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ElderlyNCT01661907

Anesthesia-analgesia Methods and Postoperative Delirium

A study testing Combined Epi-GA/PCEA and GA/PCIA in people with Elderly and Epidural Anesthesia, run by Peking University First Hospital at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Postoperative delirium is a common complication in elderly patients after surgery. Its occurrence is associated with worse outcomes. The pathophysiology of delirium remains poorly understood. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 60 to 90 years
Conditions the study is for
Elderly, Epidural Anesthesia, General Anesthesia
What is being tested?
Combined Epi-GA/PCEA and GA/PCIA
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,800 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
21 Nov 2011to 24 Jun 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 60 to 90 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • elderly patients (age range 60-90 years);
  • scheduled to undergo noncardiac thoracic or abdominal surgery with an expected duration of 2 hours or longer. For those who undergo thoracoscopic or laparoscopic surgery, the expected length of incision must be 5 centimeters or more;
  • agree to receive patient-controlled postoperative analgesia.
  • Exclusion criteria (patients who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded):
  • previous history of schizophrenia, epilepsy or Parkinson disease, or unable to complete preoperative assessment due to severe dementia, language barrier or end-stage disease;
  • history of myocardial infarction within 3 months before surgery;
Show all 9Show fewer
  • any contraindication to epidural anesthesia and analgesia, including abnormal vertebral anatomy, previous spinal trauma or surgery, severe chronic back pain, coagulation disorder (prothrombin time or activated partial prothrombin time longer than 1.5 times of the upper limit of normal, or platelet count of less than 80 × 10^9/L), local infection near the site of puncture, and severe sepsis;
  • severe heart dysfunction (New York Heart Association functional classification 3 or above), hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh grades C), or renal insufficiency (serum creatinine of 442 μmol/L or above, with or without serum potassium of 6.5 mmol/L or above, or requirement of renal replacement therapy); or
  • any other conditions that were considered unsuitable for study participation.

Who cannot join

None listed.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University First Hospital

    Beijing, 100034

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Effects of Two Different Anesthesia-analgesia Methods on the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium: a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

Postoperative delirium is a common complication in elderly patients after surgery. Its occurrence is associated with worse outcomes. The pathophysiology of delirium remains poorly understood. However, an universal phenomenon is that delirium frequently occurs in elderly patients after major complicated surgery, but is rarely seen after minor ambulatory surgery (such as cataract surgery). This indicates that stress response produced by surgery might have an important role in the pathogenesis of delirium. It has been reported that, when compared with general anesthesia and postoperative intravenous analgesia, neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia reduced the occurrence of postoperative complications and mortality in high risk patients. Combined epidural-general anesthesia is frequently used in clinical practice. This anesthetic method provides advantages of both epidural and general anesthesia, i.e. it blocks the afferent pathway of nociceptive stimulus by neuraxial blockade during and after surgery, and allows patients to endure long-duration surgery without any awareness. The investigators hypothesize that combined epidural-general anesthesia and postoperative epidural analgesia can decrease the incidence of delirium in elderly patients after major surgery when compared with general anesthesia alone and postoperative intravenous analgesia.

Read the detailed description

Delirium is an acutely occurred and transient mental syndrome characterized by global impairment of cognitive functions, reduced level of consciousness, abnormalities of attention, increased or decreased psychomotor activity, and disordered sleep-wake cycle. Postoperative delirium is a common complication in elderly patients after surgery. Dyer et al reviewed 80 primary studies and found that the mean incidence of postoperative delirium is about 36.8% (range 0%-73.5%) after surgery. It occurs in up to 80% of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our recent studies found that delirium occurred in 51.0% of patients after cardiac surgery and in 44.5% of patients after non-cardiac surgery.

The occurrence of postoperative delirium is associated with worse outcomes. Studies showed that delirious patients have prolonged ICU stay, increased incidence of complications, prolonged hospitalization, high mortality rate, and increased health care costs. Delirium is also associated with increased risk of long-term cognitive decline and poor quality of life. A recent follow-up study (mean follow-up time 27.9 ± 3.1 months) by our research group found that, after adjusting factors such as age, occurrence of postoperative complications, and stage of cancer, etc, the occurrence of postoperative delirium still remained an independent predictor of long-term mortality.

The pathophysiology of delirium remains poorly understood. An universal phenomenon is that delirium frequently occurs in elderly patients after major complicated surgery, but is rarely seen after minor ambulatory surgery (such as cataract surgery). Studies also found that postoperative pain is an independent risk factor of delirium, whereas effective pain relief may help to reduce the incidence of delirium. Our recent studies showed that high serum cortisol level is an independent risk factor of postoperative delirium. In addition, inflammatory response may also contribute to the pathogenesis of delirium. Trauma, pain, cortisol secretion and inflammation are all important components of surgical stress response. The above results indicated that stress response produced by surgery might have an important role in the pathogenesis of delirium.

Previous studies demonstrated that, when compared with general anesthesia, neuraxial anesthesia attenuates the hypersecretion of cortisol, and decreases the intensity of inflammatory response more effectively after surgery. And epidural analgesia provides better postoperative pain relief than intravenous analgesia. It was also reported that, when compared with general anesthesia and intravenous analgesia, neuraxial anesthesia and analgesia reduces the occurrence of postoperative complications and mortality in high risk patients. Combined epidural-general anesthesia is frequently used in clinical practice, and is performed in about 1/4 of patients undergoing surgery in the applicant's hospital. Theoretically, this anesthetic method provides advantages of both epidural and general anesthesia, i.e. it blocks the afferent pathway of nociceptive stimulus by neuraxial blockade during and after surgery, and allow patients to endure long-duration complicated surgeries without any awareness. However, there is no evidence whether combined epidural-general anesthesia/postoperative epidural analgesia can decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.

The objective of the study is to compare the effects of combined epidural-general anesthesia/postoperative epidural analgesia and general anesthesia/postoperative intravenous analgesia on the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery.

Being tested
Combined Epi-GA/PCEA, GA/PCIA
Keywords
Elderly, Epidural anesthesia, General anesthesia, Major surgery, Postoperative delirium
Medical subject headings
Emergence Delirium

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Combined Epi-GA/PCEAProcedure or surgery

    An epidural catheter will be placed before the induction of general anesthesia. General anesthesia will be induced and maintained as in the control group, with the addition of epidural anesthesia which will be maintained with the use of 0.375%-0.5% ropivacaine during surgery. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia will be provided after surgery.

  • GA/PCIAProcedure or surgery

    General anesthesia will be induced with midazolam, propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium. Anesthesia will be maintained with either intravenous (propofol), inhalational (sevoflurane with or without nitrous oxide), or combined intravenous-inhalational anesthetics. Additional opioids (remifentanil, sufentanil, fentanyl, or morphine) and muscle relaxant (rocuronium, atracurium, or cisatracurium) will be administered when deemed necessary by the attending anesthesiologists. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia will be provided after surgery.

Study groups in NCT01661907
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Combined Epi-GA/PCEAExperimentalPatients assigned to this group (experimental group) will receive combined epidural-general anesthesia (combined Epi-GA) and patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). An epidural catheter will be placed before anesthesia induction. General anesthesia will be induced and maintained in the same manner as in the control group, with the addition of a continuous infusion or intermittent boluses of 0.375%-0.5% ropivacaine given through the epidural catheter for analgesia maintenance. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia will be provided for postoperative analgesia (established with 0.12% ropivacaine and 0.5 μg/mL sufentanil in 250 mL normal saline, programmed to deliver a 2-mL bolus with a lockout interval of 20 minutes and a background infusion of 4 mL/hr).
Receives: Procedure: Combined Epi-GA/PCEA
GA/PCIAActive comparatorPatients assigned to this group (control group) will receive general anesthesia (GA) and patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA). General anesthesia will be induced with midazolam, sufentanil, propofol and rocuronium. Anesthesia will then be maintained by inhalation of sevoflurane with or without nitrous oxide, and/or continuous intravenous infusion of propofol. Sufentanil and rocuronium will be given when needed. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia will be provided for postoperative analgesia (established with 50 mg morphine in 100 mL normal saline, programmed to deliver a 2-mL bolus with a 6-10 minutes lockout interval and a 1 mL/hr background infusion).
Receives: Procedure: GA/PCIA

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of postoperative delirium

    Patients will be visited twice daily during the first seven days after surgery (between 08:00 h and 10:00 h, and between 18:00 h and 20:00 h). Delirium will be assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). The incidence is calculated as percentage of patients who develope any episode of delirium during that period.

    Measured: During the first 7 days after surgery.

Secondary outcomes (11)
  1. Intensive care unit (ICU) admission after surgery

    The proportion of patients admitted to the ICU after surgery

    Measured: During the day of surgery.

  2. APACHE II score at ICU admission

    For patients admitted to the ICU after surgery, the worst Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score within 24 h will be recorded.

    Measured: Within 24 hours after surgery.

  3. The percentage of ICU admission with endotracheal intubation

    The percentage of ICU admission with endotracheal intubation.

    Measured: During the day of surgery.

  4. The duration of Mechanical Ventilation in ICU

    For patients admitted to the ICU after surgery, the duration of mechanical ventilation (for those with endotracheal tubes) will be recorded.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  5. The Length of ICU stay

    For patients admitted to the ICU after surgery, the length of ICU stay will be recorded.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  6. Time to the first onset of delirium

    Patients will be visited twice daily during the first seven days after surgery (between 08:00 h and 10:00 h, and between 18:00 h and 20:00 h). Delirium will be assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU).

    Measured: Up to 7 days after surgery.

  7. Time to fluid/food intake

    Patients will be followed-up until 30 days after surgery and time to fluid and food intake after surgery will be recorded.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  8. Length of stay in hospital after surgery

    Patients will be followed-up until 30 days after surgery.

    Measured: Up to 30 days after surgery.

  9. All-cause 30-day mortality

    All-cause 30-day mortality

    Measured: Within the first 30 days after surgery.

  10. Non-delirium complications within 30 days after surgery surgery

    Defined as newly occurred medical conditions other than delirium that are harmful to patients' postoperative recovery and required therapeutic intervention (i.e., grade II or higher on the Clavien-Dindo classification).

    Measured: Within the first 30 days after surgery.

  11. The intensity of postoperative pain

    The intensity of postoperative pain both at rest and with movement will be evaluated twice daily at the same time of delirium assessment (between 08:00 h and 10:00 h, and between 18:00 h and 20:00 h) with the numeric rating scale (NRS, an 11-point scale where 0=no pain and 10=the worst pain).

    Measured: During the first 3 postoperative days.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Aug 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study start21 Nov 2011
  3. Primary completion25 May 2015
  4. Study completion24 Jun 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
1,800 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01661907
Sponsor's protocol ID
PUCRP201101
Other IDs
ChiCTR-TRC-09000543
Status last verified
Jul 2020
First submitted
2 Aug 2012
Last updated
8 Jul 2020
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Data will be provided on request.

Publications

  • Dyer CB, Ashton CM, Teasdale TA. Postoperative delirium. A review of 80 primary data-collection studies. Arch Intern Med. 1995 Mar 13;155(5):461-5. doi: 10.1001/archinte.155.5.461.

    PubMed 7864702
  • Girard TD, Pandharipande PP, Ely EW. Delirium in the intensive care unit. Crit Care. 2008;12 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S3. doi: 10.1186/cc6149. Epub 2008 May 14.

    PubMed 18495054
  • Mu DL, Wang DX, Li LH, Shan GJ, Li J, Yu QJ, Shi CX. High serum cortisol level is associated with increased risk of delirium after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective cohort study. Crit Care. 2010;14(6):R238. doi: 10.1186/cc9393. Epub 2010 Dec 30.

    PubMed 21192800
  • Shi CM, Wang DX, Chen KS, Gu XE. Incidence and risk factors of delirium in critically ill patients after non-cardiac surgery. Chin Med J (Engl). 2010 Apr 20;123(8):993-9.

    PubMed 20497703
  • Roberts B, Rickard CM, Rajbhandari D, Turner G, Clarke J, Hill D, Tauschke C, Chaboyer W, Parsons R. Multicentre study of delirium in ICU patients using a simple screening tool. Aust Crit Care. 2005 Feb;18(1):6, 8-9, 11-4 passim. doi: 10.1016/s1036-7314(05)80019-0.

    PubMed 18038529
  • Balas MC, Happ MB, Yang W, Chelluri L, Richmond T. Outcomes Associated With Delirium in Older Patients in Surgical ICUs. Chest. 2009 Jan;135(1):18-25. doi: 10.1378/chest.08-1456. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

    PubMed 19017895
  • Ely EW, Gautam S, Margolin R, Francis J, May L, Speroff T, Truman B, Dittus R, Bernard R, Inouye SK. The impact of delirium in the intensive care unit on hospital length of stay. Intensive Care Med. 2001 Dec;27(12):1892-900. doi: 10.1007/s00134-001-1132-2. Epub 2001 Nov 8.

    PubMed 11797025
  • Ansaloni L, Catena F, Chattat R, Fortuna D, Franceschi C, Mascitti P, Melotti RM. Risk factors and incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients after elective and emergency surgery. Br J Surg. 2010 Feb;97(2):273-80. doi: 10.1002/bjs.6843.

    PubMed 20069607
  • Ely EW, Shintani A, Truman B, Speroff T, Gordon SM, Harrell FE Jr, Inouye SK, Bernard GR, Dittus RS. Delirium as a predictor of mortality in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. JAMA. 2004 Apr 14;291(14):1753-62. doi: 10.1001/jama.291.14.1753.

    PubMed 15082703
  • Franco K, Litaker D, Locala J, Bronson D. The cost of delirium in the surgical patient. Psychosomatics. 2001 Jan-Feb;42(1):68-73. doi: 10.1176/appi.psy.42.1.68.

    PubMed 11161124
  • Milbrandt EB, Deppen S, Harrison PL, Shintani AK, Speroff T, Stiles RA, Truman B, Bernard GR, Dittus RS, Ely EW. Costs associated with delirium in mechanically ventilated patients. Crit Care Med. 2004 Apr;32(4):955-62. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000119429.16055.92.

    PubMed 15071384
  • Pisani MA, Kong SY, Kasl SV, Murphy TE, Araujo KL, Van Ness PH. Days of delirium are associated with 1-year mortality in an older intensive care unit population. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Dec 1;180(11):1092-7. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200904-0537OC. Epub 2009 Sep 10.

    PubMed 19745202
  • Bickel H, Gradinger R, Kochs E, Forstl H. High risk of cognitive and functional decline after postoperative delirium. A three-year prospective study. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008;26(1):26-31. doi: 10.1159/000140804. Epub 2008 Jun 24.

    PubMed 18577850
  • Van Rompaey B, Schuurmans MJ, Shortridge-Baggett LM, Truijen S, Elseviers M, Bossaert L. Long term outcome after delirium in the intensive care unit. J Clin Nurs. 2009 Dec;18(23):3349-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02933.x. Epub 2009 Sep 4.

    PubMed 19735334
  • Inouye SK. Delirium in older persons. N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 16;354(11):1157-65. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra052321. No abstract available.

    PubMed 16540616

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Combined Epi-GA/PCEA and GA/PCIA in people with Elderly and Epidural Anesthesia, run by Peking University First Hospital at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jul 2020. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Incidence of postoperative delirium (time frame: During the first 7 days after surgery.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01661907, which also lists 38 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jul 2020.

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