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Clinical Trials/NCT07341854
NCT07341854
Not yet recruiting
Not Applicable

Effect of Intravenous Dexamethasone Palmitate on Postoperative Pain Prevention

Beijing Tiantan Hospital1 site in 1 country446 target enrollmentStarted: February 2, 2026Last updated:

Overview

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Not yet recruiting
Sponsor
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Enrollment
446
Locations
1
Primary Endpoint
The percentage of participants experiencing moderate to severe pain

Overview

Brief Summary

Postoperative pain remains highly prevalent and inadequately managed in a significant proportion of surgical patients, often leading to delayed recovery, increased opioid consumption, and potential progression to chronic pain. While perioperative systemic dexamethasone is used for its anti-inflammatory and opioid-sparing effects, its efficacy is inconsistent, and concerns regarding systemic side effects persist. Dexamethasone palmitate, a novel lipophilic prodrug formulated as nanoparticle emulsion, leverages the enhanced permeability and retention effect to target inflammatory sites selectively, potentially offering superior anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy with reduced systemic exposure. This trial aims to evaluate whether preoperative intravenous dexamethasone palmitate is more effective than conventional dexamethasone in preventing moderate-to-severe postoperative pain.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18-65 years.
  • Scheduled for a range of surgeries under general anesthesia, including both minimally invasive procedures (such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and laparoscopy) and open surgeries (such as thoracotomy, laparotomy, spinal surgery, total joint replacement, and mastectomy).
  • Capacity to comprehend the study procedures and assessment scales, and communicate effectively with research staff.
  • Willingness to participate voluntarily and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Known hypersensitivity to dexamethasone or its excipients.
  • Systemic glucocorticoid therapy within 3 months prior to enrolment.
  • History of severe cardiovascular disease, hepatic or renal failure, or systemic rheumatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus).
  • Coexisting chronic pain at enrolment.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or active systemic infection.
  • Significant cognitive impairment or severe psychiatric disorder.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.

Arms & Interventions

Dexamethasone palmitate group

Experimental

Patients assigned to the dexamethasone palmitate group will receive an intravenous injection of 8 mg dexamethasone palmitate after induction of anaesthesia but prior to surgical incision.

Intervention: dexamethasone palmitate (Drug)

Dexamethasone group

Active Comparator

Patients in the dexamethasone group will receive an intravenous injection of 8 mg dexamethasone after induction of anaesthesia but prior to surgical incision.

Intervention: Dexamethasone (Drug)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The percentage of participants experiencing moderate to severe pain

Time Frame: 24 hours after surgery

The percentage of participants experiencing moderate to severe pain (Visual Analog Scale \[VAS\]\>30 mm)

Secondary Outcomes

  • Cumulative opioid consumption(At 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively)
  • The total consumption of supplemental oxycodone/paracetamol tablets(At 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively)
  • The proportion of participants experiencing moderate to severe pain(At 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively)
  • Time to first patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) bolus request(Within the first 72 hours postoperatively)
  • Participant satisfaction with pain management(At 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively and at discharge)
  • Incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)(At 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery)
  • Quality of recovery(At 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively, as well as at 1 month after surgery.)
  • Length of hospital stay(From the date of hospital admission to the date of discharge, assessed throughout the hospitalization period (up to 1 month).)
  • Incidence of postoperative adverse events(Within one month after surgery)

Investigators

Sponsor
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigator

Fang Luo

Director of Department of Pain Management

Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Study Sites (1)

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