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The Use of Low Dose Prophylactic Naloxone Infusion to Prevent Respiratory Depression With Intrathecal Morphine.

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Respiratory Depression
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT02885948
Lead Sponsor
University College Dublin
Brief Summary

This is an investigator led, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, double arm comparator study.

Detailed Description

Delayed respiratory depression is a well-documented side effect associated with the use of intrathecal morphine. This respiratory depression has implications for patient safety and necessitates either the observation of the patient in a high dependency setting for at least 24 hours or the use of an alternative analgesic technique. Other associated side effects include pruritus, nausea and vomiting and sedation. Naloxone is the most effective treatment for these side effects. However, it is usually given as a reactive treatment when the side effect presents.

The hypothesis is that patients who are commenced on a naloxone infusion at low dose early after injection of intrathecal morphine will have a clinically significant reduction in incidence of these side effects. The primary endpoint is a reduction in respiratory depression.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
96
Inclusion Criteria
  • Subjects must be aged 18 years or above at baseline
  • Diagnosed with any hepatobiliary condition requiring an elective major surgical resection under general anaesthetic.
  • Subjects must be able and willing to give written informed consent and to comply with the requirements of this study protocol
Exclusion Criteria
  • Allergy/sensitivity to naloxone
  • Female subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
  • Subjects who have received any other investigational agent within 2 months
  • Subjects taking anticonvulsant medications for epilepsy
  • Subjects who have a cardiac arrhythmia with an uncontrolled rate
  • Subjects who have a history of chronic opioid use / chronic pain
  • Any contraindication to intrathecal injection eg coagulopathy
  • Documented history of obstructive sleep apnoea
  • Treating clinician feels not in the patients best interests to be randomised

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
SalinePlaceboThe placebo arm of the study will receive an infusion of normal saline at a rate of 0.25ml/kg/hr.
NaloxoneNaloxoneThe naloxone arm of the study will receive naloxone at a rate of 5mcg/kg/hr which equates to 0.25ml/kg/hr. Each 1 ml ampoule of solution contains 400 micrograms (0.4mg) naloxone hydrochloride present as naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate. Excipients: each 1ml contains 3.55mg sodium. This will be diluted to a concentration of 20mcg/ml with 0.9% NaCl. Presented as solution for injection or infusion. Clear colourless sterile solution.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Respiratory depressionwithin 16 - 24 hours of participation
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Measure of occurrence of painwithin 16 - 24 hours of participation
Requirement for rescue analgesiawithin 16 - 24 hours of participation
Nausea/Vomitingwithin 16 - 24 hours of participation
Prurituswithin 16 - 24 hours of participation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Prof. Alistair Nichol

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

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