Opioid-Free Versus Opioid-Based Sedation for Endoscopic Procedures

June 10, 2026 updated by: Nalan Saygi Emir, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital

Evaluation of an Opioid-Free Approach in Sedation Method Selection in Endoscopy Units: A Prospective Randomized Observational Double-Blind Comparison of Dexmedetomidine (Opioid-Free) and Remifentanil-Dexmedetomidine (Opioid-Based) Combination

This study will compare two different sedation approaches used during gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). One group will receive dexmedetomidine alone (opioid-free sedation), while the other group will receive dexmedetomidine combined with remifentanil (opioid-based sedation).

The purpose of the study is to determine whether an opioid-free sedation approach can reduce opioid-related adverse symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, and fatigue. The study will also evaluate quality of recovery, patient and healthcare staff satisfaction, hemodynamic effects, complications, and time to discharge after the procedure.

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

Safe and comfortable sedation is essential for endoscopic procedures performed outside the operating room. Various sedation strategies have been developed to improve patient safety, procedural conditions, and recovery profiles. Opioids are commonly used as part of sedation regimens; however, opioid administration may be associated with adverse symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, pruritus, dry mouth, and headache.

This prospective randomized double-blind study will compare dexmedetomidine alone (opioid-free approach) with a combination of dexmedetomidine and remifentanil (opioid-based approach) for sedation during gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Eighty ASA physical status I-III patients aged 18-80 years will be enrolled at a single center.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Study medications will be prepared by an independent anesthesiologist to maintain blinding. In both groups, dexmedetomidine infusion will be administered. The comparison group will additionally receive remifentanil infusion according to the study protocol.

The primary objective is to determine whether the opioid-free approach reduces the incidence of opioid-related adverse symptoms. Secondary objectives include evaluation of postoperative quality of recovery using the QoR-15 questionnaire and assessment of patient, surgeon, and recovery nurse satisfaction. Additional outcomes include hemodynamic parameters, sedation scores, pain scores, rescue analgesic requirements, discharge time, post-anesthesia care unit requirements, and procedure- or anesthesia-related complications.

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.
80

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

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:

  • Age 18 to 85 years
  • ASA physical status I-III
  • Scheduled for ERCP, gastroscopy, or colonoscopy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate in the study
  • Inability to communicate
  • Alcohol or substance abuse
  • Neuropsychiatric disease
  • Severe respiratory failure
  • Severe heart failure
  • Pregnancy
  • Body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m²
  • Hearing impairment
  • History of allergy to study medications
  • Requirement for orotracheal intubation or general anesthesia
  • Procedures lasting less than 20 minutes

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

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: Dexmedetomidine (Opioid-Free)
Participants will receive dexmedetomidine infusion for procedural sedation. Dexmedetomidine infusion will be initiated at 0.7 mcg/kg/h. Five minutes later, a placebo infusion (100 mL isotonic saline) will be started. Sedation will be induced with propofol 1.5 mg/kg IV bolus and maintained according to the study protocol.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine 200 mcg diluted in 100 mL isotonic saline and administered according to the study protocol.
Active Comparator: Remifentanil + Dexmedetomidine
Participants will receive dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.7 mcg/kg/h. Five minutes later, remifentanil infusion will be initiated at 0.01-0.03 mcg/kg/min. Sedation will be induced with propofol 1.5 mg/kg IV bolus and maintained according to the study protocol.
Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Dexmedetomidine 200 mcg diluted in 100 mL isotonic saline and administered according to the study protocol.
Drug: Remifentanil
Remifentanil 5 mg diluted in 100 mL isotonic saline and administered according to the study protocol.

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
Incidence of Opioid-Related Adverse Symptoms
Time Frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural: from procedure start through recovery room discharge, approximately 2-4 hours
Incidence of opioid-related adverse symptoms including nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, difficulty staying awake, dizziness, sleepiness, general fatigue or weakness, pruritus, dry mouth, and headache. The occurrence of one or more symptoms will be recorded and compared between the opioid-free and opioid-based sedation groups.
Perioperative/Periprocedural: from procedure start through recovery room discharge, approximately 2-4 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
Quality of Recovery (QoR-15) Score
Time Frame: Baseline (before the procedure) and within 2 hours after the procedure, before discharge from the recovery area
Postprocedural quality of recovery assessed using the QoR-15 questionnaire. The QoR-15 is a 15-item instrument evaluating five dimensions: physical comfort (5 items), emotional state (4 items), physical independence (2 items), psychological support (2 items), and pain (2 items). Each item is scored 0-10 on a Likert scale; total score ranges from 0 (worst) to 150 (best quality of recovery). Administered to all patients before the procedure (baseline) and after the procedure before discharge.
Baseline (before the procedure) and within 2 hours after the procedure, before discharge from the recovery area
Patient Satisfaction Score
Time Frame: Within 1 hour after the procedure, before discharge from the recovery area
Patient satisfaction assessed using a verbal rating scale from 1 to 10 (1: not satisfied at all, 10: very satisfied). Administered once after the procedure before discharge from the recovery area.
Within 1 hour after the procedure, before discharge from the recovery area
Surgeon Satisfaction Score
Time Frame: Immediately after the procedure
Surgeon satisfaction with procedural conditions assessed using a verbal rating scale from 1 to 10 (1: not satisfied at all, 10: very satisfied). Assessed immediately after the procedure.
Immediately after the procedure
Recovery Nurse Satisfaction Score
Time Frame: During the recovery period, before discharge
Recovery nurse satisfaction assessed using a verbal rating scale from 1 to 10 (1: not satisfied at all, 10: very satisfied). Assessed during the recovery period before discharge.
During the recovery period, before discharge

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain and Analgesic Outcomes
Time Frame: During the recovery period before discharge
Postprocedural pain assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0-10). Target VAS <4. Rescue analgesia administered as IV paracetamol 1g; tramadol 50 mg IV if insufficient. Total rescue analgesic consumption recorded.
During the recovery period before discharge
Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Requirement
Time Frame: Immediately after the procedure
Need for post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) admission following the procedure. Discharge from the recovery unit will be based on the Modified Aldrete Score. The Modified Aldrete Score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better recovery status. Patients with a score of ≥9 will be considered eligible for discharge from the recovery unit.
Immediately after the procedure
Heart Rate
Time Frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Heart rate measured in beats per minute (bpm) at 6 standardized time points: (1) on arrival to the procedure room, (2) immediately after induction, (3) 3 minutes after procedure start, (4) 15 minutes after procedure start, (5) at the end of the procedure, (6) on arrival to the recovery room.
Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)
Time Frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Mean arterial pressure measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) at 6 standardized time points: (1) on arrival to the procedure room, (2) immediately after induction, (3) 3 minutes after procedure start, (4) 15 minutes after procedure start, (5) at the end of the procedure, (6) on arrival to the recovery room.
Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Time Frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Peripheral oxygen saturation measured as percentage (%) at 6 standardized time points: (1) on arrival to the procedure room, (2) immediately after induction, (3) 3 minutes after procedure start, (4) 15 minutes after procedure start, (5) at the end of the procedure, (6) on arrival to the recovery room.
Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours
Ramsay Sedation Scale Score
Time Frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours

Sedation depth assessed using the Ramsay Sedation Scale at 6 standardized time points: (1) on arrival to the procedure room, (2) immediately after induction, (3) 3 minutes after procedure start, (4) 15 minutes after procedure start, (5) at the end of the procedure, (6) on arrival to the recovery room.

Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS; ranging from 1 to 6, where 1 = anxious/agitated/restless and 6 = no response to stimulus; higher scores indicate deeper sedation)
Perioperative/Periprocedural, at 6 predefined time points over approximately 1-3 hours

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.
Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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.
June 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.
February 1, 2028

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.
February 1, 2028

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).
June 4, 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 10, 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 16, 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 16, 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 10, 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

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.
  • 2024-KAEK-31 (Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Clinical Research Ethics Committee)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data collected during this study will not be made publicly available.

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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