Effects of Nefopam on Hyperalgesia After Cardiac Surgery (NefalCard)

Study of the Effects of Nefopam on Hyperalgesia Following Sternotomy in Cardiac Surgery

Postoperative pain after major surgery is consecutive not only to the nociceptive inputs coming from the surgical lesion, but also to peripheral and central neuronal sensitization. This lead to postoperative hyperalgesia and allodynia that are enhanced by the per operative use of high opioid doses. Anti-NMDA drugs have been reported as able to reduce this sensitization process and then to decrease acute morphine tolerance during the postoperative period. Nefopam has been lately shown to combine in experimental trials analgesic and anti hyperalgesic effects. The aim of this study is to compare anti-hyperalgesic effects of nefopam given either before incision and continuously for the following 48hours or starting from the end of the surgery and given for 48hours to a control group that would receive placebo for 48hours. Postoperative analgesia will be based on morphine PCA. Pain scores, hyperalgesia, allodynia, postoperative morphine consumption, and development of chronic pain will be the main criteria that will be evaluated during this study

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain, Postoperative; Hyperalgesia; Pain, Chronic Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Nefopam; Drug: néfopam; Drug: Placebo comparator

Detailed Description

Introduction :

Postoperative pain is not only a consequence of the surgical lesion, but is also related to sensitization processes that appear in peripheral and central nerves. This sensitization induce clinically hyperalgesia and allodynia. From an experimental viewpoint it comes mainly from a central activation of NMDA receptors in neurons that conduct the nociceptive message.

Recent studies have shown that high-dose opioids were able, via NMDA receptors, to enhance postoperative hyperalgesia and to increase pain scores and morphine consumption after surgery. Nevertheless per operative use of opioid is still necessary to avoid per operative stress and systemic consequence of the surgical stimulation.

Some drugs (ketamine, nitrous oxide…) succeeded in reducing postoperative hyperalgesia and pains scores and acute morphine tolerance. They also were able to decrease pain chronicization.

Nefopam, well known as an analgesic since the 80's, presents both analgesic and anti hyperalgesic properties as lately demonstrated in experimental trials. Nevertheless these anti hyperalgesic properties have never been evaluated in humans scheduled for cardiac surgery. Nefopam administration could reduce acute morphine tolerance and could enhance postoperative pain management by reducing sensitization processes and hyperalgesia.

Objective :

The main purpose of this clinical trial will be to evaluate in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with sternotomy the nefopam effects on the nociceptive threshold evaluated with dynamic Von Frey mechanical stimulation.

The secondary objectives will evaluate static hyperalgesia, postoperative pain scores, morphine consumption, cognitive functions, and development of chronic pain and dysesthesia.

Methods :

Prospective, randomized, double-blind study that will compare three parallel groups that will receive the same per operative anesthesia except for the nefopam doses.

Group 1: nefopam infusion will start before the surgical incision, at the induction time of anesthesia and will be continued until postoperative H48. Group 2: nefopam administration will start at the end of the surgery and will be continued until postoperative H48. Group 3: control group that will receive a placebo from the induction time of anesthesia until H48. All patients will receive postoperatively morphine infusion following the Patient Controlled Analgesia concept.

Number of patients to be included : 90 Duration of the study : 2 years Start : second semester of 2006

Expected result :

Reduction of the extend of hyperalgesia around the wound evaluated with dynamic Von Frey mechanical stimulation more than 20%.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 90
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Pessac, France, 33604
    • Département d'Anesthésie-Réanimation II - Hôpital cardiologique - Groupe Hospitalier Sud, CHU de Bordeaux - 4, Av de Magellan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 55 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 55-75 years old
• ASA score: 1-3
• Patients scheduled for Cardiac surgery with median sternotomy for : single valve replacement or Bentall or Benson or Tyron David surgery, single or multiple Cardiac Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) , combined surgery (valve replacement + CABG) without preoperative risk of postoperative complications
• Informed consent obtained from the patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Drug or alcohol abuse history
• Analgesic or opioid consumption within the 12hs preceding the surgery
• Chronic use of analgesic drugs or history of chronic pain
• Convulsion or epilepsy history
• Glaucoma history
• Disability to understand morphine PCA use
• Allergy to nefopam

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1; nefopam infusion will start before the surgical incision, at the induction time of anesthesia and will be continued until postoperative H48	Drug: Nefopam; 0,3mg/kg IV bolus preoperative and 65 µg/kg/h during H48 postoperative
Experimental: 2; nefopam administration will start at the end of the surgery and will be continued until postoperative H48	Drug: néfopam; bolus Néfopam (0,3mg/kg) during 10 min at the end of surgery and 65 µg/kg/h during postoperative H48
Placebo Comparator: 3; control group that will receive a placebo from the induction time of anesthesia until H48	Drug: Placebo comparator; bolus NaCl during 10 min at the end of surgery and during postoperative H48

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Nociceptive threshold evaluated with Von Frey mechanical dynamic stimulation. This will start 10cm far from the wound on a perpendicular line to the wound and will be conducted by 1cm step to the wound until the patient explains the stimulation	H 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
static hyperalgesia with Von Frey stimulation 1cm far from the middle of the wound, on the right side of the wound.	1, 2, 4 and 7 days after intervention
Morphine consumption	over the 48 H postoperative
Pain scores evaluation	Acute pain (1, 2, 4 and 7 days after intervention) / Chronic Pain (3, 6 and 12 month)
Cognitive functions evaluation	1, 2, 4 and 7 days after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Bordeaux
• Investigators: Study Chair: Antoine BENARD, Dr, University Hospital, Bordeaux; Principal Investigator: Philippe RICHEBE, Dr, University Hospital, Bordeaux

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Richebe P, Picard W, Rivat C, Jelacic S, Branchard O, Leproust S, Cahana A, Janvier G. Effects of nefopam on early postoperative hyperalgesia after cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2013 Jun;27(3):427-35. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2012.08.015. Epub 2012 Oct 12.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2007
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 18, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): December 19, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 28, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2010
• Last Verified: May 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Randomized Controlled Trials; Nefopam; Postoperative Hyperalgesia; cardiac Surgical Procedures; Pain and chronic disease
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Nervous System Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Disease Attributes; Sensation Disorders; Somatosensory Disorders; Pain, Postoperative; Chronic Pain; Chronic Disease; Hyperalgesia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Nefopam
• Other Study ID Numbers: 7813 (Other Identifier: CTEP); 2005-033