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Pain Relief After Colorectal Surgery: Spinal Combined With Painbuster® vs Painbuster® Alone.

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Colorectal Cancer
Interventions
Procedure: Continuous infusion of local anaesthetic
Procedure: Spinal and infusion of local anaesthetic
Device: A Painbuster® catheter
Device: 25G Whitacre needle
Registration Number
NCT02210260
Lead Sponsor
York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

Limiting surgical stress and managing postoperative pain are well understood to influence recovery and outcome from major surgery for colorectal cancer and both are fundamental aspects of enhanced recovery protocols.

Traditional approaches for dealing with these problems such as epidural or patient controlled intravenous opioid analgesia are associated with problems that may be detrimental to postoperative recovery and surgical outcome. As a result there is evidence in the literature of increasing interest in alternative techniques such as intrathecal anaesthesia or continuous wound infusion of local anaesthetic, however nobody has examined the effect of combining the techniques or their impact on the surgical stress response.

We intend to compare patients undergoing major resections for colorectal cancer receiving intrathecal anaesthesia in combination with a wound infusion of local anaesthetic with those receiving a continuous wound infusion alone. We will examine the surgical stress response and postoperative pain control in addition to objective measures of postoperative recovery.

We suggest that our approach will attenuate the surgical stress response and provide optimal pain control that will ultimately translate in improved recovery and outcome following surgery for colorectal cancer.

Detailed Description

This is a pilot randomised controlled trial

Hypotheses -

Following colorectal surgery, spinal anaesthesia combined with a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound provides

1. better pain relief

2. a reduced stress response

when compared to the use of continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound alone.

Patients undergoing surgical resection for colorectal cancer will be randomised to receive either

1. A single shot of spinal anaesthesia plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound or

2. Continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound

Spinal Anaesthesia

The spinal anaesthetic (SA) with be placed after commencement of general anaesthesia this will ensure the patients remain blinded to the intervention. SA will be performed in the lateral position using a midline approach. L3/4 interspace will be identified using Tuffier's as the anatomical landmark. After confirmation of correct placement using a 25G Whitacre needle, 12.5 mg of hyperbaric Bupivacaine in a mixture with 500mcg Diamorphine will be injected intrathecally.

Infusion of local anaesthetic

The catheter through which the infusion of local anaesthetic will be given, will be placed by the surgeon at the end of the procedure in a location determined by the surgical approach. A bolus dose of 20ml 0.25% L-Bupivacaine will be injected down the catheters prior to the connection of the elastomeric pump which will also contain 270ml 0.25% L-Bupivacaine

General anaesthesia will be managed in the same way for both groups

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
79
Inclusion Criteria
  • All patients who are undergoing either laparoscopic or open colorectal resections will be considered eligible for the study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients under 18 years of age.
  • Pregnant females.
  • Patients undergoing an abdominoperineal resection.
  • Patients who will not contemplate being randomized to receive a spinal anaesthetic.
  • Patients with a history of failure to place an epidural / spinal anaesthetic.
  • Hypersensitivity to local anaesthetics.
  • Lack of capacity to give consent.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Continuous infusion of local anaestheticContinuous infusion of local anaestheticContinuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Spinal and infusion of local anaestheticA Painbuster® catheterA one off spinal anaesthetic plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Continuous infusion of local anaestheticA Painbuster® catheterContinuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Spinal and infusion of local anaesthetic25G Whitacre needleA one off spinal anaesthetic plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Spinal and infusion of local anaestheticSpinal and infusion of local anaestheticA one off spinal anaesthetic plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Continuous infusion of local anaestheticBupivacaineContinuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Spinal and infusion of local anaestheticBupivacaineA one off spinal anaesthetic plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Spinal and infusion of local anaestheticDiamorphineA one off spinal anaesthetic plus a continuous infusion of local anaesthetic into the surgical wound
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Neuroendocrine response to surgery24 hours

Peripheral blood samples taken at baseline, 60 minutes after surgical incision and 24 hours postoperatively will be analysed for cortisol and noradrenaline.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Oxidative stressFor 24 hours

Peripheral blood samples will be taken at baseline, 60 minutes after surgical incision and 24 hours postoperatively and analysed for heat shock proteins 37 and 32.

Amount of postoperative IV fluid administeredUp to 12 days

Total amount of IV fluid given in postoperative period

Length of hospital stay or fitness for dischargeUp to 12 days

Discharge criteria:

1. Good pain control with oral analgesia.

2. Tolerating solid food without nausea and vomiting.

3. No IV fluid or medication.

4. Independently mobile and self-caring or at the same level as prior to admission.

5. Stable observations and blood biochemistry.

6. No other concerns or complications preventing discharge.

Postoperative analgesic requirementUp to 72 hours after surgery

The total quantity and type (opiate or non-opiate) of all analgesics administered for 72 hours postoperatively.

Episodes of hypotension in the postoperative periodUp to 12 days

This will be defined as a sustained systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm/Hg.

Postoperative complicationsUp to 12 days

All complications in the postoperative period will be recorded. Particular emphasis will be given to:

Wound infection

Cardiac failure:

Complications related to spinal anaesthesia.

Adequacy of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis.

Postoperative painUp to 72 hours after surgery

This will be assessed using a visual analogue scale . Measurements will be taken in recovery then once a day for 72 hours postoperatively. Pain scores will be measured at rest and on coughing.

Postoperative mobilityUp to 12 days

Postoperative mobility will be assessed as

time until able to stand aided and unaided,

duration of time spent out of bed on each postoperative day

maximum walking distance with assistance on a daily basis.

Return of gut functionUp to 12 days

4.2.8 Time to return of gut function This is defined by the oral/enteral tolerance of \> 80% of nutritional requirement.

These requirements will be assessed individually for each patient in the study by an appropriately trained dietician

Inflammatory pathwayUp to 24 hours after surgery

Peripheral blood samples taken at baseline, 60 minutes after surgical incision and 24 hours postoperatively will be analysed for IL1.

Peritoneal biopsies taken prior to closure of surgical wound and analysed for IL1.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Scarborough General Hospital

🇬🇧

Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

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