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Sub-dissociative Intranasal Ketamine for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain Crises

Not Applicable
Conditions
Sickle Cell Disease
Interventions
Drug: Normal Saline
Other: Standard Pain Therapy
Other: Pediatric Quality of Life - Sickle Cell Disease Module
Other: Faces Pain Scale - Revised
Registration Number
NCT02573714
Lead Sponsor
Cameroon Baptist Convention Health
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of ketamine, sniffed in the nose, is a safe and effective way to help reduce pain in pediatric sickle cell patients with pain crises in resource-limited settings.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, drug trial using sub-dissociative intranasal ketamine as an adjunct to standard pharmacotherapy for the management of pediatric sickle cell disease vasoocclusive pain crises in resource-poor settings. Pediatric patients will be enrolled at a teaching and referral hospital in West Africa. Patients will be randomly assigned to the treatment arm - standard therapy plus sub-dissociative intranasal ketamine (1 mg/kg) given at time zero) or the control arm - standard therapy plus intranasal normal saline (volume-matched to treatment arm), and patients will evaluated at standard intervals to assess for pain scores and vital signs (0 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes). Pain will be assessed using the Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R). Patients will also be observed for any potential side effects or adverse events. All patients will be contacted 2-3 weeks post intranasal medication administration for over-the-phone follow-up using a portion of the PedsQL-SCD questionnaire, to assess for basic quality of life related to pain management and treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • Sickle cell disease (SCD)
  • Vasoocclusive pain crisis
  • Requiring analgesia
Exclusion Criteria
  • Anatomic variations of nose precluding intranasal medication administration

  • Ketamine allergy

  • Non-verbal

  • Obtunded

  • Pregnant

  • Other acute SCD complications:

    • Acute chest syndrome
    • Sepsis
    • Stroke
    • Splenic sequestration
    • Pulmonary embolism
    • Acute osteomyelitis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intranasal KetamineKetaminePatients allocated to receive intranasal ketamine (intervention) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Intranasal KetamineStandard Pain TherapyPatients allocated to receive intranasal ketamine (intervention) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Intranasal KetaminePediatric Quality of Life - Sickle Cell Disease ModulePatients allocated to receive intranasal ketamine (intervention) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Intranasal KetamineFaces Pain Scale - RevisedPatients allocated to receive intranasal ketamine (intervention) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Normal SalineNormal SalinePatients allocated to receive intranasal normal saline (placebo) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Normal SalineStandard Pain TherapyPatients allocated to receive intranasal normal saline (placebo) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Normal SalinePediatric Quality of Life - Sickle Cell Disease ModulePatients allocated to receive intranasal normal saline (placebo) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Normal SalineFaces Pain Scale - RevisedPatients allocated to receive intranasal normal saline (placebo) in addition to standard pain therapy. Patients enrolled in this arm will utilize the FPS-R and follow-up PedsQL-SCD.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline (time zero) in FPS-R scores between treatment groupsBaseline (time zero, indicated by injection of intranasal medication), 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes

Measure of differences of change of FPS-R scores from baseline to 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes compared between treatment arms

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hospital length of staythrough study completion, an average of 3 days

Hospital length of stay recorded from time zero to time of discharge documented by the study clinician will be a secondary outcome measure.

Analgesia use - paracetamolTime of initial intranasal drug administration to 2 hours post intranasal drug administration

Individual evaluation of total paracetamol use per kilogram body weight

Analgesia use - opioidsTime of initial intranasal drug administration to 2 hours post intranasal drug administration

Individual evaluation of total opioid use expressed as morphine equivalents per body weight.

Quality of life assessment (PedsQL-SCD Module scores)Time of first intranasal administration to 3 weeks post intranasal intervention.

PedsQL-SCD Module scores obtained by study clinicians using over-the-phone interviews between two-three weeks post intervention will be a secondary outcome measure.

Analgesia use - ibuprofenTime of initial intranasal drug administration to 2 hours post intranasal drug administration

Individual evaluation of total ibuprofen use per kilogram body weight

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Muhimbili National Hospital

🇹🇿

Dar es Salam, Tanzania

Mbingo Baptist Hospital

🇨🇲

Bamenda, Northwest Province, Cameroon

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