Dexamethasone and Robotic-assisted Hysterectomy

July 11, 2022 updated by: Finn Lauszus, Herning Hospital

Effect of 24 mg Dexamethasone Preoperatively on Surgical Stress, Pain and Recovery in Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Robotic-assisted hysterectomy is an alternative to laparoscopic surgery as part of a minimal invasive regimen. Several treatment strategies are followed to improve the overall outcome and minimize surgical stress. Glucocorticoids provide significant analgesic and antiemetic effects but its role in a fast-track, multi-modal setting is not settled when discharge is planned within 24-36 hours.

This study will evaluate in a randomized trial the effect of a single dose of 24 mg dexamethasone on women undergoing robotic-assisted hysterectomy with regard to surgical stress measured by c-reactive protein as primary outcome and, further, other stress markers like white blood cells, Il-6, cortisol, and creatinine kinase. The postoperative recovery will be registered in validated charts and questionnaires for pain and analgesic use, quality of recovery, incontinence, sexual and work life. Furthermore, in a sub-analysis, transcriptional profiling will be applied to explore, which parts of the innate and cellular immune system is activated to explore the mechanisms of surgical stress response.

The hypothesis is that women undergoing robotic hysterectomy would benefit from peroperative glucocorticoid treatment on important life qualities like pain, fatigue, freedom of medications and resuming work and sexual activities. Further, future adjuvant peroperative regimens may be able to target the stress response in a more appropriate way

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background Robotic operations in gynecology is one of the fastest growing fields in applied robotic technology.

In Denmark 4000 hysterectomies are performed each year on benign indications and minimal invasive techniques has risen from 35 to 80%. These operations consist of vaginal, laparoscopic assisted und the latest robotic assisted hysterectomy. The robotic surgical system DaVinci was introduced in 2000 and, by 2016, 3803 robot units were established all over the world and 644 of these were in Europe. Hysterectomy and prostate operations are the most common robotic assisted operations as an alternative to conventional laparoscopy.

Robotic surgery on benign indications in gynecology is still a discussion on the cost vs. benefit due to increased cost and lack of evidence on superiority in surgical outcome compared to conventional laparoscopy. For minimal invasive surgery is but a part of a complex series of treatment in a strategy, the so-called multi-modal regimen (1-7,16). By this, the day of discharge has dramatically decreased without compromising safety during surgery and postoperative recovery. However, not all single elements are proven for efficacy, let alone the specific targets for effect (16).

To further improve the overall outcome of surgery the surgical stress response are investigated, which includes inflammatory components and are of importance of postoperative pain and recovery (8,9,16). Here amongst others, glucocorticoids have proven to relieve pain in a number of procedures, applied in general surgery on colon, gallbladder, and breast, in orthopedic surgery on knee and breast surgery, and in gynecology, too, in laparoscopic hysterectomy (1-10,15,16). The dose of steroid to provide significant analgesic effect is, at least, dexamethasone of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg or 15 mg, which is substantiated in some reduction in inflammatory response (7,15,16). Glucocorticoids are known for analgesic, opioid-sparing and antiemetic effects but procedure-specific outcome are lacking. Similarly, the specific anti-inflammatory and sites of surgical stress-related responses are not well elucidated.

Aim The PhD study evaluate the effects of a single dose of steroid on acute postoperative stress response and pain after hysterectomy. The evaluation is on clinical relevant outcome that directly benefit the patients. We will measure surgical stress by c-reactive protein and other inflammatory markers based on transcriptional profiling, register pain and medication needed during hospital stay and after discharge, and when work and sexual function could be resumed.

Outcome The primary endpoint is reduction of postoperative c-reactive protein (crp) after robotic hysterectomy as an objective measurement of the stress amelioration by the given steroid. The rise postoperatively will be ascertained by two baseline measurements and every 4-6 hours after operation as long as the women is not discharged. The crp is not expected to be dependent on each operation team eagerness to perform well or the postoperative care to reach certain standards.

As secondary outcome we register pain scores from baseline to 24 h and later on, the postoperative analgesics medication from baseline to discharge and later on, quality of recovery (QoR-15D) in the latest 24 hours (12). Further, after discharge incontinence (ICIQ-UI), start of sexual life (PISQ-12/31), inflammatory markers, and resumption to recreational and work life will be ascertained in a diary. The baseline and early acute postoperative pain scores (visual analog scale, VAS) at rest and at movement (0-4 h postoperatively), late acute postoperative pain scores (VAS) at rest and at movement (24 h postoperatively); and cumulative opioid consumption (up to 24 h) will be registered. Blood samples will be analyzed for white blood cells, Il-6, cortisol, and creatinine kinase and a part will be stored for analysis of the cellular inflammatory systems by NanoString to explore the innate system and cellular activation (19,20). NanoString has the capacity to demonstrate activation of immune-related genes in the bloodstream during inflammatory induction and highlight an exciting role of immune competent cell in linking peripheral inflammation with immune activation and possibly anti-nociception. NanoString methodology investigates gene expression and currently quantifies the expression of 770 genes by determining the amount of messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA is the end-product of gene transcription and, therefore, allows the study of gene up-regulation.

Monitoring cycles and levels of rest and activity will be done by an actigraph in a non-invasive method (13,14).

Hypothesis Women undergoing robotic hysterectomy would benefit from peroperative glucocorticoid treatment on important life qualities like pain, fatigue, freedom of medications and resuming work and sexual activities. Biological substrates such as inflammatory markers will be explored as underlying mechanism behind surgical stress response in order to direct perioperative medical interventions (19).

Perspectives and impact The randomized design will evaluate the effects of the single dose dexamethasone on the highest level of evidence. The anti-emetic effects of steroid are already incorporated in several guidelines on perioperative care; however, this study could further enhance our knowledge on minimal invasive surgery and optimize the treatment for surgical stress. The stress response in humans have evolved over millennia and is embedded in our genes but has no natural association with modern days surgery and may be ill placed and timely inadequate for recovery. The exploratory study may help identify pathways and specific mechanism in surgical stress that can be targeted in future to enhance women's recovery after surgery. The perspective is in further studies to target these specific sites in the immune activation.

Methods:

The PhD study in robotic hysterectomy will include a randomized trial with a single dose intravenously of 24 mg dexamethasone (Dexavit®) corresponding to 128 mg methyl prednisolone (Solumedrol®). The robotic hysterectomy is performed with the Intuitive surgical Da Vinci Xi system.

The randomization will be performed in Redcap and data stored the same place under each patient cpr.-no. but in a separate section. A person not involved in the project in any other form will perform the randomization. The patient will then receive the dose of either steroid or placebo saline intravenously, blinded to the patient and operation team (gynecology, operation ward and anesthesiology). The applicant PhD student will later enter the data in Redcap unknowing to the randomization results.

All women in the department operated by with a robotic assisted hysterectomy will be monitored and fill out a diary with validated questionnaires (names of quest.) to streamline the information gathering in a high flow work place and not to discriminate those outside of the project. These data will be presented as the drop-out analysis to evaluate the external validity of the trial. The flow of data collection is displayed below.

Sample size was calculated to be 49 women included in each arm on the primary outcome of c-reactive protein rising to the level of 40 mg/l with an expected reduction of 10 % a with a standard deviation of 7 calculated by https://clincalc.com/stats/samplesize.aspx (1,17,18). This may seem a parsimonious reduction but in practical terms, it translates to more than halving the need of opioids early and late postoperatively (2). On the assumption of incomplete data in less than 10 % of cases, 50 women in each group with complete data will be included. Robotic hysterectomy is a standard procedure in our department with about 80-90 hysterectomies each year, so we expect the study inclusion to last 1½-2 years.

Statistics Analysis are performed on the intention-to-treat principle with women on current use of analgesics as a subgroup analysis. The statistics will be unpaired and paired analysis (2-ways ANOVA) including relevant co-variates. Regression analysis will be performed with the primary outcome as dependent variable and the secondary outcomes and anthropometrics as dependent variable.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

100

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Denmark
      • Aabenraa, Denmark, 6400
        • Recruiting
        • Gyn. Dept.;Aabenraa Hospital, Sygehus Sønderjylland
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 85 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meno-metrorrhagia,
  • dysmenorrhea,
  • fibroma,
  • dysplasia,
  • dysmenorrhea,
  • ability in Danish writing

Exclusion Criteria:

  • current treatment with glucocorticoids, opioids and NSAID analgesics,
  • diabetes,
  • current treatment of malignant disease,
  • renal or hepatic disease,
  • unable to communicate in Danish language.

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
  • Masking: TRIPLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Dexamethasone
24 mg dexamethasone as single dose intravenously peroperatively
Drug: Dexamethasone phosphate
24 mg dexamethasone infused peroperatively
Other Names:
  • glucocorticoid
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo
saline infusion intravenously in a single dose
Other: Placebo
Saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
level of c-reactive protein (CRP)
Time Frame: 0-36 hours
c-reactive protein measured in mg/l
0-36 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
level of IL-6
Time Frame: 0-36 hours
Interleukin 6
0-36 hours
Leucucytes
Time Frame: 0-36 hours
White blood cell count
0-36 hours
mRNA
Time Frame: 0-36 hours
Transcription of mRNA after surgery
0-36 hours
Incontinence
Time Frame: 0-14 days
ICIQ-UI postoperatively
0-14 days
Sexual function
Time Frame: 0-14 days
PISQ-12 postoperatively
0-14 days
work life checklist
Time Frame: 0-14 days
Diary postoperatively
0-14 days
Number of steps count measured by pedometer
Time Frame: 0-14 days
daily activity
0-14 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Herning Hospital

Collaborators

Hospital of Southern Jutland

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Britta Frederiksen, PhD, Gyn. Dept. Aabenraa Hospital, Sygehus Sønderjylland

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 (ACTUAL)

June 1, 2022

Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED)

May 1, 2025

Study Completion (ANTICIPATED)

December 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 18, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2021

First Posted (ACTUAL)

February 21, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

July 13, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 11, 2022

Last Verified

July 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Robotic surgery and steroid

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

after PhD submission and evaluation and publiaction of results the data can be shared anonymously

IPD Sharing Time Frame

2025

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

personal contact

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • CSR

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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