High vs Low Dose Dexamethasone on Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Phase After Nephrectomy (DEX-NEF)

January 24, 2019 updated by: Kristin Julia Steinthorsdottir, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

High vs Low Dose Dexamethasone on Complications in the Immediate Postoperative Phase After Nephrectomy (DEX-NEF)

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a single preoperative high-dose steroid injection on complications in the immediate postoperative phase after open kidney surgery (kidney resection, heminephrectomy, nephrectomy). Primary outcome is complications in the post anaesthesia care unit (PACU). Secondary outcomes are organospecific complications in the post anaesthesia phase, pain and nausea the first 5 days, seroma and wound infection the first 14 days and readmissions the first 30 days after surgery.

The investigators hypothesize that the frequency of transfer to the PACU and organospecific complications will be lower among patients receiving high dose dexamethasone. The investigators hypothesize, that there will be no difference in wound infections, seroma or readmissions.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Post-surgery, patients are traditionally observed and treated in post-anesthesia care units (PACU) until they are discharged to the ward (or directly home) assessed by standardized international discharge criteria.

The research project "Why in PACU?" (Rigshospitalet, Denmark), has since the beginning of 2016 systematically collected and analyzed procedure-related complications in the recovery phase. The complications include pain, nausea/vomiting, circulatory and respiratory problems, orthostatic intolerance and cognitive disorders. Common to all the above-mentioned post-operative problems are the possible links to the inflammatory response caused by the surgical trauma.

Glucocorticoids can in this context be central for the reduction of acute postoperative organ dysfunctions, caused by the anti-inflammatory effect. In a number of different surgical procedures, single dose, pre-operative glucocorticoids have been shown to reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), acute pain and need of opioids as well as accelerate the convalescence.

Meta-analyses also showed that single-dose administration of glucocorticoids (methylprednisolone and dexamethasone) for surgical patients is safe as opposed to long-term treatment.

The "Why in PACU?" database shows that 60 % of patients having open kidney surgery have complications in the PACU (primarily pain and hypoxia).

Based on positive results in other procedure-specific studies, all donor-nephrectomy patients at Rigshospitalet, have received pre-operative high-dose steroids, in the form of 24 mg dexamethasone injection since mid-2015. This has resulted in a reduction of pain requiring treatment with 30 %.

Prior to creating clinical recommendations and standards, it is required that the results be tested in a randomized, controlled, clinical trial.

The study is not placebo-controlled since the positive effects of dexamethasone 8 mg on PONV have been shown in numerous trials, and is already being administered to all patients at the clinic. It would therefore not be ethically correct to withdraw from this practise

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

45

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100
        • Rigshospitalet

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Planned open kidney resection, heminephrectomy, nephrectomy Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • chronic/ongoing use of glucocorticoids (except inhalation therapy)
  • ongoing use of immunosuppressive therapy
  • insulin dependent diabetes
  • pregnancy/breastfeeding
  • allergies toward study medication, or medication in a standard treatment
  • previous kidney resection on same side
  • thrombectomy in vena cava above diaphragma
  • surgery cannot be performed

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: High dose
Dexamethasone 24 mg
pre-operative, single-shot injection
Active Comparator: Low dose
Dexamethasone 8 mg
pre-operative, single-shot injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Post-operative complications
Time Frame: 24 hours
Complications requiring treatment in the PACU
24 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Length of stay, PACU
Time Frame: 24 hours
Total length of stay in PACU
24 hours
Length of stay, hospital
Time Frame: 1 month
Total length of stay in hospital
1 month
Discharge score
Time Frame: 1 hour
Discharge score (according to discharge criteria) in the operating theater
1 hour
Discharge score
Time Frame: 24 hours
Discharge score (according to discharge criteria) in the PACU
24 hours
Complications
Time Frame: 24 hours
Complications requiring treatment in the ward
24 hours
Pain postoperative
Time Frame: 4 days
Self-reported pain (worst and average, days 0-4). Questionnaire.
4 days
Analgesics
Time Frame: 4 days
Self-reported use of pain medication other than standard treatment (days 0-4). Questionnaire.
4 days
Post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
Time Frame: 4 days
Self-reported ponv (worst and average, days 0-4. Questionnaire.
4 days
Antiemetics
Time Frame: 4 days
Use of antiemetics other than standard treatment (days 0-4. Questionnaire.
4 days
Sleep
Time Frame: 4 days
Self-reported quality of sleep (days 0-4). Questionnaire.
4 days
Mental status
Time Frame: 4 days
Self-reported feelings of anxiety, unrest, sadness (days 0-4). Questionnaire.
4 days
Wound complications
Time Frame: 30 days
Wound complications/infections
30 days
Readmissions
Time Frame: 30 days
Any readmissions
30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: kristin J Steinthorsdottir, MD, Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 24, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 23, 2018

Study Completion (Actual)

November 23, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 17, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

May 19, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 28, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2019

Last Verified

January 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • DEXNEF01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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