Analgesic Effect of IV Acetaminophen in Tonsillectomies

Analgesic Effect of Single Dose Intravenous Acetaminophen in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Tonsillectomy

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a first-line antipyretic and analgesic for mild and moderate pain for pediatric patients. Its common use (particularly in oral form) is underscored by its wide therapeutic window, safety profile, over the counter accessibility, lack of adverse systemic effects (as compared with NSAIDS and opioids) when given in appropriate doses.

Although the exact anti-nociceptive mechanisms of acetaminophen continue to be elucidated, these mechanisms appear to be multi-factorial and include central inhibition of the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme leading to decreased production of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid, interference with serotonergic descending pain pathways, indirect activation of cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptors and inhibition of nitric oxide pathways through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or substance P. Of the above mechanisms, the most commonly known is that of central inhibition of COX enzymes by which the decreased production of prostaglandins diminish the release of excitatory transmitters of substance P and glutamate which are both involved in nociceptive transmission (Anderson, 2008; Smith, 2011).

To date, several studies have shown acetaminophen's opioid sparing effect in the pediatric population when given by the rectal or intravenous routes (Korpela et al, 1999; Dashti et al, 2009; Hong et al, 2010).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Tonsillitis; Adenotonsillitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Acetaminophen (paracetamol); Drug: Midazolam; Drug: Sevoflurane; Drug: Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen; Drug: Propofol; Drug: Morphine; Drug: Ondansetron; Drug: Dexamethasone; Drug: Normal Saline Flush

Detailed Description

Once enrolled, subjects will have a standardized anesthetic on the day of surgery:

1. Pre-medication with oral midazolam (0.5mg/kg to maximum dose of 20mg) given 15-20 minutes before induction
2. Inhalation induction with sevoflurane and a mixture of N20/02
3. Propofol 1-1.5 mg/kg to facilitate endotracheal intubation
4. Morphine 0.1 mg/kg given prior to intubation
5. Maintenance anesthesia with isoflurane, titrated to 0.8-1 Minimal Anesthetic Concentration (MAC) with a mixture of Air/02
6. Acetaminophen IV (15 mg/kg) vs. saline placebo infused intraoperatively (randomized by pharmacy)
7. Ondansetron (0.15 mg/kg, maximum dose of 4 mg) and dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg, maximum dose of 20 mg) for postoperative nausea prophylaxis.

Following surgery and extubation, baseline vitals will be obtained and pain scores will be assessed in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) via Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale (FLACC).The presence of emergence delirium will be assessed via Pediatric Agitation and Emergence Delirium scale (PAED). Those subjects whose pain score is assessed at < 4 will receive standard postoperative care and no analgesics. Assessed pain scores > 4 will receive 0.5mcg/kg fentanyl q10 minutes as needed. Variables such as time to extubation in the PACU, time to first analgesic delivery, pain scores, # times/total dose of opioids given, presence of sedation, nausea/vomiting, duration of oxygen requirement in PACU, whether or not patient was discharged to floor on oxygen and total PACU time will be recorded during the duration of the patient's PACU stay. Subjects will be discharged to the inpatient floor from the PACU once standard discharge criteria have been met.

Following discharge from the PACU, standardized analgesics will be given for breakthrough pain (oral oxycodone 0.1mg/kg q4hrs pro re nata (PRN) pain). Enrolled patients will be followed during the duration of their inpatient stay. Duration of oxygen requirement on the floor, pain scores and number of administered oxycodone doses on the floor will be monitored and recorded.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 250
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43205
      • Nationwide Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 years to 9 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female patients aged 2 years and younger than 9 years old requiring postoperative admission for tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy.
2. Functional status as assigned by the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification of I (1), II (2) or III (3).
3. Have a parent/guardian who are able to provide written informed consent in accordance with Human Investigations Committee/Institutional Review Board (HIC/IRB) regulations.
4. Have parent/guardian who are compliant with routine medical care, capable of subjective evaluation and able to read, understand and sign the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female patients age greater than 9 years.
2. Have an American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status > IV (4)(severe disease that is life threatening).
3. Have a known hypersensitivity or allergy to acetaminophen.
4. Have a known allergy or intolerance to morphine or fentanyl.
5. Have received chronic opioid analgesic therapy prior to surgery.
6. Have renal disease.
7. Have hepatic disease.
8. Are morbidly obese (% BMI > 95).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: IV Acetaminophen; Patients will receive pre-medication with oral midazolam Participants of this experimental arm of the study will receive Acetaminophen IV to evaluate opioid-sparing effect and pain score reduction..	Drug: Acetaminophen (paracetamol); Acetaminophen IV (15 mg/kg).; Drug: Midazolam; Midazolam (0.5mg/kg to maximum dose of 20mg) given 15-20 minutes before induction.; Other Names: Versed; Drug: Sevoflurane; Sevoflurane for anesthesia induction.; Drug: Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen; Combination of NO2 & O2 for anesthesia induction.; Drug: Propofol; Propofol 1-1.5 mg/kg to facilitate endotracheal intubation.; Drug: Morphine; Morphine 0.1 mg/kg given prior to intubation.; Drug: Ondansetron; Ondansetron (0.15 mg/kg, maximum dose of 4 mg) for postoperative nausea prophylaxis.; Other Names: Zofran; Drug: Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg, maximum dose of 20 mg) for postoperative nausea prophylaxis.
Placebo Comparator: Saline placebo infused intraoperatively; For this arm Morphine will be administered to manage pain.	Drug: Midazolam; Midazolam (0.5mg/kg to maximum dose of 20mg) given 15-20 minutes before induction.; Other Names: Versed; Drug: Sevoflurane; Sevoflurane for anesthesia induction.; Drug: Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen; Combination of NO2 & O2 for anesthesia induction.; Drug: Propofol; Propofol 1-1.5 mg/kg to facilitate endotracheal intubation.; Drug: Morphine; Morphine 0.1 mg/kg given prior to intubation.; Drug: Ondansetron; Ondansetron (0.15 mg/kg, maximum dose of 4 mg) for postoperative nausea prophylaxis.; Other Names: Zofran; Drug: Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg, maximum dose of 20 mg) for postoperative nausea prophylaxis.; Drug: Normal Saline Flush; Saline placebo will be infused intraoperatively.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
FLACC Pain Score Greater Than or Equal to 4	The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scale or FLACC scale is a measurement used to assess pain for children between the ages of 2 months and 7 years or individuals that are unable to communicate their pain. The scale is scored in a range of 0-10 with 0 representing no pain. 5 pain measurements were performed at 0, 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after PACU arrival. This is the number of participants who reached a FLACC score >/= 4 at one or more time points.	0-60 mins post-operatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Analgesics Administered After Arrival to Inpatient Ward and Number of Participants Requiring Each	Analgesics administered after arrival to the inpatient ward included hydrocodone/acetaminophen, oxycodone, NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and morphine.	8-12 hours post-operatively
Time of First Opioid Analgesia in PACU	Mean time to first drug administration among patients requiring opioid analgesia in the PACU.	0-90 minutes post-operatively

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nationwide Children's Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Arlyne Thung, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Anderson BJ. Paracetamol (Acetaminophen): mechanisms of action. Paediatr Anaesth. 2008 Oct;18(10):915-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2008.02764.x.
• Smith HS. Perioperative intravenous acetaminophen and NSAIDs. Pain Med. 2011 Jun;12(6):961-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2011.01141.x. Epub 2011 May 31.
• Korpela R, Korvenoja P, Meretoja OA. Morphine-sparing effect of acetaminophen in pediatric day-case surgery. Anesthesiology. 1999 Aug;91(2):442-7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199908000-00019.
• Dashti GA, Amini S, Zanguee E. The prophylactic effect of rectal acetaminophen on postoperative pain and opioid requirements after adenotonsillectomy in children. Middle East J Anaesthesiol. 2009 Jun;20(2):245-9.
• Hong JY, Kim WO, Koo BN, Cho JS, Suk EH, Kil HK. Fentanyl-sparing effect of acetaminophen as a mixture of fentanyl in intravenous parent-/nurse-controlled analgesia after pediatric ureteroneocystostomy. Anesthesiology. 2010 Sep;113(3):672-7. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e3181e2c34b.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): September 25, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 6, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 21, 2017
• Last Verified: February 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pharyngeal Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Pharyngitis; Tonsillitis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Anesthetics; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Antipyretics; Antineoplastic Agents; Antiemetics; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Dermatologic Agents; Analgesics, Opioid; Narcotics; Antipsychotic Agents; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Serotonin Agents; Serotonin Antagonists; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Anti-Anxiety Agents; GABA Modulators; GABA Agents; Anesthetics, Inhalation; Antipruritics; Dexamethasone; Midazolam; Propofol; Acetaminophen; Sevoflurane; Nitrous Oxide; Morphine; Ondansetron
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB12-00097