Optimizing Propofol Dosing for (Preterm) Newborn Infants That Need Endotracheal Intubation

Rationale: Propofol, a rapidly acting anaesthetic agent, is currently used unlicensed in the clinical care of (preterm) neonates as sedative for endotracheal intubation. Neonates receive the same propofol doses per kg bodyweight, independent of their developmental stage (gestational age, postnatal age), morbidity, co-medication, etc. This is related to a high failure rate of intubation attempts and leads to hypotension in around 40 percent of patients. Propofol research in newborn infants is on the recently published priority drug research list of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Propofol metabolism and elimination (PK: pharmacokinetics) as well as propofol effects (PD: pharmacodynamics) highly depend on the stage of development and on the genetic make-up of a patient. This study is based on the hypotheses that currently used single doses of propofol for newborn infants can be optimized and that this will improve the quality of sedation and increase the safety of the patients.

Objective: To determine effective and safe age specific propofol dosing guidelines for neonates of different age groups (both gestational age and postnatal age). Secondary objective is to determine a new age specific PK/PD (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic), including a specific propofol genotype (pharmacogenetic analyses) that enables much better prediction of the effects and side-effects of propofol.

Study design: Prospective single dose optimizing and dose validation study

Study population: Neonates admitted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (gestational age 24 - 42 weeks, post natal age < 28 days divided into 8 different age groups) that need (semi-)elective endotracheal intubation.

Intervention (if applicable): Adapted propofol dose. Starting dose is dependent on effects of previously included patients. Dose is increased in case of insufficient sedation. Intubation is started only after sedation level is adequate (titration with additional propofol is possible because propofol is very fast acting)

Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary outcome is the appropriate dose of propofol in 8 different age groups. Optimized propofol doses need to be related with adequate sedation, good quality of intubation conditions and no short term side effects. Secondary endpoints include further evaluation of cerebral perfusion, stress levels and short and long term outcome of the included patients. The incorporation of PK data and genotype of patients is used to make a prediction model for future patients that includes various important cofactors, related to effects and side effects of propofol. Physiological and behavioural responses of the newborns are further explored to find the most reliable and validate neonatal sedation score for intubations.

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness:

Propofol is used as a standard of care for sedation before intubation in newborn infants. Drug metabolism, drug transporters and drug receptors are not yet well developed in (preterm) newborn infants. Therefore PK/PD is very much dependent on the developmental stage of the newborn infant and though changes with age. This study can therefore not be done in another patient group (for instance older patients or healthy volunteers).

Internationally used propofol starting doses in newborns vary between 1.0 to 2.5 mg/kg and are repeated if necessary. The current study will start with propofol doses of 1.0 mg/kg in every age group. If the study starting dose is insufficient, the patient will receive additional propofol doses (1.0 mg/kg) until adequate sedation is acquired. No patient will be intubated before adequate sedation is reached. This is possible because propofol is very fast acting (1-2 minutes).

If the starting dose turns out to be insufficient in 5 patients per group it will be increased in the following patients of that group. The effect of an initial propofol dose is tested to find the optimal propofol doses for neonates in different developmental stages. The study will be continued until the appropriate dose for each age group is determined. The appropriate doses are re-used in another 5 patients per age group to validate the predetermined doses. Safety is monitored very intensively and if hypotension occurs this is immediately treated. The patient will benefit from this intensive safety monitoring, because side-effects will be detected earlier and can be more effectively treated.

Included patients will be monitored with non-invasive techniques (videotaping, cranial ultrasound, aEEG, NIRS) next to the standard intensive care monitoring of physiological parameters.

Blood samples will only be collected from indwelling arterial lines or during routine blood sampling because of normal patients care. An amount of 1.7 ml blood (0.5 ml for DNA analyses, 2 times 0.6 ml for propofol PK analyses) is taken if possible. Two saliva samples for cortisol analyses will be collected.