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DeliriumNCT02662257

Impact of Anesthesia Maintenance Methods on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium

A study testing Sevoflurane and Propofol in people with Delirium and Postoperative Complications, run by Peking University First Hospital at 17 sites in China.

Completed

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

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Surgery is one of the major treatment methods for patients with malignant tumor. And, alone with ageing process, more and more elderly patients undergo surgery for malignant tumor. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 to 90 years
What is being tested?
Sevoflurane and Propofol
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,228 participants
Where
17 sitesChina
Study dates
1 Apr 2015to 26 Nov 2017
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 65 to 90 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants will be included if they meet all the following criteria:
  • Age ≥ 65 years and < 90 years;
  • Primary malignant tumor;
  • Do not receive radiation therapy or chemotherapy before surgery;
  • Scheduled to undergo surgery for the treatment of tumors, with an expected duration of 2 hours or more, under general anesthesia;
  • Agree to participate, and give signed written informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Patients will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:
  • Preoperative history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, parkinsonism or myasthenia gravis;
  • Inability to communicate in the preoperative period (coma, profound dementia, language barrier, or end-stage disease);
  • Critical illness (preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification ≥ IV), severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), or severe renal dysfunction (undergoing dialysis before surgery);
  • Neurosurgery;
  • Other reasons that are considered unsuitable for participation by the responsible surgeons or investigators (reasons must be recorded in the case report form).

Trial locations and contacts

17 sites in 1 country.

17 sites in 1 country

China17 sites
  • Peking University First Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 10034

  • Beijing Shijitan Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality

  • Peking University Cancer Hospital

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality

  • Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology

    Beijing, Beijing Municipality

  • The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

    Changsha, Hunan

  • Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital

    Guiyang, Guizhou

  • Zhongda Hospital

    Nanjing, Jiangsu

  • Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University

    Nanning, Guangxi

  • Shenzhen Second People's Hospital

    Shenzhen, Guangzhou

  • Hebei Medical University Forth Hospital

    Shijiazhuang, Hebei

  • Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital

    Taiyuan, Shanxi

  • Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital

    Taiyuan, Shanxi

  • Tianjin Nankai Hospital

    Tianjin

  • Tang-Du Hospital

    Xi'an, Shaanxi

  • Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University

    Xining, Qinghai

  • Ningxia People's Hospital

    Yinchuan, Ningxia

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

    Zhengzhou, Henan

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Impact of Inhalational Versus Intravenous Anesthesia Maintenance Methods on Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients After Cancer Surgery: An Open-label, Randomized Controlled Trial

Surgery is one of the major treatment methods for patients with malignant tumor. And, alone with ageing process, more and more elderly patients undergo surgery for malignant tumor. Evidence emerges that choice of anesthetics, i.e., either inhalational or intravenous anesthetics, may influence the outcome of elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery. Delirium is a commonly occurred early postoperative cognitive complication in the elderly, and its occurrence is associated with the worsening outcomes. Choice anesthetics may influence the occurrence of postoperative delirium. However, evidence in this aspect is conflicting.

Read the detailed description

It is estimated that 234.2 million major surgical procedures are undertaken every year worldwide. Surgery is one of the major treatment methods for patients with malignant tumor. And, alone with ageing process, more and more elderly patients undergo surgery for malignant tumor. Evidence emerges that choice of anesthetics, i.e., either inhalational or intravenous anesthetics, may influence the outcome of elderly patients undergoing cancer surgery.

Delirium is a commonly occurred cognitive complication in elderly patients after surgery. The occurrence of delirium is associated with the worsening outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, elevated medical care cost, and declined cognitive function. High age, major surgery, and critical illness are major risk factors of postoperative delirium (POD). However, the relationship between use of general anesthetics and occurrence of delirium cannot be excluded.

There are studies that compared the effects of two kinds of anesthetics on the cognitive outcomes after surgery. In the study of Nishikawa et al., 50 elderly (≥ 65 years) patients undergoing long-duration laparoscope-assisted surgery randomly received sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia. The results showed that, although the incidence of POD was not significantly different between the two groups, the delirium rating scale (DRS) score was significantly lower in the sevoflurane group than in the propofol group at postoperative days 2-3 (P = 0.007 and 0.002, respectively). In the study of Schoen et al., 128 patients undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery were randomized into two groups. The results showed that early postoperative cognitive function was significantly better in sevoflurane group than in the propofol group, especially in those who experienced cerebral desaturation during surgery.

On the other hand, some studies reported contrary results. In a large sample size study of 2000 patients undergoing general anesthesia, patients carrying ApoE4 epsilon 4 allele were more likely to develop early postoperative cognitive decline after inhalational anesthesia (odd ratio 3.31, 95% confidence interval 1.25-6.39, P < 0.05), but not after intravenous anesthesia (odd ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.37-2.39, P > 0.05). In a randomized control trail of 44 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score was significantly higher, whereas blood S100B concentration was significantly lower in the propofol group than in the sevoflurane group at 24 hours after surgery. In the study of Tang et al., 200 elderly (≥ 60 years) patients with mild cognitive impairment who planned to undergo radical rectal resection randomly received either sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia. The results showed that, although there was no difference in the incidence of cognitive dysfunction at 7 days after surgery, the negative cognitive effects was more severe after sevoflurane anesthesia than after propofol anesthesia (P = 0.01).

It seems that more evidence suggests the harmful cognitive effects of inhalational anesthetics. However, care must be taken when explaining these results: (1) target patients population were different; (2) sample size were small in the majority of studies; (3) the diagnostic criteria of cognitive complications were different, make it hard to do meta-analysis; (4) the clinical significance the of early postoperative cognitive complication remains to be elucidated.

Being tested
Sevoflurane, Propofol
Keywords
Sevoflurane, Propofol, Aged, Neoplasm, Surgical Procedure, Operative, Delirium, Postoperative Complications, Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
Medical subject headings
Delirium, Postoperative Complications, Postoperative Cognitive Complications, Neoplasms

What participants receive

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

  • SevofluraneDrug

    Also called Sevoflurane for inhalation

    Sevoflurane will be administered by inhalation for anesthesia maintenance. The concentration of inhaled sevoflurane will be adjusted to maintain the bispectral index (BIS) value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection).

    Towards the end of surgery, sevoflurane inhalational concentration will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Sevoflurane inhalation will be stopped at the end of surgery.

  • PropofolDrug

    Also called Propofol for injection

    Propofol will be administered by intravenous infusion for anesthesia maintenance. The infusion rate of propofol will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection).

    Towards the end of surgery, propofol infusion rate will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Propofol infusion will be stopped at the end of surgery.

Study groups in NCT02662257
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Sevoflurane groupActive comparatorSevoflurane will be administered by inhalation for anesthesia maintenance. The concentration of inhaled sevoflurane will be adjusted to maintain the bispectral index (BIS) value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection). Towards the end of surgery, sevoflurane inhalational concentration will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Sevoflurane inhalation will be stopped at the end of surgery.
Receives: Drug: Sevoflurane
Propofol groupExperimentalPropofol will be administered by intravenous infusion for anesthesia maintenance. The infusion rate of propofol will be adjusted to maintain the BIS value between 40 and 60. Analgesia will be supplemented with remifentanil (administered by continuous infusion), sufentanil (administered by intermittent injection/continuous infusion), or fentanyl (administered by intermittent injection). Towards the end of surgery, propofol infusion rate will be decreased and fentanyl/sufentanil will be administered when necessary. Propofol infusion will be stopped at the end of surgery.
Receives: Drug: Propofol

What is being measured

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

  1. Incidence of delirium within 7 days after surgery.

    Delirium is assessed twice daily (8-10 AM and 6-8 PM) with the Confusion Assessment Method for patients without endotracheal intubation or the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit for patients with endotracheal intubation.

    Measured: Up to 7 days after surgery

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Percentage of intensive care unit (ICU) admission after surgery.

    Percentage of intensive care unit (ICU) admission after surgery.

    Measured: Within 24 hours after surgery.

  2. Percentage of ICU admission with endotracheal intubation after surgery.

    Percentage of ICU admission with endotracheal intubation after surgery.

    Measured: Within 24 hours after surgery.

  3. Length of stay in ICU after surgery.

    Length of stay in ICU after surgery (in patients admitted to the ICU after surgery).

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  4. Length of stay in hospital after surgery.

    Length of stay in hospital after surgery.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  5. Incidence of non-delirium complications within 30 days.

    Non-delirium complications are defined as newly occurred events other than delirium that are harmful to patients' recovery and required therapeutic intervention, i.e., grade 2 or higher on the Clavien-Dindo classification.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  6. Cognitive function at 30 days after surgery.

    Cognitive function assessed with Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-m).

    Measured: On the 30th day after surgery.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted25 Jan 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study start1 Apr 2015
  3. Primary completion29 Sep 2017
  4. Study completion26 Nov 2017

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
1,228 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02662257
Sponsor's protocol ID
2015[869]-1
Other IDs
ChiCTR-IPR-15006209
Status last verified
Mar 2022
First submitted
5 Jan 2016
Last updated
4 Mar 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Weiser TG, Regenbogen SE, Thompson KD, Haynes AB, Lipsitz SR, Berry WR, Gawande AA. An estimation of the global volume of surgery: a modelling strategy based on available data. Lancet. 2008 Jul 12;372(9633):139-144. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60878-8. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

    PubMed 18582931
  • Nishikawa K, Nakayama M, Omote K, Namiki A. Recovery characteristics and post-operative delirium after long-duration laparoscope-assisted surgery in elderly patients: propofol-based vs. sevoflurane-based anesthesia. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2004 Feb;48(2):162-8. doi: 10.1111/j.0001-5172.2004.00264.x.

    PubMed 14995937
  • Schoen J, Husemann L, Tiemeyer C, Lueloh A, Sedemund-Adib B, Berger KU, Hueppe M, Heringlake M. Cognitive function after sevoflurane- vs propofol-based anaesthesia for on-pump cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2011 Jun;106(6):840-50. doi: 10.1093/bja/aer091. Epub 2011 Apr 25.

    PubMed 21518736
  • Cai Y, Hu H, Liu P, Feng G, Dong W, Yu B, Zhu Y, Song J, Zhao M. Association between the apolipoprotein E4 and postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing intravenous anesthesia and inhalation anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 2012 Jan;116(1):84-93. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31823da7a2.

    PubMed 22108393
  • Kalimeris K, Kouni S, Kostopanagiotou G, Nomikos T, Fragopoulou E, Kakisis J, Vasdekis S, Matsota P, Pandazi A. Cognitive function and oxidative stress after carotid endarterectomy: comparison of propofol to sevoflurane anesthesia. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2013 Dec;27(6):1246-52. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2012.12.009. Epub 2013 May 30.

    PubMed 23725684
  • Tang N, Ou C, Liu Y, Zuo Y, Bai Y. Effect of inhalational anaesthetic on postoperative cognitive dysfunction following radical rectal resection in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. J Int Med Res. 2014 Dec;42(6):1252-61. doi: 10.1177/0300060514549781. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

    PubMed 25339455
  • Chen NP, Li YW, Cao SJ, Zhang Y, Li CJ, Zhou WJ, Li M, Du YT, Zhang YX, Xing MW, Ma JH, Mu DL, Wang DX. Intraoperative hypotension is associated with decreased long-term survival in older patients after major noncardiac surgery: Secondary analysis of three randomized trials. J Clin Anesth. 2024 Oct;97:111520. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2024.111520. Epub 2024 Jul 1.

    PubMed 38954871
  • Cao SJ, Zhang Y, Zhang YX, Zhao W, Pan LH, Sun XD, Jia Z, Ouyang W, Ye QS, Zhang FX, Guo YQ, Ai YQ, Zhao BJ, Yu JB, Liu ZH, Yin N, Li XY, Ma JH, Li HJ, Wang MR, Sessler DI, Ma D, Wang DX; First Study of Perioperative Organ Protection (SPOP1) investigators. Delirium in older patients given propofol or sevoflurane anaesthesia for major cancer surgery: a multicentre randomised trial. Br J Anaesth. 2023 Aug;131(2):253-265. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.04.024. Epub 2023 Jun 4.

    PubMed 37474241
  • Zhang Y, Shan GJ, Zhang YX, Cao SJ, Zhu SN, Li HJ, Ma D, Wang DX; First Study of Perioperative Organ Protection (SPOP1) Investigators. Preoperative vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a predefined exploratory sub-analysis. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2018 Aug;62(7):924-935. doi: 10.1111/aas.13116. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

    PubMed 29578249
  • Zhang Y, Li HJ, Wang DX, Jia HQ, Sun XD, Pan LH, Ye QS, Ouyang W, Jia Z, Zhang FX, Guo YQ, Ai YQ, Zhao BJ, Yang XD, Zhang QG, Yin N, Tan HY, Liu ZH, Yu JB, Ma D. Impact of inhalational versus intravenous anaesthesia on early delirium and long-term survival in elderly patients after cancer surgery: study protocol of a multicentre, open-label, and randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 28;7(11):e018607. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018607.

    PubMed 29187413

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Sevoflurane and Propofol in people with Delirium and Postoperative Complications, run by Peking University First Hospital at 17 sites in China.

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 6 inclusion and 6 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 4 Mar 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 17 sites in China. 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Incidence of delirium within 7 days after surgery. (time frame: Up to 7 days after surgery). 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 NCT02662257, which also lists 10 linked publications.

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 4 Mar 2022.

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