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AdenotonsillectomyPhase 1/2NCT03618823

Non-opioids for Analgesia After Adenotonsillectomy in Children

A Phase 1/2 study testing Oxycodone, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen in people with Adenotonsillectomy and Post-operative Analgesia, run by David Chi, MD at 1 site in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to determine if non-opioid pain control is a safe way to manage pain after adenotonsillectomy surgery in children. The investigators will be randomly assigning children aged 3-17 to one of two groups: one group will receive non-opioid pain medication only, and the other group will receive… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 3 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Oxycodone, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
268 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
25 Oct 2018to 18 May 2020
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 3 to 17 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Patients age 3 - 17 undergoing adenotonsillectomy

Who cannot join

  • Down syndrome
  • History of coagulopathy
  • Craniofacial abnormalities
  • Caregivers who cannot speak, read, or write in English proficiently
  • Patients who take opioids during the enrollment period
  • Patients who take chronic opioids
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Pregnancy
  • Allergy to or contraindication for taking any of the study medications
  • Patients who have the inability to communicate
  • Patients who have the inability to localize pain

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Randomized Clinical Trial of Non-Opioid Pain Medications After Adenotonsillectomy

The goal of this study is to determine if non-opioid pain control is a safe way to manage pain after adenotonsillectomy surgery in children. The investigators will be randomly assigning children aged 3-17 to one of two groups: one group will receive non-opioid pain medication only, and the other group will receive opioid and non-opioid medications for pain control. The investigators will analyze the data and determine if there is a difference in pain control between the two drug regimens, and if there are any other associated complications between the two groups.

This study is important because if we can demonstrate that there is little difference in outcomes and pain control between the two groups, a strong argument can be made for reducing or eliminating opioid prescription after adenotonsillectomy. This may protect future children from the risks of taking opioid medications and help to reduce the scope of the opioid epidemic.

Read the detailed description

Purpose: To determine if non-opioid pain control is a safe and effective option in the treatment of post-operative pain following adenotonsillectomy in various pediatric age groups.

Methods: The subject population will be patients between the ages of 3 and 17 who will undergo adenotonsillectomy. The study will consist of two unblinded arms - patients receiving standard pain control regimen which include opioids and non-opioids, and patients receiving non-opioid pain medications only. In the diary they will receive, patients or caregivers will record quantity and dosage of pain medication taken each day, a survey, and pain ratings measured by the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale. Within 4-8 weeks post-operatively the patients will return for a follow up appointment along with their diary. Demographic information such as age, race, gender, household income will be extracted from the diary and the electronic medical record. Information such as surgical technique, concurrent operations, post-operative pain prescription (types, weight based dosage, and total days prescribed) will be extracted from the electronic medical record and recorded as well. Outcomes measured will include pain scale rating and rates of complications between the two groups.

Significance: If it can be demonstrated that non-opioid pain control after adenotonsillectomy does not lead to increased pain or worse outcomes in certain pediatric age groups, a strong argument can be made for the cessation of opioid prescription for these ages following adenotonsillectomy. Given the widespread opioid epidemic, this would be a significant step in curbing the massive opioid problem, as well as reducing the adverse effects of opioid usage in pediatric populations.

Keywords
analgesia, pain control, adenotonsillectomy, tonsillectomy, opioids, post-operative pain
Medical subject headings
Agnosia, Pain, Postoperative

What participants receive

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

  • OxycodoneDrug

    Oxycodone will be prescribed at a dose in the range of 0.025 mg/kg to 0.10 mg/kg every four hours or as needed for adequate pain management. The total supply will be limited to seven days. It will be prescribed in liquid suspension form for ease of use in pediatric populations. Subjects or parents will purchase this medication and dosage will be given to subjects in easy-to-understand language.

  • IbuprofenDrug

    Ibuprofen will be prescribed at 10 mg/kg to be taken every 6 hours for the first three post-operative days. After the first three days, the subject should take the ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed for pain control. The daily dose of ibuprofen is not to exceed 1200mg or more than 4 individual doses. It will be prescribed in liquid suspension form for ease of use in pediatric populations. Subjects or parents will purchase this medication and dosage will be given to subjects in easy-to-understand language.

  • AcetaminophenDrug

    Acetaminophen will be prescribed at 15mg/kg to be taken every 4 hours for the first three days, except when sleeping. After the first three days, the subject should take the acetaminophen every 4 hours as needed for pain control. The daily dose of acetaminophen is not to exceed 5 doses in 24 hours. It will be prescribed in liquid suspension form for ease of use in pediatric populations. Subjects or parents will purchase this medication and dosage will be given to subjects in easy-to-understand language.

Study groups in NCT03618823
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Opioid pain controlExperimentalPatients in this group will be receiving triple therapy for pain control with oxycodone, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen. They will be asked to complete a pain diary which will be used to determine the level of pain control achieved with this regimen. The diary will be completed by post-operative day 14. A post-operative appointment between 4-8 weeks will be scheduled and the patient and caregiver will return the pain diary.
Receives: Drug: Oxycodone; Drug: Ibuprofen; Drug: Acetaminophen
Non-opioid pain controlActive comparatorPatients in this group will be receiving therapy for pain control with acetaminophen and ibuprofen only. They will be asked to complete a pain diary which will be used to determine the level of pain control achieved with this regimen. The diary will be completed by post-operative day 14. A post-operative appointment between 4-8 weeks will be scheduled and the patient and caregiver will return the diary.
Receives: Drug: Ibuprofen; Drug: Acetaminophen

What is being measured

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

  1. Average Pain Burden

    Average pain over 14 post-operative days before and after medications. This is quantified using the validated Wong-Baker FACES pain metric. Patients receive a take-home pain diary and for 14 days report their maximum pain both before and after taking pain medication. The mean of these pain ratings will be the primary outcome measure. The Wong-Baker FACES scale is from 0 (min) to 10 (max). A higher score indicates worse outcome/pain.

    Measured: 14 days post-operatively

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Number of Participants With ED (Emergency Department) or Urgent Care Visits

    Number of participants with emergency department or urgent care visits in 14 post-operative days - assessed via the electronic medical record and the take-home pain diary.

    Measured: 14 days post-operatively

  2. Number of Side Effects of Medications

    Number of any of the following side effects experienced: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, stomach ache, difficulty breathing. Assessed at follow-up and take-home pain diary.

    Measured: 14 days post-operatively

Timeline

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

  1. First posted7 Aug 2018
  2. Study start25 Oct 2018
  3. Primary completion18 May 2020
  4. Study completion18 May 2020

Why it stopped: Early termination due to COVID-19 cases and cancelled surgeries.

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 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Experimental, open-label randomized control trial.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
268 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03618823
Sponsor's protocol ID
STUDY19040036 (Part 1)
Status last verified
Oct 2021
First submitted
1 Aug 2018
Last updated
10 Nov 2021
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Only co-investigators as listed under the University of Pittsburgh IRB (Institutional Review Board) protocol for this study will have access to all data and analysis. Data will be shared via UPMC-associated OneDrive and will only be shared between these investigators.

Publications

  • Van Cleve WC, Grigg EB. Variability in opioid prescribing for children undergoing ambulatory surgery in the United States. J Clin Anesth. 2017 Sep;41:16-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2017.05.014. Epub 2017 Jun 3.

    PubMed 28802595
  • Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths - United States, 2010-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Dec 30;65(50-51):1445-1452. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm655051e1.

    PubMed 28033313
  • Schuchat A, Houry D, Guy GP Jr. New Data on Opioid Use and Prescribing in the United States. JAMA. 2017 Aug 1;318(5):425-426. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.8913. No abstract available.

    PubMed 28687823
  • Feinberg AE, Chesney TR, Srikandarajah S, Acuna SA, McLeod RS; Best Practice in Surgery Group. Opioid Use After Discharge in Postoperative Patients: A Systematic Review. Ann Surg. 2018 Jun;267(6):1056-1062. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000002591.

    PubMed 29215370
  • Monitto CL, Hsu A, Gao S, Vozzo PT, Park PS, Roter D, Yenokyan G, White ED, Kattail D, Edgeworth AE, Vasquenza KJ, Atwater SE, Shay JE, George JA, Vickers BA, Kost-Byerly S, Lee BH, Yaster M. Opioid Prescribing for the Treatment of Acute Pain in Children on Hospital Discharge. Anesth Analg. 2017 Dec;125(6):2113-2122. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002586.

    PubMed 29189368
  • Holte K, Kehlet H. Effect of postoperative epidural analgesia on surgical outcome. Minerva Anestesiol. 2002 Apr;68(4):157-61.

    PubMed 12024074
  • van Boekel RLM, Warle MC, Nielen RGC, Vissers KCP, van der Sande R, Bronkhorst EM, Lerou JGC, Steegers MAH. Relationship Between Postoperative Pain and Overall 30-Day Complications in a Broad Surgical Population: An Observational Study. Ann Surg. 2019 May;269(5):856-865. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000002583.

    PubMed 29135493
  • Bean-Lijewski JD, Kruitbosch SH, Hutchinson L, Browne B. Post-tonsillectomy pain management in children: can we do better? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007 Oct;137(4):545-51. doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2007.06.731.

    PubMed 17903568
  • Luk LJ, Mosen D, MacArthur CJ, Grosz AH. Implementation of a Pediatric Posttonsillectomy Pain Protocol in a Large Group Practice. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Apr;154(4):720-4. doi: 10.1177/0194599815627810. Epub 2016 Feb 16.

    PubMed 26884362
  • Kelly LE, Sommer DD, Ramakrishna J, Hoffbauer S, Arbab-Tafti S, Reid D, Maclean J, Koren G. Morphine or Ibuprofen for post-tonsillectomy analgesia: a randomized trial. Pediatrics. 2015 Feb;135(2):307-13. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1906.

    PubMed 25624387
  • Whelan RL, McCoy JL, Mirson L, Maguire RC, Jabbour N, Simons JP, Dohar JE, Kitsko DJ, Stapleton AL, Tobey ABJ, Alper CM, Shaffer AD, Bennett ZR, Chi DH. Opioid Analgesia Following Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Aug;173(2):392-401. doi: 10.1002/ohn.1280. Epub 2025 May 21.

    PubMed 40396501

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing Oxycodone, Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen in people with Adenotonsillectomy and Post-operative Analgesia, run by David Chi, MD at 1 site in United States.

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 1 inclusion and 10 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Nov 2021. 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 United States. 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.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 10 Nov 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Average Pain Burden (time frame: 14 days post-operatively). 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 NCT03618823, which also lists 11 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 10 Nov 2021.

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