Influence of Nociception Level Monitor (NOL) Guided Analgesic Delivery on Robot-assisted Colorectal Surgery

May 11, 2026 updated by: University of Southern Denmark

Influence of Nociception Level Monitor (NOL) Guided Analgesic Delivery on the Perioperative Course, Quality of Recovery and Hospital Stay in Robot-assisted Colorectal Surgery

Being relatively new, the NOL monitor may offer interesting observations in perioperative nociception levels and appropriate analgesic consumption in diverse surgeries, including robot-assisted surgery. These observations may supplement the current efforts towards further advantages in rapid restitution. Therefore, the investigators planned a trial where intra-operative analgesics were guided using an NOL monitor to study if intra-operative NOL guidance influences peri-operative analgesic consumption, postoperative length of stay and quality of recovery of patients subjected for robot-assisted surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

During anesthesia for surgical procedures, anesthetic and muscle relaxant drugs can be meticulously administered using Bispectral Index (BIS) and neuromuscular monitors. However, analgesic drugs are still dispensed using poor surrogate parameters such as heart rate and blood pressure. This subjective dosing of analgesic drugs may invariably lead to inappropriate intra-operative consumption. This may result in tachycardia, hypertension, and postoperative pain due to e.g. insufficient analgesia, or hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory depression and Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) secondary to excessive analgesia. These effects may be detrimental to the patients especially those with multiple comorbidities with limited vital organ reserves such as patients classified to III or IV by the American Society of Anaesthesia classification (ASA) Similarly, immediate postoperative recovery may also get delayed due to pain, unstable hemodynamics, nausea and vomiting. In that context, there has long been search for a monitor which can guide meticulous administration of analgesics. Recently, a Nociception Level monitor (NOL) based on advanced software algorithms using multiple physiological parameters has been developed. It offers an objective score (NOL Index) which relates to the level of intra-operative pain. NOL technology has been validated and found superior to existing pain indicators in peer-reviewed publications. The NOL monitor may offer interesting observations in perioperative nociception levels and appropriate analgesic consumption in diverse surgeries, including robot-assisted surgery. These observations may supplement the current efforts towards further advantages in rapid restitution. Therefore, the investigators are planning a trial where intra-operative analgesics are guided using an NOL monitor.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • American Society of Anaesthesiologists score III-IV
  • Scheduled for elective major robot-assisted colorectal surgeries

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to give informed consent
  • planned spinal or epidural anaesthesia
  • all forms of regional anaesthesia, including wound infiltration
  • nonelective procedures
  • pregnancy or lactation
  • atrial fibrillation

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: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Standard Clinical Care Group
Hemodynamic changes outside of the normal range i.e., hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg), tachycardia (heart rate greater than 90 min-1) and hypotension (mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg) will be first assessed using the guidance of Bispectral index and Train of four monitors. Sufentanil in doses of 2.5 to 5 mcg (maximum of 0.6-1.2 mic/kg for the entire surgery) is administered if the Bispectral index and Train of four monitor values are within normal range and if required vasopressor infusion is used. Vasoconstrictors may be given as a continuous infusion of norepinephrine, or bolus doses of ephedrine or phenylephrine. Only when blood pressure remains, low additional crystalloids will be given. Finally, in case of bradycardia (heart rate less than 30 min-1), atropine may be given
Device: Standard care
Hemodynamic changes outside of the normal range i.e., hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg), tachycardia (heart rate greater than 90 min-1) and hypotension (mean arterial pressure less than 60 mm Hg) will be first assessed using the guidance of Bispectral index and Train of four monitors. Sufentanil in doses of 2.5 to 5 mcg (maximum of 0.6-1.2 mic/kg for the entire surgery) is administered if the Bispectral index and Train of four monitor values are within normal range and if required vasopressor infusion is used. Vasoconstrictors may be given as a continuous infusion of norepinephrine, or bolus doses of ephedrine or phenylephrine. Only when blood pressure remains, low additional crystalloids will be given. Finally, in case of bradycardia (heart rate less than 30 min-1), atropine may be given
Experimental: Nociception Level-guided Analgesia Group
In the nociception level-guided group, sufentanil will be administered to maintain a nociception level value between 10 and 25. In case the nociception level values rise greater than 25 for more than 60 s, additional 2.5 microgram sufentanil (if nociception level increase remained less than 45) or 5 micrograms (if nociception level increase greater than 45). Atropine will be administered when heart rate decreases less than 30 min-1. Because the nociception level may be sensitive to such medication, nociception level values will then not used for at least 5 min to guide analgesia, with the exception of norepinephrine as this drug will be given as continuous infusion
Device: Nociception Level monitor (NOL)
NOL technology uses a multiparameter-based sensor platform, and advanced algorithm, to continuously monitor Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functions. NOL reflects a patient's nociceptive state and analgesic effect, helping to optimize the administration of systemic and/or regional analgesics, and avoiding overdose or underuse of these drugs. The nociception level is a multiparameter monitor that combines information from the finger photoplethysmogram amplitude, skin conductance, skin conductance fluctuation, heart rate, heart rate variability, and their time derivatives into one index ranging from 0 (absence of noxious stimulation) to 100 (severe noxious stimulation).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total intraoperative consumption of sufentanil Total intraoperative consumption of sufentanil
Time Frame: From induction of anaesthesia up to transfer to recovery room, up to 6 hours
Amount of sufentanil in micrograms administered during the entire operative period i.e. from induction of anaesthesia up to transfer to the recovery room
From induction of anaesthesia up to transfer to recovery room, up to 6 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Eligible time to discharge as per RR discharge score
Time Frame: From admission to recovery room until discharge, up to 24 hours
The RR discharge score is a scoring system developed for general surgery by the Danish Society of Anesthesia and Intensive Care. The score consists of 5 semi-objective variables (sedation, respiration, nausea, pain, and motor function) and 5 objective variables (peripheral saturation, diuresis, arterial blood pressure, heart rate and temperature). The nurses score each variable from 0 to 3 points. Low scores( below 3 for 2 consecutive hours) indicate a stable condition, and patients are considered eligible for discharge. The score values at different time points represent the quality of recovery.
From admission to recovery room until discharge, up to 24 hours
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Time Frame: From admission to recovery room, up to 24 hours
Complaint from patient about nausea on arrival in recovery room assessed as yes or no
From admission to recovery room, up to 24 hours
Change in myocardial function
Time Frame: Before anaesthesia induction and 24 hours after completion of surgery
Difference between preoperative and postoperative (24 hours after surgery) Serum Troponin T and brain natriuretic peptide (proPnP) levels
Before anaesthesia induction and 24 hours after completion of surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Southern Denmark

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Thomas Strøm, Hospital of Southern Denmark - Aabenraa

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)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
August 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 14, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 14, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • SHS-An-3-2022

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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