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DysphagiaNCT02724761

Prophylactic Racemic Epinephrine in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

A study testing Racemic Epinephrine in people with Dysphagia and Dysphonia, run by Andrew Chung at 1 site in United States.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Our double-blinded, randomized control trial will assess the effect of nebulized racemic epinephrine inpatients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. The investigators have had success in managing post-operative dysphagia in patients undergoing ACDF with the administration of this drug. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Dysphagia, Dysphonia, Postoperative Pain
What is being tested?
Racemic Epinephrine
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Sep 2016to Sep 2018
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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients > 18 years of age
  • Primary two and three-level ACDF between C3-7
  • Approved pre-authorization to undergo the procedure

Who cannot join

  • Patients < 18 years of age
  • Patients who are unable to give their own consent
  • Revision ACDF
  • Combined anterior-posterior surgeries
  • Surgeries involving C2-C3 or C7-T1
  • Surgeries related to trauma, infection, or tumor
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Patients with baseline swallowing dysfunction
  • Patients currently on steroids
  • Patients with severe cardiac disease
  • Uncontrolled diabetics as defined by patients with a HbA1C > 8%
  • Patients with known allergy to epinephrine

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Andrew S Chung, DO contact

4049381687

andrew.chung@bannerhealth.com

Chutkan, MD contact

United States1 site
  • Banner University Medical Center

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85006

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Prophylactic Racemic Epinephrine for the Prevention of Dysphagia in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Randomized Control Trial

Our double-blinded, randomized control trial will assess the effect of nebulized racemic epinephrine inpatients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures. The investigators have had success in managing post-operative dysphagia in patients undergoing ACDF with the administration of this drug. Half of the participants will review nebulized epinephrine. The other half will receive placebo.

Read the detailed description

Based on data from the National Inpatient Sample from 2002-2012, patients undergoing elective primary ACDF, diagnosed with dysphagia (4% of total patients), had a two-fold increase in mean length of stay (4.03 compared to 1.56 days; p < 0.001) and a substantial increase in their total hospital charges (p < 0.001) versus those not diagnosed with dysphagia. There are very few level I studies which describe successful management of these complications. Steroids have shown promise, however, there exist concerns for consequent delayed bony fusion. Racemic epinephrine is a mixture of both the R and L isomers of epinephrine which theoretically results in a milder side effect profile and longer shelf-life versus the standard L-epinephrine. Traditionally, racemic epinephrine has been administered in a nebulized form for the treatment of severe asthma, laryngeal edema, and bronchiolitis. The most severe side effects that have been reported include tachyarrhythmias and paradoxical bronchospasms, although these reports are rare and limited mainly to single case reports or case series. It confers its therapeutic effect through Racemic α-adrenergic and β-adrenergic mediated vasoconstriction of mucosal vasculature decreasing edema and in the respiratory tract, inducing bronchodilation. The PI, has been utilizing nebulized racemic epinephrine at standard dosages (1 unit of 0.5 ml of 2.25% racemic epinephrine) for the treatment of severe post-operative dysphagia in patients undergoing ACDF for 20 years. The investigator has achieved marked success with this intervention with no notable associated complications. Despite being successfully utilized in this manner for many years in small pockets of the spine community, the use of prophylactic racemic epinephrine for the management of dysphagia has not been described in the literature. The investigators hope to be able to fill this important knowledge-gap with our study data.

Being tested
Racemic Epinephrine, Placebo (for racemic epinephrine)
Medical subject headings
Deglutition Disorders, Dysphonia, Pain, Postoperative

What participants receive

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

  • Racemic EpinephrineDrug

    Also called AsthmaNefrin

    1 inhalation of 0.5 mL of 2.25% Nebulized Racemic Epinephrine every 8 hours for 24 hours after surgery

  • Placebo (for racemic epinephrine)Drug

    Also called 0.9% normal saline

    0.5 mL of normal saline will be prepared in an identical amber syringe as the drug intervention (racemic epinephrine)

Study groups in NCT02724761
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental: Racemic EpinephrineExperimentalOver the Counter (OTC) - 0.5 mL Nebulized Racemic Epinephrine
Receives: Drug: Racemic Epinephrine
Placebo: 0.9% Normal SalinePlacebo comparator0.5 mL 0.9% Normal Saline
Receives: Drug: Placebo (for racemic epinephrine)

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Dysphagia Numeric Rating Scale (DNRS)

    It is a simple questionnaire that is a functional assessment of dysphagia i.e. difficulty swallowing solids, liquids, etc. Additionally, asks a simple "yes" and "no" question for the presence of dysphagia.

    Measured: Post-operative day 1, just prior to hospital discharge (up to 1 week post-operatively), the first post-operative visit (10-14 days post-operatively, up to 30 days from surgery depending on clinical course).

  2. Change in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) - Odynophagia

    It is a simple self-reported pain intensity scale from 0-10 with 0 being no pain, and 10 being the worst pain possible as it relates to swallowing.

    Measured: Post-operative day 1, just prior to hospital discharge (up to 1 week post-operatively), the first post-operative visit (10-14 days post-operatively, up to 30 days from surgery depending on clinical course).

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Change in Rate of dysphonia

    Patients will be asked to answer whether or not they are experiencing dysphonia with a simple "yes" or "no".

    Measured: Post-operative day 1, just prior to hospital discharge (up to 1 week post-operatively), the first post-operative visit (10-14 days post-operatively, up to 30 days from surgery depending on clinical course).

  2. Airway complication

    Any airway complication related to post-operative swelling that requires intubation will be retrospectively recorded off of hospital records. This will be recorded as the number of patients requiring intubation. This number will be reported in any future presentation of data.

    Measured: Up to 1 month post-operatively

  3. Length of Stay

    Length of hospital stay following surgery

    Measured: Up to 30 days post-operatively.

  4. Hospital Cost

    Will determine any additional cost of care associated with dysphagia, dysphonia, airway complications. This will include any emergency department visits or hospital re-admissions directly related to these post-operative complications.

    Measured: Up to 30 days post-operatively.

  5. 30-day Hospital re-admission rates

    any re-admission in the first 30 days following surgery specifically due to dysphagia, dysphonia, or airway complications related to surgery.

    Measured: Up to 30 days post-operatively.

  6. Number of emergency department visits per patient related to surgical complications of dysphagia or difficulty breathing

    Number of emergency department visits in the first 30 days following surgery with patient complaint of "difficulty or pain with swallowing" or "difficulty breathing" as direct complications of surgery (i.e. secondary to post-operative swelling, hematoma formation). Patient charts will be retrospectively reviewed 30 days post-operatively.

    Measured: 30 days

Timeline

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

  1. First posted31 Mar 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2016
  3. Primary completionJun 2018 (estimated)
  4. Study completionSep 2018 (estimated)

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, Investigator
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02724761
Sponsor's protocol ID
BannerHealth
Status last verified
Mar 2016
First submitted
7 Mar 2016
Last updated
31 Mar 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Data will be be presented in a research paper format and submitted to a journal following completion of the study.

Publications

  • Kalb S, Reis MT, Cowperthwaite MC, Fox DJ, Lefevre R, Theodore N, Papadopoulos SM, Sonntag VK. Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: incidence and risk factors. World Neurosurg. 2012 Jan;77(1):183-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Nov 15.

    PubMed 22155226
  • Jeyamohan SB, Kenning TJ, Petronis KA, Feustel PJ, Drazin D, DiRisio DJ. Effect of steroid use in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a randomized controlled trial. J Neurosurg Spine. 2015 Aug;23(2):137-43. doi: 10.3171/2014.12.SPINE14477. Epub 2015 May 1.

    PubMed 25932600
  • Bazaz R, Lee MJ, Yoo JU. Incidence of dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: a prospective study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Nov 15;27(22):2453-8. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200211150-00007.

    PubMed 12435974
  • Singh K, Marquez-Lara A, Nandyala SV, Patel AA, Fineberg SJ. Incidence and risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical fusion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Oct 1;38(21):1820-5. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182a3dbda.

    PubMed 23873236
  • Lee MJ, Bazaz R, Furey CG, Yoo J. Risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: a two-year prospective cohort study. Spine J. 2007 Mar-Apr;7(2):141-7. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2006.02.024. Epub 2007 Jan 22.

    PubMed 17321961
  • Lee SH, Kim KT, Suk KS, Park KJ, Oh KI. Effect of retropharyngeal steroid on prevertebral soft tissue swelling following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a prospective, randomized study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Dec 15;36(26):2286-92. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318237e5d0.

    PubMed 22020609
  • Song KJ, Lee SK, Ko JH, Yoo MJ, Kim DY, Lee KB. The clinical efficacy of short-term steroid treatment in multilevel anterior cervical arthrodesis. Spine J. 2014 Dec 1;14(12):2954-8. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2014.06.005. Epub 2014 Jun 12.

    PubMed 24929058
  • Plint AC, Osmond MH, Klassen TP. The efficacy of nebulized racemic epinephrine in children with acute asthma: a randomized, double-blind trial. Acad Emerg Med. 2000 Oct;7(10):1097-103. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2000.tb01258.x.

    PubMed 11015240
  • Langley JM, Smith MB, LeBlanc JC, Joudrey H, Ojah CR, Pianosi P. Racemic epinephrine compared to salbutamol in hospitalized young children with bronchiolitis; a randomized controlled clinical trial [ISRCTN46561076]. BMC Pediatr. 2005 May 5;5(1):7. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-5-7.

    PubMed 15876347

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Racemic Epinephrine in people with Dysphagia and Dysphonia, run by Andrew Chung 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 11 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Mar 2016. 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.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

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

Contact Andrew S Chung, DO (4049381687, andrew.chung@bannerhealth.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Dysphagia Numeric Rating Scale (DNRS) (time frame: Post-operative day 1, just prior to hospital discharge (up to 1 week post-operatively), the first post-operative visit (10-14 days post-operatively, up to 30 days from surgery depending on clinical course).). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT02724761, which also lists 9 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 31 Mar 2016.

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