Sugammadex and Decreased Time to Extubation

Efficacy and Safety of Sugammadex (2mg/kg) to Shorten Time-to-extubation Among Postoperative ICU Patients Following AVR, CABG Surgery, or AVR/CABG Surgery- a Prospective Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate faster time to extubation after arrival in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (ICU) in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), AVR and AVR/CABG combination who receive Sugammadex as compared to placebo.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft and/or Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sugammadex; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

Primary Efficacy Objective: To demonstrate faster time to extubation after arrival in the cardiothoracic ICU in patients having a CABG who receive Sugammadex 2mg/kg as compared to placebo.

Hypotheses: We hypothesize that the use of Sugammadex for reversal of residual neuromuscular blockade in adults undergoing CABG, AVR or CABG/AVR combination surgery in the cardiothoracic ICU will significantly decrease the time to extubation.

Prolonged intubation after cardiac surgery continues to be a common clinical challenge and is associated with significant risks and costs(1-5). Despite a Class I recommendation by the American College of Cardiology supporting care directed towards early postoperative extubation after low to medium risk Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgeries (6), a sizable proportion of patients continue to have a prolonged course of cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU) intubation(1). Residual neuromuscular blockade (NMB) continues to be one of the key factors leading to prolonged intubation after cardiac surgery(7). It is also a significant contributor to postoperative pulmonary and respiratory complications including hypoxia, upper airway obstruction; and decreased oxygen saturation - often prompting reintubation in critical care units(8-10). Due to the profound effects that neuromuscular reversal agents other than Sugammadex have when used in combination with muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists on the autonomic nervous system and patient hemodynamics, these traditional reversal drugs are rarely used in the postoperative cardiac surgery patient population (11) as opposed to other general surgical cases.

Sugammadex, a gamma-cyclodextrin drug, rapidly reverses neuromuscular blockade by encapsulating the non-depolarizing amino steroids agents(12) and is not associated with cardiovascular effects that are commonly seen with traditional NMB reversal agents(13). It can also reverse NMB more quickly and predictably than existing agents(14). However, there have been sporadic reports of hypotension(15), anaphylaxis(16), elongated a PTT(17) with the use of Sugammadex. Additionally, although the FDA currently lists Sugammadex as indicated for reversal of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium and vecuronium in adults undergoing surgery,(18) its use in the post cardiac surgery setting is limited due to lack of supportive data. In this context, the present study aims to test the effectiveness of a pragmatic and broadly applicable care pathway for shortening time to extubation among patients in the cardiothoracic ICU who have undergone isolated CABG, AVR or CABG/AVR combination procedure. The FDA-approved package insert is attached as an appendix to this application.

Study design: Prospective, randomized, double blind, single center placebo-controlled trial.

Number of participants: 110 enrolled with assumed randomization of 90 using 1:1 randomization between active ingredient (intervention) and control arms, to be assigned randomly using a computer generated algorithm.

Subject Recruitment: Subjects will be consented in the collaborating surgeons offices or in pre-admission testing. Every effort will be made to consent subjects prior to day of surgery. If a patient is referred or identified any time after those visits, they may be consented in the preoperative area.

Anesthetic management per protocol:For enrolled patients, anesthetic management will be left to the discretion of the attending anesthesiology provider. As per our usual clinical practice, Rocuronium or vecuronium will be used as the non-depolarizing NMB and that where sedation is desired and appropriate, The patients will be transferred to the CTICU intubated and on a propofol infusion and/or dexmedetomidine per our usual clinical practice.

Upon CTICU arrival, determination of continued eligibility will be determined. If the decision is made to continue on a fast-track extubation pathway, eligible patients will be randomized, investigational pharmacy will be contacted for study drug. 30 minutes after the ICU admission, propofol will be discontinued. Precedex may be continued per clinical discretion. The participant will be randomized to either receive Sugammadex or placebo. A qualitative train-of-four measurement will be obtained. The administration of the study and placebo compounds will be performed by CTICU nurses who will receive the drugs in a blinded fashion from the departmental research pharmacy. The level of neuromuscular blockade will be measured by accelerometer before and after the drug/placebo administration by the research coordinator. This will be done by placing a sheet over the limb being tested, so that the clinical team remains blinded to the results of the drug /placebo administration. The study drug will be supplied by Merck. Patients will be initiated on SIMV with 40% FiO2, tidal volumes 8-10 ml/kg and PEEP of 5.

Ten minutes after the drug administration, if the patient is able to lift head and remains hemodynamically stable, the patient will be switched to CPAP mode of ventilation for 30 minutes. At the end of the CPAP trial tidal volumes, Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI) and ABG will be assessed. The patient will be extubated if he/she is not hypoxic/ hypercarbic, has RSBI<100 and has TV >300 cc. The final clinical decision to extubate the patients will be taken by the CTICU team.

If a patient fails the 30 minute CPAP criteria, the ICU intensivist will be immediately notified. Every attempt will be made to correct the underlying cause of CPAP failure, and a prompt reassessment will be made as deemed appropriate by the intensivist to reattempt CPAP versus continuing controlled mechanical ventilation.

It is estimated conservatively that the study personnel will randomize 3 patients per week allowing for data collection to be completed within 1 year of study commencement. Data analysis and dissemination of findings will be conducted over the subsequent 6 months by the study institution investigators per the publication plan below.

Blinded analyses of the data will be performed by the study investigators along with the departmental statistician in the Department of Anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine.

Variables/Time Points of Interest: The primary outcome is the time to extubation, which will be the duration from arrival to the ICU to the extubation time. Participants' blood pressure, heart rate, and chest tube output will be tracked from arrival to the CTICU until extubation per ICU protocol.

Statistical Methods:Baseline comparability. We expect that the randomization process will produce reasonably comparable groups. However, the adequacy of the randomization will be assessed by comparing the distribution of baseline demographic and clinical characteristics among the intervention groups. Comparability for continuous variables will be examined graphically and by summary statistics (means, medians, quartiles, etc.). Categorical variables will be examined by calculating frequency distributions.

Proposed statistical test/analysis: Positively skewed variables will be log-transformed prior to hypothesis testing. For the primary outcome, a two-sided Student's t-test will be used to compare the time to extubation between the two groups. If necessary, covariate adjustment will be made using the multiple linear regression analysis method. Differences between means and 95% confidence intervals will be estimated to describe the magnitude of intervention difference between the two groups. As part of sensitivity analyses, the time-to-extubation outcome will be also analyzed by the Cox regression model. To compare the categorical adverse events between two groups, chi-square test or Fisher's exact test will be used.

Missing Data: Prevention is the most obvious and effective manner to control bias and loss of power from missing data. Therefore, several strategies (e.g., timely data entry and daily missing data report) will be imposed to limit the likelihood that missing data will occur during this study. This protocol will follow the intention to treat principle, requiring follow-up of all subjects randomized regardless of the actual treatment received.

Power analysis: Our 'in-house' historical data (n = 73) showed that after excluding outliers greater than the 80th percentile, patients undergoing isolated CABG demonstrated a mean of 8.39 hours to extubation (SD 2.89). Although we anticipate a Hawthorne effect demonstrating reduced time to extubation in both the active and placebo arms of the present study, we have conservatively chosen to maintain power based on historical data. We therefore estimate that 45 subjects per group will give us 90% power to detect a clinically relevant effect size of 2-hours difference between active and placebo groups at an alpha value of 0.05 using a two-sided two-sample t-test. To allow for post consent, pre-randomization study drop out, we will aim to enroll a total of 110 (90 + 20 = 110) subjects.

Per-protocol Sensitivity Analysis: In parallel with the primary analysis, if exclusions above occur post randomization but prior to drug administration, the investigators will conduct a parallel "per-protocol" sensitivity analysis.

Drug supplies will be supplied by the sponsor.

Adverse Experience Reporting: Throughout the duration of the study, researchers will adhere to good clinical practice and the guidelines of the institution. Patient vitals will be continuously monitored during and after the administration of the test drug. A data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) consisting of the head nurse and a senior critical care staff will meet monthly to discuss any serious events. Any incidence of anaphylaxis or unexplained hypotension requiring initiation of pressors or cardiac pacing within 5 minutes of drug administration will be reported an evaluated. Increases in chest tube output considered clinically significant by the critical care team will be noted. Any of these adverse events will trigger an analysis by the DSMB. If the DSMB determines that study drug may be causing an increase in adverse events, the study will be suspended until the DSMB is able to fully review the events and make a recommendation in consultation with the Yale Human Investigations Committee. The local Merck research representative will also be notified about the events. If the data monitoring board and/or institutional review board (IRB) view that the study is unsafe, the study will be discontinued.

Specific Safety Events to Be Reported During Manuscript Preparation: For manuscript preparation, the rates of hypotension, anaphylaxis, and bleeding (i.e. Chest Tube output) will be reported and compared between active and placebo groups.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 90
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510
      • Yale University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All elective ARV, CABG cases, on-pump or off-pump, and CABG/AVR in adult patients with preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥45%.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Emergency/unplanned cases.
• EF<45% or moderate /severe RV dysfunction.
• Estimated GFR < 30 mL/min.
• Patients on supplemental oxygen at baseline (home oxygen).
• BMI>40 (calculated as the patient's weight in kilograms divided by the square of the patient's height in meters).
• Patients with chronic opioid use preoperatively.
• Patients with known neuromuscular disorders preoperatively.
• Patients with a known sensitivity to Rocuronium or to Sugammadex.
• Patients with known cognitive deficits preoperatively.

Exclusions after recruitment but prior to randomization:

• Postoperative Bleeding (chest tube output >100cc/hr ).
• Treatment of anaphylactoid reaction intraoperatively.
• Patient's temperature<35.5 or >38.3 degree Celsius at the time of ICU arrival.
• Determination that the patient will require prolonged mechanical ventilation possibly requiring muscle relaxation based on the intraoperative course and clinical judgment of the study PI or collaborating intensivists.
• Intraoperative hypoxia or on arrival to the ICU. (Please see Study Flowchart).
• Cardiac arrest.
• Sudden arrhythmia (Ventricular tachycardia runs/sudden bradycardia with improper pacemaker detection/function) precluding fast-track extubation protocol.
• Need for inotrope initiation precluding fast-track protocol.
• Postoperative ST changes.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: QUADRUPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Sugammadex; Research pharmacy will provide the Sugammadex (2m/kg) vs. Placebo in a syringe.	Drug: Sugammadex; The administration of the study and placebo compounds will be performed by CTICU nurses who will receive the drugs in a blinded fashion from the departmental research pharmacy.; Other Names: Bridion
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo; Research pharmacy will provide the Sugammadex (2m/kg) vs. Placebo in a syringe.	Other: Placebo; The administration of the study and placebo compounds will be performed by CTICU nurses who will receive the drugs in a blinded fashion from the departmental research pharmacy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to Extubation	The primary outcome of this study aims to test the time to extubation among patients in the cardiothoracic ICU who have undergone isolated CABG.	Up to 2 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Negative Inspiratory Force	NIF=Negative Inspiratory Force	Up to 2 weeks
RSBI	Rapid Shallow Breathing Index	Upto 2 weeks
Length of ICU Stay	Days in the ICU post opertaitvely	Up to 2 weeks
Length of Hospital Stay	Length of Hospital stay after surgery	2 weeks
New Dysrhythmia	Any dysrhythmia after surgery in patients without history of dysrhythmia	Up to 2 weeks
Change in Renal Function	Change in renal function was defined as Creatinine elevation >0.5 mg/dl	Up to 2 weeks
Postoperative CHF	Postoperative congestive heart failure	Up to 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amit Bardia, MD, Yale University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hefner JL, Tripathi RS, Abel EE, Farneman M, Galloway J, Moffatt-Bruce SD. Quality Improvement Intervention to Decrease Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Am J Crit Care. 2016 Sep;25(5):423-30. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2016165.
• Cislaghi F, Condemi AM, Corona A. Predictors of prolonged mechanical ventilation in a cohort of 5123 cardiac surgical patients. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2009 May;26(5):396-403. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0b013e3283232c69.
• Myles PS, Daly DJ, Djaiani G, Lee A, Cheng DC. A systematic review of the safety and effectiveness of fast-track cardiac anesthesia. Anesthesiology. 2003 Oct;99(4):982-7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200310000-00035. No abstract available.
• Hawkes CA, Dhileepan S, Foxcroft D. Early extubation for adult cardiac surgical patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(4):CD003587. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003587.
• van Mastrigt GA, Maessen JG, Heijmans J, Severens JL, Prins MH. Does fast-track treatment lead to a decrease of intensive care unit and hospital length of stay in coronary artery bypass patients? A meta-regression of randomized clinical trials. Crit Care Med. 2006 Jun;34(6):1624-34. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000217963.87227.7B.
• Hillis LD, Smith PK, Anderson JL, Bittl JA, Bridges CR, Byrne JG, Cigarroa JE, Disesa VJ, Hiratzka LF, Hutter AM Jr, Jessen ME, Keeley EC, Lahey SJ, Lange RA, London MJ, Mack MJ, Patel MR, Puskas JD, Sabik JF, Selnes O, Shahian DM, Trost JC, Winniford MD. 2011 ACCF/AHA Guideline for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2011 Dec 6;124(23):2610-42. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0b013e31823b5fee. Epub 2011 Nov 7. No abstract available. Erratum In: Circulation. 2011 Dec 20;124(25):e956. Circulation. 2012 Aug 14;126(7):e105.
• Hemmerling TM, Russo G, Bracco D. Neuromuscular blockade in cardiac surgery: an update for clinicians. Ann Card Anaesth. 2008 Jul-Dec;11(2):80-90. doi: 10.4103/0971-9784.41575.
• Abad-Gurumeta A, Ripolles-Melchor J, Casans-Frances R, Espinosa A, Martinez-Hurtado E, Fernandez-Perez C, Ramirez JM, Lopez-Timoneda F, Calvo-Vecino JM; Evidence Anaesthesia Review Group. A systematic review of sugammadex vs neostigmine for reversal of neuromuscular blockade. Anaesthesia. 2015 Dec;70(12):1441-52. doi: 10.1111/anae.13277.
• Murphy GS, Szokol JW, Marymont JH, Greenberg SB, Avram MJ, Vender JS. Residual neuromuscular blockade and critical respiratory events in the postanesthesia care unit. Anesth Analg. 2008 Jul;107(1):130-7. doi: 10.1213/ane.0b013e31816d1268.
• Fuchs-Buder T, Nemes R, Schmartz D. Residual neuromuscular blockade: management and impact on postoperative pulmonary outcome. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2016 Dec;29(6):662-667. doi: 10.1097/ACO.0000000000000395.
• Murphy GS, Szokol JW, Vender JS, Marymont JH, Avram MJ. The use of neuromuscular blocking drugs in adult cardiac surgery: results of a national postal survey. Anesth Analg. 2002 Dec;95(6):1534-9, table of contents. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200212000-00012.
• Welliver M. New drug sugammadex: a selective relaxant binding agent. AANA J. 2006 Oct;74(5):357-63.
• Nicholson WT, Sprung J, Jankowski CJ. Sugammadex: a novel agent for the reversal of neuromuscular blockade. Pharmacotherapy. 2007 Aug;27(8):1181-8. doi: 10.1592/phco.27.8.1181.
• Chambers D, Paulden M, Paton F, Heirs M, Duffy S, Craig D, Hunter J, Wilson J, Sculpher M, Woolacott N. Sugammadex for the reversal of muscle relaxation in general anaesthesia: a systematic review and economic assessment. Health Technol Assess. 2010 Jul;14(39):1-211. doi: 10.3310/hta14390.
• Sorgenfrei IF, Norrild K, Larsen PB, Stensballe J, Ostergaard D, Prins ME, Viby-Mogensen J. Reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block by the selective relaxant binding agent sugammadex: a dose-finding and safety study. Anesthesiology. 2006 Apr;104(4):667-74. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200604000-00009.
• Sadleir PH, Russell T, Clarke RC, Maycock E, Platt PR. Intraoperative anaphylaxis to sugammadex and a protocol for intradermal skin testing. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2014 Jan;42(1):93-6. doi: 10.1177/0310057X1404200116.
• Rahe-Meyer N, Fennema H, Schulman S, Klimscha W, Przemeck M, Blobner M, Wulf H, Speek M, McCrary Sisk C, Williams-Herman D, Woo T, Szegedi A. Effect of reversal of neuromuscular blockade with sugammadex versus usual care on bleeding risk in a randomized study of surgical patients. Anesthesiology. 2014 Nov;121(5):969-77. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000424.

Helpful Links

• FDA information on Sugammadex

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): May 13, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): October 1, 2020
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): October 10, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 21, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): June 22, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): January 14, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 5, 2022
• Last Verified: January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: extubation; sugammadex; CABG, AVR, CABG/AVR combination
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000021124

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

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