Opioids and Esophageal Function

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Pharyngeal Dysfunction; Esophageal Dysfunction
• Interventions: Drug: methylnaltrexone

• Registration Number: NCT01012960
• Lead Sponsor: Region Örebro County

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if opioid-induced effects on the pharynx and esophagus is centrally or peripherally mediated.

Detailed Description

Opioids induce pharyngeal and esophageal dysfunction and reduce the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, and thereby decreases the barrier pressure between the stomach and esophagus. This contributes to an increased risk of regurgitation and aspiration during anaesthesia induction and in the postoperative period, when the patient is treated with opioids for pain relief. The effects of opioid antagonists on the opioid induced pharyngeal dysfunction and lower esophageal sphincter pressure are unknown. Therefore it is of great clinical value to evaluate if these negative effects are reversed by peripheral opioid antagonist, methylnaltrexone.

Methylnaltrexone is one of the newer agents of peripherally acting opioid antagonists that act to reverse some of the side effects of opioid drugs, such as constipation, without affecting analgesia.

If the opioid induced pharyngeal and esophageal dysfunction and reduction of the lower esophageal sphincter pressure is peripherally induced or mediated via peripheral opioid receptors, methylnaltrexone might reverse these effects and thereby reduce postoperative morbidity by reducing pulmonary complications. On the other hand, if the dysfunction is centrally induced and not mediated via peripheral opioid receptors there is no effect of methylnaltrexone.

The pharyngeal and esophageal motility/function can be registered in an easy and objective way with the high resolution manometry, ManoScan 360. ManoScan 360 is an equipment with 36 sensors at 1 cm spacing with 12 tip transducers at every sensor. The 36 closely spaced sensors automatically capture all relevant motor function from the pharynx to the stomach. The system collects reliable and consistent data records with improved diagnostic accuracy, and the data are analyzed using ManoView analyzes software. ManoScan 360 has a CE mark approval and has been used at Örebro University Hospital during the last two years.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-11
• Study First Submitted: 2009-11-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-11-12
• Study First Posted: 2009-11-13
• Primary Completion: 2010-01
• Study Completion: 2010-01
• Status Verified: 2011-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-12-08
• Last Update Posted: 2011-12-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 13

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 -40 year old healthy volunteers from both sexes.
• have signed and dated Informed Consent.
• willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the trial.

Exclusion Criteria

• anamnesis of pharyngoesophageal dysfunction.
• known or history of cardiac, pulmonary or neurological disease.
• ongoing medication.
• allergies to or history of reaction to methylnaltrexone, remifentanil or fentanyl analogues.
• pregnancy or breast feeding.
• participation in another clinical medicinal trial during the last 30 days or where follow-up is not completed.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
methylnaltexone	methylnaltrexone	peripheral opioid antagonist
Placebo	methylnaltrexone	Placebo= normal saline

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Does methylnaltrexone influence the upper and lower esophageal sphincter pressure and the swallowing function following opioid administration?	6 hours per volunteer

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Does methylnaltrexone influence the experience of swallowing function following opioid administration?	6 hours per volunteer

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Örebro; 🇸🇪 Örebro, Sweden

University Hospital Örebro; 🇸🇪 Örebro, Sweden