Local Anesthetic Nebulization for Pain Control After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Double Blind Randomized Phase III Controlled Trial Comparing the Effect of Preoperative and Postoperative Nebulization of Ropivacaine on Pain Control After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Intraperitoneal nebulization of local anesthetic is a novel approach to pain management after laparoscopy. Preoperative compared with postoperative administration of analgesia remains controversial. This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial compared the analgesic efficacy of preoperative with postoperative peritoneal ropivacaine nebulization in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; Drug: Saline

Detailed Description

Previous studies evaluating intraperitoneal local anesthetic administration for pain relief after laparoscopic surgery have suggested that the timing of local anesthetic administration may be critical in the success of the technique. A meta-analysis of randomized trials of intraperitoneal local anesthetic instillation in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery found that local anesthetic instilled before surgical dissection provided superior pain relief compared to instillation at the end of surgery. Intraperitoneal nebulization of local anesthetic is a novel approach to pain management after laparoscopic surgery. Recently, Alkhamesi et al reported that bupivacaine nebulization performed at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy significantly reduced postoperative pain. However, clinical benefits of preoperative administration of analgesia, compared with postoperative administration, remains controversial.

The investigators hypothesized that pain relief after preoperative and postoperative ropivacaine nebulization would be similar but better than placebo.

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

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • MB
    • Monza, MB, Italy, 20052
      • San Gerardo Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA Score I-III
• Scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• Free from pain in preoperative period
• Not using analgesic drugs before surgery
• Without cognitive impairment or mental retardation
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency/urgency surgery
• Postoperative admission in an intensive care unit
• Cognitive impairment or mental retardation
• Progressive degenerative diseases of the CNS
• Seizures or chronic therapy with antiepileptic drugs
• Severe hepatic or renal impairment
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Allergy to one of the specific drugs under study
• Acute infection or inflammatory chronic disease
• Alcohol or drug addiction

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Preoperative Nebulization; Nebulization of 30 mg of Ropivacaine in the peritoneal cavity before surgery	Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; Intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine 1% 3 ml (30 mg) before surgery and intraperitoneal nebulization of normal saline 3 ml after surgery. Nebulization was performed over 5-10 minutes using the Aeroneb Pro® device through the umbilical port during the insertion of the other ports, while postoperative nebulization was performed before the withdrawal of the ports.; Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; intraperitoneal Nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before surgery and intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine 1% 3 ml (30 mg) after surgery. Nebulization was performed over 5-10 minutes using the Aeroneb Pro® device through the umbilical port during the insertion of the other ports, while postoperative nebulization was performed before the withdrawal of the ports.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Postoperative Nebulization; Nebulization of 30 mg of Ropivacaine in the peritoneal cavity after surgery	Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; Intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine 1% 3 ml (30 mg) before surgery and intraperitoneal nebulization of normal saline 3 ml after surgery. Nebulization was performed over 5-10 minutes using the Aeroneb Pro® device through the umbilical port during the insertion of the other ports, while postoperative nebulization was performed before the withdrawal of the ports.; Drug: Ropivacaine 30 mg; intraperitoneal Nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before surgery and intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine 1% 3 ml (30 mg) after surgery. Nebulization was performed over 5-10 minutes using the Aeroneb Pro® device through the umbilical port during the insertion of the other ports, while postoperative nebulization was performed before the withdrawal of the ports.
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Control; Nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before and after surgery	Drug: Saline; Intraperitoneal nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before and after surgery. Nebulization was performed over 5-10 minutes using the Aeroneb Pro® device through the umbilical port during the insertion of the other ports, while postoperative nebulization was performed before the withdrawal of the ports.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postoperative Pain	Postoperative pain will be assessed by numeric ranking scale (NRS 0 to 10 points) at rest (static NRS) and after a deep inspiration or cough (dynamic NRS). The proportion of patients with adequate pain control after surgery (dynamic NRS < 3) will also be assessed.	48 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time of unassisted walking	Unassisted walking time is defined as the time in hours between PACU discharge and when the patient is able to walk out of his room and back to bed without any assistance.	Up to 48 hours
Morphine consumption (mg)	The total dose of morphine at every evaluation after awakening will be quantified using the PACU clinical chart and/or PCA infusers memory display	Up to 48 hours
Hospital morbidity	All complications or adverse effects associated or possibly associated with the interventions under study, surgery or anesthesia will be quantified using the anesthesia charts, surgical charts, surgical database.	Up to 48 hours
Time to hospital discharge	We define hospital stay as the elapsed time between surgery and hospital discharge	48 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: San Gerardo Hospital
• Collaborators: Hôpital de Hautepierre
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Pablo M Ingelmo, MD, San Gerardo Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Alkhamesi NA, Peck DH, Lomax D, Darzi AW. Intraperitoneal aerosolization of bupivacaine reduces postoperative pain in laparoscopic surgery: a randomized prospective controlled double-blinded clinical trial. Surg Endosc. 2007 Apr;21(4):602-6. doi: 10.1007/s00464-006-9087-6. Epub 2006 Dec 16.
• Greib N, Schlotterbeck H, Dow WA, Joshi GP, Geny B, Diemunsch PA. An evaluation of gas humidifying devices as a means of intraperitoneal local anesthetic administration for laparoscopic surgery. Anesth Analg. 2008 Aug;107(2):549-51. doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e318176fa1c.
• Schlotterbeck H, Schaeffer R, Dow WA, Diemunsch P. Cold nebulization used to prevent heat loss during laparoscopic surgery: an experimental study in pigs. Surg Endosc. 2008 Dec;22(12):2616-20. doi: 10.1007/s00464-008-9841-z. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): March 1, 2009
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): March 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 23, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2010
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): November 24, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): November 24, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2010
• Last Verified: March 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Nebulization; Ropivacaine; Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics; Anesthetics, Local; Ropivacaine
• Other Study ID Numbers: AR HSG 02-2008