Dexmedetomidine for Pain Reduction in CABG

Is Dexmedetomidine Effective at Reducing Pain Scores and Opioid Consumption in Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) Patients

The purpose of this study is to determine whether adjuvant intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion starting after induction of general anesthesia can provide superior pain management (decrease pain scores) and decrease opioid administration, without increasing nausea/vomiting, compared to patients receiving only opioid and acetaminophen for the patients which going through coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)?

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Analgesia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Saline; Drug: Dexmedetomidine Injectable Solution

Detailed Description

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) involves a median sternotomy and subsequent surrounding surgical dissection. Resulting tissue damage can lead to neurogenic inflammation and release of inflammatory mediators that promote acute postoperative pain . Given the location of the incision, uncontrolled acute postoperative pain after CABG can be associated with significant pulmonary complications . Additionally, acute pain activates the sympathetic nervous system which can have deleterious effects on multiple organ systems including the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems .

Dexmedetomidine is a sympatholytic agent acting on the alpha2 adrenergic receptor. It was originally used as an anxiolytic and sedative agent perioperatively and in the intensive care unit (ICU) by decreasing adrenergic response in the locus coeruleus and, thus, indirectly increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons downstream .

The use of perioperative dexmedetomidine has expanded; it has been studied as part of multimodal analgesic regimens as well as an adjuvant analgesic agent. It can directly work on the peripheral nervous system and inhibit C fibers and Aδ fibers to attenuate peripheral transmission of nociception . Within the central nervous system, dexmedetomidine inhibits adrenergic nociception transmission from the locus coeruleus through the spinal cord, which in turn prevent the release of nociceptive neurotransmitters and biochemicals at the presynaptic membrane . Also, alpha receptor agonism at the presynaptic membrane inhibits the release of norepinephrine and prevents nociceptive signals to the brain . Given its action at multiple sites within the nociceptive pathway, dexmedetomidine can be administered via various modalities including intravenous, intramuscular, neuraxial, peripheral nerve block, and topical.

Given its sympatholytic effect, reported side effects of dexmedetomidine are hypotension and bradycardia. In a meta-analysis of the safety of dexmedetomidine in cardiac surgery patients done by Wang et al., there was 3.4 times increased incidence of bradycardia with patients on dexmedetomidine compared to the control; however, there was no statistically significant difference in hypotension . Bradycardia occurs more often when dexmedetomidine is infused at 0.75-1 mcg/kg/hr than at 0.5mcg/kg/hr . The meta-analysis included publications that incorporated a loading dose prior to an infusion at a set dose; high plasma level of dexmedetomidine has been associated with cross reactivity with alpha1 stimulation and subsequent vasoconstriction resulting in hypertension and reflex bradycardia. However, elimination of the loading dose has been shown to eliminate the hemodynamic effect . Any intraoperative bradycardia or hypotension can be treated with anticholinergics and vasoactive agents, respectively, without postoperative bradycardia, hypotension, or related complications .

Compared to conventional opioid analgesia for acute postoperative pain, dexmedetomidine analgesia has limited adverse impact on the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems . Perioperative dexmedetomidine has consistently demonstrated improved acute postoperative pain and reduced narcotic requirement in noncardiac surgeries including open and laparoscopic abdominal, open and laparoscopic gynecological, and neuro surgeries compared to traditional opioid therapy .

Previous research has shown great benefits of perioperative dexmedetomidine use in cardiac surgery patients. During open heart surgery, exposure of blood to the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit and ischemia-reperfusion of organs contribute to a surge of cytokines and other inflammatory mediator. Dexmedetomidine reduces the circulating plasma level of proinflammatory cytokines, norepinephrine, and cortisol after cardiac surgery with CPB .

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the more common complications of open-heart surgery and CPB. Multiple etiologies play a role in the pathophysiology, including reduced perfusion during aortic cross clamping, possible blood product transfusion, and generalized inflammatory state during CPB. In a meta-analysis done by Peng et al. involving nine studies, the incidence of AKI was reduced in patients receiving dexmedetomidine infusion, most significantly when started preoperative or intraoperative with or without postoperative continuation .

In another meta-analysis done by Li et al. that included fifteen studies and 2813 patients, postoperative delirium was reduced in patients receiving perioperative dexmedetomidine. Interestingly, they also did not find any statistically significant difference in hypotension or bradycardia. Perioperative dexmedetomidine also demonstrated reduction in in-hospital mortality, 30 day mortality, and 1 year mortality and overall incidence of any postoperative complications in cardiac surgery . Dexmedetomidine in animal models has shown to protect the myocardium from ischemia by increasing adenosine-induced coronary vasodilation and provide myocardial preconditioning to attenuate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury ; however, clinical data on human subjects are inconclusive.

Currently, there is limited data and literature on the role of perioperative dexmedetomidine on acute post-operative pain in cardiac surgery patients. No studies have been done on the relationship between dexmedetomidine infusion that has been started after induction of general anesthesia continued until extubation and acute post-operative pain in CABG with CPB patients.

At SJMO, patients who undergo CABG currently receive intraoperative intravenous fentanyl and postoperative oral acetaminophen and intravenous and oral opioids for perioperative pain control.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether adjuvant intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion starting after induction of general anesthesia can provide superior pain management (decrease pain scores) and decrease opioid administration, without increasing nausea/vomiting, compared to patients receiving only opioid and acetaminophen.

Hypothesis: There is a significant difference in the VAS pain scores, number of VAS score greater than 5, rate of opioid consumption (postop and intraop), and the percentage of with PONV, for patients having CABG with continuous intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine after induction of general anesthesia.

Null: There is no significant difference in the VAS pain scores, number of VAS score greater than 5, rate of opioid consumption (postop and intraop), and the percentage of patience with PONV, for patients having CABG with continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine after induction of general anesthesia.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be between 18 years old and 100 years old. Both men and women will be eligible for this study. We will aim to have approximately 50% men and 50% women. People of all races and ethnic origins are eligible.

Patients should be undergoing CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting ) under general anesthesia with CPB (Cardiopulmonary bypass).

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients will be excluded who are receiving valve replacement with CABG, Class I emergent CABG, receiving regional anesthesia, clinically significant preoperative neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, or hepatic disease that cannot tolerate dexmedetomidine infusion, or reported allergy to dexmedetomidine. People taking chronic opioid will also be excluded from the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Control Group; Intravenous normal saline at a standard dose of 0.5mcg/kg/hr continued to postop until extubation.	Drug: Saline; Intravenous normal saline at a standard dose of 0.5mcg/kg/hr continued to postop until extubation.; Other Names: solution of Sodium Chloride
Active Comparator: Dexmedotimidine Group; Intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion started after induction at a standard dose of 0.5mcg/kg/hr and continued until extubation.	Drug: Dexmedetomidine Injectable Solution; Intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion started after induction at a standard dose of 0.5mcg/kg/hr and continued until extubation.; Other Names: Precedex, Hospira

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual analog pain (VAS) scores at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours post-surgery	Pain scores are measured by asking the patients to rank their pain from 1 to 10	measured at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours post-surgery
Total opioid consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery (Oral morphine equivalents)	the totalOral morphine equivalent dose of Opioids received by the patient 24 hour after the surgery is calculated	24 Hours post surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of post-operation nausea and vomiting (PONV) (treatment with anti-emetic) in the first 24 hours	Incidence of Nausea and/or Vomiting. This is a categorical variable with Yes and No answer for each patient	24 Hours Post Surgery
Incidence of pruritus (Percent of patients)	This is a categorical variable with Yes and No answer for each patient	24 hours Post Surgery
Total Acetaminophen intake	All the acetaminophen which is given to the patient is added as total mg	24 Hours post surgery
Total NSAID intake	All the NSAID which is given to the patient is added as total mg	24 hours Post Surgery
Incidence of atrial fibrillation	the incidence of atrial fibrillation which is is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) is recorded as YES or NO	during Hospital Stay
Postoperative AKI based on AKIN	Criteria based on lab values from the morning of POD2 (>0.3 serum creatinine OR >150-200% from baseline OR UOP< 0.5mL/kg/hr for >6hours). Most patients meet RIFLE criteria within the first 48hours.	during Hospital Stay
Vasoplegia	after coming off of cardiopulmonary bypass (hypotension with SVR<800 and CI > 2.2L/kg)- requiring more than 1 pressors	during Hospital Stay
Hospital length of Stay	The duration of stay in ICU is recorded.	During Hospital Stay
Incidence of intraop bradycardia	(HR<40BPM or bradycardia requiring treatment)	During Surgery
Incidence of intraop hypotension	(MAP <45/50mmHg AND requiring treatment)- during the entire case measuring how many "yes"	During Surgery
Hospital Length of Stay	The Duration of stay in Hospital is recorded	During Hospital Stay

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Wayne State University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zubrzycki M, Liebold A, Skrabal C, Reinelt H, Ziegler M, Perdas E, Zubrzycka M. Assessment and pathophysiology of pain in cardiac surgery. J Pain Res. 2018 Aug 24;11:1599-1611. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S162067. eCollection 2018.
• Tang C, Xia Z. Dexmedetomidine in perioperative acute pain management: a non-opioid adjuvant analgesic. J Pain Res. 2017 Aug 11;10:1899-1904. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S139387. eCollection 2017.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 6, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 10, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): May 9, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 28, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 6, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): September 9, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 9, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 6, 2022
• Last Verified: September 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Dexmedotimidine, CABG, Pain Management
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Adrenergic Agonists; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Dexmedetomidine; Pharmaceutical Solutions
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-012-SJMO

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No