Aprepitant to Improve Same Day Discharge for TKA

June 6, 2026 updated by: Steven Greenberg, Endeavor Health

Preoperative Aprepitant to Improve Same-Day Discharge After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

The purpose of this research is to study whether adding an FDA approved medication called aprepitant (a medication given to patients like you to reduce or eliminate nausea and vomiting) to the usual treatment to prevent nausea and vomiting given to patients during knee replacement surgery helps more patients go home on the same day of surgery (before midnight) by eliminating nausea and vomiting.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet 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

This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving adults undergoing primary total knee arthroplasties at Endeavor Health SKH with presumed same-day discharge (as identified by the orthopedic surgery team prior to surgery). Patients will be randomly assigned to either receive 32 mg of intravenous (IV) preoperative aprepitant, in addition to the standard antiemetic protocol (4 mg IV dexamethasone after induction of MAC sedation anesthesia and 4 mg IV ondansetron at surgical closure), or the standard protocol with placebo (saline solution in same volume at the time aprepitant is given in the preoperative holding area by nursing). Aprepitant will be administered by the preoperative nurse in the holding area to ensure blinding of the anesthesia, surgical, and postoperative teams. All patients will receive either epidural or spinal anesthesia following our standard regional anesthesia protocol, with or without an adductor canal block. Intraoperatively, all patients will receive propofol infusions titrated to a RASS of 0 to -2 per the standard of care protocol at SKH. All patients will receive postoperative rescue antiemetics as needed and within the PACU admission order set choices for PONV.

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.
350

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.
  • 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 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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Receiving primary, unilateral elective TKA with or without abductor canal block
  • Asa I-III
  • Age 18-90
  • Ability to receive ondansetron and dexamethasone
  • Ability to consent and complete surveys
  • English or Spanish speaking
  • Receiving regional anesthesia (epidural or spinal) for surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Allergy to any of the anti-emetics being administered
  • Current treatment of pimozide
  • Emergent surgery
  • Revision/ multiple revisions of TKA
  • Clinical suspicion of possible bowel obstruction
  • Need for general anesthesia
  • Pregnant/breast feeding
  • AST> 2.5 x the upper limit of normal or ALT> 2.5 x upper limit of normal, bilirubin> 1.5x upper limit of normal
  • Need for opioid or benzodiazepine antagonists
  • Not planned for same day discharge
  • Enrollment in a different drug trial for TKA
  • Unable to consent in English or Spanish

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

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.
Experimental: aprepitant
Single intravenous (IV) bolus of 32mg aprepitant preoperatively , in addition to the standard antiemetic protocol (4 mg IV dexamethasone after induction of MAC sedation anesthesia and 4 mg IV ondansetron at surgical closure)
Drug: Aprepitant Injection
32mg aprepitant will be administered intravenously preoperatively during single sided total knee arthroscopy
Drug: Ondansetron (Zofran)
4 mg IV ondansetron will be given at surgical closure during total knee arthroscopy
Drug: Dexamethasone
4 mg IV dexamethasone will be given after induction of MAC sedation anesthesia during total knee arthroscopy
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Single intravenous (IV) bolus of 32mg of placebo preoperatively, in addition to the standard antiemetic protocol (4 mg IV dexamethasone after induction of MAC sedation anesthesia and 4 mg IV ondansetron at surgical closure)
Drug: Ondansetron (Zofran)
4 mg IV ondansetron will be given at surgical closure during total knee arthroscopy
Drug: Dexamethasone
4 mg IV dexamethasone will be given after induction of MAC sedation anesthesia during total knee arthroscopy
Other: Placebo
Patients will receive 32 mg of intravenous (IV) placebo preoperatively for a total knee arthroscopy

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
difference in the incidence of same-day discharges between two randomized groups of anti-emetic regimens for anesthesia care
Time Frame: patients will be followed from arrival for surgery to 7 days post operatively
difference in the incidence of same-day discharges between two randomized groups of anti-emetic regimens for anesthesia care. Subjects will be randomized to either the aprepitant group (administration of aprepitant, ondansetron, and dexamethasone) or control (ondansetron, dexamethasone, and placebo). PACU and ASU staff will collect real time data with regard to the primary and secondary reason for any hospital admission (PONV, Pain control, Rapid response team called, Vital sign abnormalities, Change in mental status, Other). Same day discharge will be defined by patients who are discharged from the hospital before 12 A.M day of surgery. We will use the validated simplified PONV Impact Scale that uses patient assessment of nausea and vomiting to identify clinically important PONV upon PACU and ASU discharge (a PONV impact scale score of greater than or equal to 5 defines clinically important PONV).
patients will be followed from arrival for surgery to 7 days post operatively

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
Rescue antiemetics
Time Frame: From date of admission to perioperative procedural area until hospital discharge or up to 30 days whichever is first
Compare rescue antiemetics doses and counts given during the hospital stay in each group.
From date of admission to perioperative procedural area until hospital discharge or up to 30 days whichever is first
Incidence of vomiting
Time Frame: Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
Compare the incidence of vomiting between both groups in PACU and ASU (None = No PONV symptoms, Mild = Patient feels queasy but is able to take PO, will treat with alcohol pads and/or QueaseEASE, Moderate = Patient is unable to take PO and is restless, will treat with rescue antiemetics per standard PACU orderset, Severe = Actively vomiting, will treat with rescue antiemetics per standard PACU orderset)
Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
patients with no PONV
Time Frame: arrival at hospital to post op day 7
Compare the number of patients in each group who experience no PONV.
arrival at hospital to post op day 7
Compare the incidence of PONV in PACU and ASU
Time Frame: Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
Compare the incidence of PONV between both groups in PACU and ASU using Endeavor Health SKH PACU PONV assessment scales, and stratify both groups by none, mild, moderate, and severe PONV (None = No PONV symptoms, Mild = Patient feels queasy but is able to take PO, will treat with alcohol pads and/or QueaseEASE, Moderate = Patient is unable to take PO and is restless, will treat with rescue antiemetics per standard PACU orderset, Severe = Actively vomiting, will treat with rescue antiemetics per standard PACU orderset)
Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
Clinically important PONV
Time Frame: Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
Compare the incidence of clinically important PONV between both groups in PACU and ASU using the validated simplified PONV Impact Scale. a PONV impact scale score of greater than or equal to 5 defines clinically important PONV
Upon post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) arrival (within ~2-3 hours after procedure), upon PACU discharge (~4-5 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU), admission to ASU directly after medically cleared from PACU to discharge from ASU
Readmission rates
Time Frame: Discharge of hospital to 7 days post operatively
Compare readmission rates within 7 days postoperatively, stratified by admissions due to nausea/vomiting or related complications, and those for other medical or surgical reasons.
Discharge of hospital to 7 days post operatively
Postoperative Delirium Measured by 4AT Assessment
Time Frame: Preoperative baseline and upon PACU discharge (~4 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU).
Compare incidence of delirium in both groups. Delirium will be detected using the 4AT validated survey upon PACU discharge compared to a preoperative baseline assessment Preoperative baseline
Preoperative baseline and upon PACU discharge (~4 hours after procedure/medically cleared to leave PACU).
Compare APFEL Score
Time Frame: Preoperatively in Holding area
Compare Apfel Scores for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in both groups (determined preoperatively in holding area by research team) . Apfel score is a quick, validated clinical tool used by anesthesiologists to predict a patient's risk of developing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV).The total score (0-4) predicts the percentage risk of developing PONV
Preoperatively in Holding area
Compare length of stays between groups
Time Frame: From date of procedure through hospital discharge (up to 30 days after procedure date, whichever comes first)
Compare PACU length of stay (hours) and hospital length of stay (hours) between groups.
From date of procedure through hospital discharge (up to 30 days after procedure date, whichever comes first)
opioid consumption
Time Frame: From date of procedure through hospital discharge (up to 30 days after procedure date, whichever comes first)
Compare opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) between groups intraoperatively, in PACU, and during the total hospital period.
From date of procedure through hospital discharge (up to 30 days after procedure date, whichever comes first)
Patient Satisfaction
Time Frame: post operative day 1 and 5
Compare patient satisfaction scores using a Likert scale on postoperative days 1 and 5. "The anesthesia care I received during my total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure met my expectations" (5= strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree) and "The management of any nausea and vomiting following my total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure met my expectations" (5= strongly agree, 1=strongly disagree).
post operative day 1 and 5
Adverse Events
Time Frame: These events will be assessed after immediate administration in the preoperative holding area and within 4 hours postoperatively
Compare the adverse events that could be related to aprepitant vs. placebo between groups. These events may include but are not limited to: injection site reactions, hypersensitivity reactions or skin reactions, abdominal discomfort, constipation or diarrhea, dizziness, hiccups, headache
These events will be assessed after immediate administration in the preoperative holding area and within 4 hours postoperatively

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.
Endeavor Health

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly A.P. Pharma, Inc.)

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.
  • Principal Investigator: Steven Greenberg, MD, Endeavor Health

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 (Estimated)

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.
July 1, 2026

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.
July 1, 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.
August 1, 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).
May 14, 2026

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.
June 6, 2026

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.
June 10, 2026

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.
June 10, 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.
June 6, 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.
June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • IRB2026-0126

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared due to institutional policies and to protect participant privacy.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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