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PreOperative Steroid in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction: A Double-blinded Randomized Clinical Trial

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hernia, Ventral
Interventions
Drug: Methyl-Prednisolone
Drug: Physiological saline
Registration Number
NCT02594241
Lead Sponsor
Kristian Kiim Jensen
Brief Summary

Patients who undergo abdominal wall reconstruction for giant ventral hernia repair will be randomized to either methylprednisolone or saline preoperatively, to examine the effects of methylprednisolone on postoperative pain, nausea and recovery after giant ventral hernia repair.

Detailed Description

Preoperative high-dose glucocorticoid has been shown to attenuate the postoperative inflammatory response leading to decreased morbidity and length of stay (LOS) after colorectal and aortic surgery, as well as decreased pain and subjective recovery after orthopedic surgery. Methylprednisolone (MP, "Solu-Medrol") is one such glucocorticoid, which has been shown to be safe for usage in surgery. Giant ventral hernia repair is associated with a high risk of postoperative morbidity and prolonged LOS compared with other hernia repair procedures requiring laparotomy. Further, the total costs of these procedures remain high. Systemic administration of high-dose preoperative MP in ventral hernia repair has only been described anecdotally in the literature, and never with the aim to improve the treatment of this patient group specifically. It is however unknown to what extent benefits weigh out downsides from usage of high-dose MP in giant ventral hernia repair, patients often at increased risk of postoperative wound infection. On this background we hypothesize that a preoperative high-dose MP results in improved recovery after giant ventral hernia repair compared with placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
42
Inclusion Criteria
  • Ventral incisional hernia with horizontal fascial defect > 10 cm described at either computed tomography scan or clinical assessment
  • Planned elective open hernia repair
  • Ability to speak and understand Danish
  • Ability to give written and oral informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Daily use of systemic glucocorticoid
  • New York Heart Association class 3-4 heart disease
  • Chronic renal failure (eGFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2)
  • Insulin-dependent diabetes
  • Excessive abuse of alcohol
  • Known allergy to methylprednisolone or any substance in study medicine
  • Planned pregnancy within three months postoperatively
  • Pregnancy, evaluated by pregnancy test preoperatively
  • Breastfeeding
  • Actively treated ulcer disease up to one month preoperatively

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
MethylprednisoloneMethyl-PrednisolonePatients in this arm will be given an intravenous infusion of 125 mg Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) immediately after induction of general anesthesia.
Physiological salinePhysiological salinePatients in this arm will be given an intravenous infusion of saline immediately after induction of general anesthesia.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain at restFirst postoperative day at 8 am

Self-reported pain at rest on af numerical rating scale (0-10)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Pain at rest, after moving from supine to sitting position and when coughing8 am and 8 pm pre- and postoperatively until postoperative day 5 and again on day 30

Self-reported pain at rest, after moving from supine to sitting position and when coughing on af numerical rating scale (0-10)

Fatigue8 am and 8 pm pre- and postoperatively until postoperative day 5 and again on day 30

Self-reported fatigue on a numerical rating scale (0-10)

Nausea8 am and 8 pm pre- and postoperatively until postoperative day 5 and again on day 30

Self-reported nausea on a numerical rating scale (0-10)

VomitingFrom randomization until postoperative day 5

Number of vomiting episodes

Time to fulfillment of discharge criteriaFrom randomization until postoperative day 5, assessed at 8 am and 8 pm

Patient's assessment of discharge criteria

30-postoperative complicationsFrom randomization and until 30-days postoperatively

Complications that require surgical or medical intervention

30-day readmissionFrom randomization and until 30-days postoperatively

Patient readmission

Rescue analgesia intakeFrom randomization and until day 5 postoperatively

Need for intake of rescue analgesia postoperatively

C-reactive proteinFrom day of randomization until postoperative day 3

Serum C-reactive protein preoperatively and on postoperative day 1-3.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Bispebjerg Hospital

🇩🇰

Copenhagen NV, Copenhagen, Denmark

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