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AnalgesiaNCT05785273

Analgesic Depth Evaluation During General Anesthesia With Dexmedetomidine-remifentanil Infusion. A Pilot Study

An observational study of Analgesia and Anesthesia, run by Università degli Studi di Brescia at 1 site in Italy.

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 aim of this study is to verify the feasibility of an evaluation of the depth of analgesia during an opioid sparing anesthesia (OSA) carried out with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine in addition to general multimodal anesthesia trough an instrumental pupillary evaluation. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Analgesia, Anesthesia
What is being tested?
Pupillometer
How many people
45 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
19 Feb 2019to 1 Aug 2019
Phase
Observational
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
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: Patients underwent no-laparoscopic surgery involving at least one surgical incision of more than 5 cm with remifentanil as an intravenous analgesic.

Who may be able to join

  • Patients underwent open surgery involving at least one surgical incision of more than 5 cm
  • use of remifentanil as an intravenous analgesic.

Who cannot join

  • implanted pacemaker or ICD
  • ophthalmological comorbidities
  • chronic opioid use
  • peripheral neuropathy
  • continuous infusion of adjuvant drugs other than dexmedetomidine
  • epidural analgesia or loco-regional block

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • ASST Spedali Civili

    Brescia, 25121

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Intraoperative Assessment of Analgesic Depth During General Anesthesia With Dexmedetomidine-remifentanil Infusion. A Pilot Study

The aim of this study is to verify the feasibility of an evaluation of the depth of analgesia during an opioid sparing anesthesia (OSA) carried out with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine in addition to general multimodal anesthesia trough an instrumental pupillary evaluation.

Read the detailed description

In recent years, different strategies have been proposed to reduce opioid use during the perioperative period, i.e., the so-called OFA (opioid free anesthesia) or OSA (opioid sparing anesthesia), in order to reduce some opioid-related side effects with equivalent intraoperative analgesia compared to opioid-based anesthesia.

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective α2-agonist, with sedative and pain-relieving effects. The use of perioperative dexmedetomidine seems to reduce intraoperative opioid and hypnotic consumption, postoperative pain intensity and postoperative opioid use.

A dexmedetomidine-based protocol for anesthesia in obese patients was introduced in our department towards the end of 2018. All patients undergoing bariatric surgery have been treated with a premedication of dexmedetomidine and a steady infusion of dexmedetomidine as an opioid-savings adjuvant during general anesthesia. In this context, the amount of fentanyl (induction of anesthesia) and remifentanil (maintenance of anesthesia) has been reduced empirically and clinically.

Traditionally, during general anesthesia, the level of nociception is indirectly assessed by observing heart rate, blood pressure and surgical steps. In recent years, new indicators have been proposed to obtain an objective and standardized nociception assessment. Pupillary dilation reflex (PDR) can be related to both painful stimulation and analgesic depth, but not to neuromuscular blockade or hypnotic drug administration. Recently, another rating scale for nociception has been proposed: the PPI (pupillary pain index). This index is based on tetanic stimulation of increasing intensity delivered by two skin electrodes placed on the forearm, evaluating the PDR at each stimulus. A PPI from 1 to 3, from 4 to 6, or from 7 to 9 describes a numbed PDR and deep analgesia, a medium PDR and suboptimal analgesia and a highly reactive PDR and uncontrolled pain, respectively.

The investigators proposal is to study the feasibility of an evaluation of the nociception during an Opioid Sparing Anesthesia (OSA), with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil, vs "traditional" anesthesia without adjuvant, using the PPI as an indicator of nociception.

Being tested
Pupillometer
Keywords
Dexmedetomidine, Pupil, Nociception, Opioid sparing
Medical subject headings
Agnosia

What participants receive

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

  • PupillometerDevice

    1st pupil evaluation between induction of general anesthesia and onset of surgery. After incision, at least 3 pupil evaluations are performed. Measurements are spaced 15 minutes apart and also taken at least 10 minutes after any variation in drugs dosage

Study groups in NCT05785273
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
DexmedetomidinePatient undergoing general anesthesia receving initial administration of dexmedetomidine loading dose of 0.5-1 μg/kg (ADJUSTED weight) over 15 minutes. After intubation maintenance of general anesthesia is administrated with desflurane or sevoflurane (MAC 0.6 - 1, according to Bispectral Index (BIS) or Patient State Index (Psi)), dexmedetomidine (0.2- 0.4 μg/kg/h (Lean Body Weight)) with constant infusion rate unless hypotension or bradycardia not responsive to standard treatments (filling, atropine, ephedrine, ethylephrine) occurred, and remifentanil (0.02 - 0.2 μg/kg/min (LBW)) based on clinical and instrumental assessment (Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, BIS or Psi).
Receives: Device: Pupillometer
No DexmedetomidinePatients in this group receive an eventual premedication with benzodiazepines according to anaesthesiologist assessment and patient condition. After intubation general anesthesia is administrated with inhaled (desflurane or sevoflurane; MAC 0.6 - 1) or intravenous (propofol) anesthetics (according to BIS or Psi) and remifentanil (0.02 - 0.2 μg/kg/min (LBW) based on clinical and instrumental assessment (HR, BP, BIS or Psi)).
Receives: Device: Pupillometer

What is being measured

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

  1. Feasibility of study protocol

    Number of patients enrolled and number of pupillary evaluation during anesthesia

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Depth of analgesia

    depth of intraoperative analgesia with PPI (pupillary pain index). A PPI from 1 to 3, from 4 to 6, or from 7 to 9 describes a numbed PDR and deep analgesia, a medium PDR and suboptimal analgesia and a highly reactive PDR and uncontrolled pain, respectively.

    Measured: Intraoperative

  2. Intra-operative opioid consumption

    total consumption of remifentanil (μg/kg/min - Lean Body Weight)

    Measured: Intraoperative

  3. Incidence of side effects

    incidence of perioperative side effects, PONV and post-operative intolerable pain in the first 24 hours after surgery

    Measured: Intraoperative

Timeline

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

  1. First posted27 Mar 2023
  2. Study start19 Feb 2019
  3. Primary completion1 Aug 2019
  4. Study completion1 Aug 2019

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
45 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05785273
Sponsor's protocol ID
UBrescia NP 3675
Status last verified
Mar 2023
First submitted
20 Feb 2023
Last updated
27 Mar 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Grape S, Kirkham KR, Frauenknecht J, Albrecht E. Intra-operative analgesia with remifentanil vs. dexmedetomidine: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. Anaesthesia. 2019 Jun;74(6):793-800. doi: 10.1111/anae.14657. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

    PubMed 30950522
  • Sabourdin N, Barrois J, Louvet N, Rigouzzo A, Guye ML, Dadure C, Constant I. Pupillometry-guided Intraoperative Remifentanil Administration versus Standard Practice Influences Opioid Use: A Randomized Study. Anesthesiology. 2017 Aug;127(2):284-292. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001705.

    PubMed 28719527
  • Kim JH, Jwa EK, Choung Y, Yeon HJ, Kim SY, Kim E. Comparison of Pupillometry With Surgical Pleth Index Monitoring on Perioperative Opioid Consumption and Nociception During Propofol-Remifentanil Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. Anesth Analg. 2020 Nov;131(5):1589-1598. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000004958.

    PubMed 33079883
  • Stefanini M, Cagnazzi E, Calza S, Latronico N, Rasulo FA. Feasibility of the pupillary pain index as a guide for depth of analgesia during opioid-sparing anesthesia with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine. J Anesth Analg Crit Care. 2023 Aug 14;3(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s44158-023-00112-8.

    PubMed 37580838

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Analgesia and Anesthesia, run by Università degli Studi di Brescia at 1 site in Italy.

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 2 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 27 Mar 2023. 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 Italy. 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?

Feasibility of study protocol (time frame: 6 months). 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 NCT05785273, which also lists 4 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 27 Mar 2023.

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