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Innovative Approaches to Assessment of Pain Control and Sedation in the NICU

Completed
Conditions
Pain, Postoperative
Interventions
Device: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap
Device: Micro Movement Sensor
Device: Pico Movement Sensor
Device: QS Piezostimulator
Device: tactileTM sensory evaluator
Registration Number
NCT03057782
Lead Sponsor
Boston Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

It is difficult to assess pain and agitation in the NICU population because for a multitude of reasons including the pre-verbal nature of the patient population, the atypical pain response of premature infants, and the use of muscle relaxing medications that exclude motor response in pain assessments. Current assessment tools are based on physical exam and vital signs. The investigators propose to study the role of EEG and palmar conductance (PD) as additional tools in the assessment of pain and agitation

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, non-interventional study designed to assess noxious-specific neurophysiologic responses and clinical signs following procedural pain in infants requiring hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) following elective surgery.

The main goal of the study is to develop a method that reliably quantifies the level of pain induced from clinically-required noxious procedures to infants hospitalized in the NICU. This method will use measures of neurophysiological, autonomic, and behavioral responses to non-noxious and clinically-required noxious stimuli in order to guide the pharmacological treatment of NICU patients with analgesic agents, sedatives and/or muscle relaxants.

The investigators hypothesize that resting state activity and physiological responses to noxious and non-noxious stimuli provide a more reliable assessment of the level of pain of infants hospitalized in the NICU compared to behavioral-based pain scores.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • All patients will be admitted to the NICU, and having a post-menstrual age of >28 weeks. Participants will be divided into four groups according to the following criteria:

Group A

  • Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment);
  • Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade

Group B

  • Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery);
  • Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical neuromuscular blockade

Group C Plan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair);

Group D No plan for surgery

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Exclusion Criteria
  • Confirmed or suspected clinical seizures
  • Metabolic abnormalities or inborn error of metabolism
  • Skin abrasions or wounds located at the site of research sensor placement i.e. scalp, which interfere with the application of electrodes
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Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group AtactileTM sensory evaluator1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment); 2. Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade (NMB) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. These subjects will also receive EMG monitoring. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as subdermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group AWaveguard (TM) EEG cap1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment); 2. Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade (NMB) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. These subjects will also receive EMG monitoring. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as subdermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group AMicro Movement Sensor1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment); 2. Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade (NMB) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. These subjects will also receive EMG monitoring. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as subdermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group BQS Piezostimulator1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery); 2. Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical NMB The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group APico Movement Sensor1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment); 2. Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade (NMB) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. These subjects will also receive EMG monitoring. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as subdermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group CPico Movement SensorPlan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group DQS PiezostimulatorNo plan for surgery The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group CtactileTM sensory evaluatorPlan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group DWaveguard (TM) EEG capNo plan for surgery The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group DMicro Movement SensorNo plan for surgery The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group DPico Movement SensorNo plan for surgery The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group DtactileTM sensory evaluatorNo plan for surgery The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group AQS Piezostimulator1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. esophageal atresia treatment); 2. Patients who are anticipated to receive prolonged post-surgical neuromuscular blockade (NMB) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. These subjects will also receive EMG monitoring. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as subdermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group CWaveguard (TM) EEG capPlan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group CMicro Movement SensorPlan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group CQS PiezostimulatorPlan for minor surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. hernia repair) The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group BWaveguard (TM) EEG cap1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery); 2. Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical NMB The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group BMicro Movement Sensor1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery); 2. Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical NMB The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group BPico Movement Sensor1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery); 2. Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical NMB The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Group BtactileTM sensory evaluator1. Plan for major surgery anticipated to cause pain and agitation (i.e. bowel surgery); 2. Patients who are not anticipated to receive acute post-surgical NMB The following devices will be used in this Group: Waveguard (TM) EEG cap; Micro Movement Sensor; Pico Movement Sensor; QS Piezostimulator; tactileTM sensory evaluator. Subjects in this group will also have video recordings that may be used for novel analysis such as sub-dermal blood flow or micro-movement.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Noxious Stimuli ResultsUp to 1 year

To assess pain-specific brain activity and autonomic responses post surgery in response to an acute noxious procedure in newborn infants admitted to the NICU. This outcome will be correlated with current behavioral and physiological based pain assessment tools as follows:

Procedural-specific brain activity in infants with varying conditions with pre or post-operative pain. EEG: amplitude of noxious-event related potential evoked by a time-locked noxious stimulus. Pain-specific electro-dermal activity (EDA), electromyography (EMG) and subdermal skin flow; Pain-evoked behavioral measures including: Body movement; Eye squeeze, brow bulge and nasolabial furrow duration. Pain-evoked physiological measures including: Respiration rate; Heart rate; Blood pressure; Oxygen saturation; Observational pain scores (PIPP); EMG activity.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Resting State ResultsUp to 1 year

Characterize resting state activity in post-operative or control subjects as follows:

Baseline brain (EEG) activity (power spectra of baseline EEG signal) in post operative or control subjects. Baseline EDA, EMG and subdermal skin flow; Baseline behavioral measures including: Presence of body movement, eye squeeze, brow bulge and nasolabial furrow. Baseline physiological measures including: Respiration rate; Heart rate; Blood pressure; Oxygen saturation; Observational pain scores (PIPP).

The relationship with resting brain activity, electrodermal activity, behavior, physiological, and observational pain scores will be evaluated.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Boston Children's Hospital

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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