Goal-directed Fluid Therapy During Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) Free Flap Breast Reconstruction

Phase 4

Recruiting

• Conditions: Hypotension During Surgery
• Interventions: Drug: Plasma-lyte (static group); Drug: Plasma-lyte (dynamic group); Drug: Norepinephrine (static group); Drug: Norepinephrine (dynamic group)

• Registration Number: NCT06080178
• Lead Sponsor: Algemeen Ziekenhuis Maria Middelares

Brief Summary

Adequate free flap perfusion during Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction surgery requires maintaining blood pressure above 100 mmHg and avoiding excessive fluid administration. This study aims to determine whether the use of a measurement of preload dependency (Pulse Pressure Variation = PPV), can guide fluid therapy and if it decreases the risk of flap oedema. For this purpose, two fluid management strategies will be compared:

* Static intraoperative fluid management: Administration of crystalloid fluids is limited to 5ml/kg/h

* Dynamic intraoperative fluid management: Crystalloid fluids are only administered if PPV exceeds 12% The purpose of this study is to compare the static and dynamic (= targeted) fluid strategy and to evaluate the effect on flap oedema and flap perfusion.

Detailed Description

For adequate free flap perfusion during Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction surgery, blood pressure must remain sufficiently high. General anaesthesia often induces systemic hypotension. To counteract this hypotension, the anaesthetist administers intravenous fluids (crystalloid fluids). However, fluid overload can lead to an increased risk of flap oedema and decreased flap perfusion and in exceptional cases to flap failure. To maintain blood pressure above 100 mmHg and to avoid excessive fluid administration, a vasopressor (norepinephrine) can be administered. This reduces the amount of fluids administered, thereby reducing the risk of flap oedema.

This study aims to determine whether the use of a measurement of preload dependency (Pulse Pressure Variation = PPV), can guide fluid therapy and if it decreases the risk of flap oedema. To this end, two fluid management strategies will be compared:

* Static intraoperative fluid management: Administration of crystalloid fluids is limited to 5ml/kg/h

* Dynamic intraoperative fluid management: Crystalloid fluids are only administered if PPV exceeds 12% The purpose of this study is to compare the static and dynamic (= targeted) fluid strategy and to evaluate the effect on flap oedema and flap perfusion.

All included patients are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the static (n = 41) or dynamic group (n = 41).

To treat hypotension in patients randomized to the 'static' group, fluid administration is limited to 5 ml/kg/h. When the maximum fluid volume is administered but blood pressure remains below 100 mmHg, norepinephrine is administered.

Treatment of hypotension in patients randomized to the 'dynamic' (= targeted fluid therapy) group, is guided by PPV. PPV is measured continuously during the surgery and if the blood pressure is below 100 mmHg, fluids are only administered if PPV is \> 12%. If blood pressure is below 100 mmHg but PPV is \< 12% (indicating no fluid is needed), norepinephrine is administered.

At the end of the procedure, 2 sensors are applied, these sensors provide information about the perfusion of the free flap during patient's stay in Intensive Care or the recovery room.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-09-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-10-10
• Study First Posted: 2023-10-12
• Study Start: 2023-11-23
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-27
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-28
• Primary Completion: 2026-10-01
• Study Completion: 2026-10-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 82

Inclusion Criteria

• Female adult patients, between 18 and 70 years of age
• Patients scheduled for DIEP free flap breast reconstruction
• Signed written informed consent form (ICF)

Exclusion Criteria

• present atrial fibrillation (AF)
• heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification 2 or higher
• chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3B or higher
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification III or higher
• known allergy to study specific medication
• participation in another clinical trial
• Inability of the patient to understand Dutch sufficiently
• Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Static group	Plasma-lyte (static group)	When during surgery systolic blood pressure (SBP) is below 100mmHg: * give a fluid bolus (Plasmalyte A) until 5ml/kg/h crystalloid (without maintenance infusion) is reached or until SBP is above 100mmHg * if the 5ml/kg/h crystalloid limit is already reached: start or increase norepinephrine infusion until SBP is above 100mmHg (with a maximum dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min). When SBP is above 120mmHg: decrease the norepinephrine infusion rate until SBP is below 120mmHg. When SBP remains below 100mmHg after reaching a vasopressor dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min: the anaesthetist can decide to give a bolus of 6mg ephedrine intravenous (IV) (with a maximum dose of 12mg ephedrine iv per hour).
Static group	Norepinephrine (static group)	When during surgery systolic blood pressure (SBP) is below 100mmHg: * give a fluid bolus (Plasmalyte A) until 5ml/kg/h crystalloid (without maintenance infusion) is reached or until SBP is above 100mmHg * if the 5ml/kg/h crystalloid limit is already reached: start or increase norepinephrine infusion until SBP is above 100mmHg (with a maximum dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min). When SBP is above 120mmHg: decrease the norepinephrine infusion rate until SBP is below 120mmHg. When SBP remains below 100mmHg after reaching a vasopressor dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min: the anaesthetist can decide to give a bolus of 6mg ephedrine intravenous (IV) (with a maximum dose of 12mg ephedrine iv per hour).
Dynamic group	Plasma-lyte (dynamic group)	After insertion of an arterial line, a pulse contour analysis system will be installed (Acumen IQ sensor, Edwards) for measuring PPV and cardiac index (CI). When during surgery SBP is below 100mmHg and PPV is above 12%: • give a fluid bolus (Plasmalyte A) until PPV is below or equal to 12% or SBP is above 100mmHg When during surgery SBP is below 100mmHg and PPV is below or equal to 12%: • start or increase norepinephrine infusion until SBP is above 100mmHg (with a maximum dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min) When SBP is above 120mmHg: decrease the norepinephrine infusion rate until SBP is below 120mmHg. When SBP remains below 100mmHg after reaching a vasopressor dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min, and CI is \< 2.2 L/min/m², a bolus of 6mg ephedrine iv will be given (with a maximum dose of 12mg ephedrine iv per hour).
Dynamic group	Norepinephrine (dynamic group)	After insertion of an arterial line, a pulse contour analysis system will be installed (Acumen IQ sensor, Edwards) for measuring PPV and cardiac index (CI). When during surgery SBP is below 100mmHg and PPV is above 12%: • give a fluid bolus (Plasmalyte A) until PPV is below or equal to 12% or SBP is above 100mmHg When during surgery SBP is below 100mmHg and PPV is below or equal to 12%: • start or increase norepinephrine infusion until SBP is above 100mmHg (with a maximum dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min) When SBP is above 120mmHg: decrease the norepinephrine infusion rate until SBP is below 120mmHg. When SBP remains below 100mmHg after reaching a vasopressor dose of 0.2mcg/kg/min, and CI is \< 2.2 L/min/m², a bolus of 6mg ephedrine iv will be given (with a maximum dose of 12mg ephedrine iv per hour).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Total intraoperative fluid volume	From anaesthesia induction until completed skin closure, assessed up to 12 hours	Total intraoperative fluid volume (from anaesthesia induction until completed skin closure)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of time Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) was above 100mmHg	During surgery, from anaesthesia induction until completed skin closure, assessed up to 12 hours	Percentage of time SBP was above 100mmHg during surgery
Length of stay	From ICU admission until ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 60 hours	ICU/PACU length of stay (LOS) (hours)
Peri- and postoperative blood lactate levels	From anaesthesia induction until ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 72 hours	Peri- and postoperative blood lactate levels (hourly measurement during surgery, every four hours in the ICU until discharge)
Cumulative perioperative fluid volume	From anaesthesia induction until ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 72 hours	Cumulative perioperative fluid volume (intraoperative fluid volume + fluid administered in the intensive care unit (ICU) or post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU))
Surgical complications	At ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 60 hours and at hospital discharge, assessed up to 2 weeks	Surgical complications (e.g. total or partial flap loss, venous flap congestion, hematoma) assessed at ICU/PACU discharge and at hospital discharge
Cumulative perioperative norepinephrine dose	From anaesthesia induction until ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 72 hours	Cumulative perioperative norepinephrine dose (intraoperative and postoperative norepinephrine dose)
Postoperative free flap tissue oxygenation and blood perfusion (tissue oximetry)	From ICU admission until ICU/ PACU discharge, assessed up to 60 hours	Postoperative free flap perfusion monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during ICU/PACU stay

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

AZ Maria Middelares; 🇧🇪 Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium