dec;66(12):2289-2297. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15640. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

    PubMed 30460981

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Haloperidol in people with Delirium and Cognitive Impairment, run by Indiana University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Apr 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Apr 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium Incidence (time frame: Up to 30 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02213900, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Apr 2017; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.

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