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Dexmedetomidine-esketamine and tDCS for Prevention of Neurocognitive Complications After Surgery

7 de maio de 2026 atualizado por: Dong-Xin Wang, Peking University First Hospital

Perioperative Use of Dexmedetomidine-esketamine Combination and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Prevention of Neurocognitive Complications in Older Patients After Non-cardiac Surgery: a 2×2 Factorial Trial

Neurocognitive complications, mainly delirium and neurocognitive disorders, are common cerebral complications in older patients after surgery and associated with worse outcomes. In previous studies, perioperative use of dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination improved analgesia and sleep quality after surgery. Perioperative use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) also improved sleep quality and reduced delirium occurrence early after surgery. This 2×2 factorial trial is designed to investigate the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination and tDCS on early postoperative neurocognitive recovery and delirium occurrence in older patients.

Visão geral do estudo

Descrição detalhada

Alone with aging population, the number of older patients undergoing surgery is also increasing. Neurocognitive complications, mainly delirium and neurocognitive disorders, are common cerebral complications in older patients after surgery and associated with worse outcomes. Risk factors of postoperative neurocognitive complications are multifactorial and include predisposing and precipitating factors. Of these, older age and pre-existing cognitive decline are important predisposing factors; surgical trauma, postoperative pain, and postoperative sleep disturbances are important precipitating factors.

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha 2 adrenergic receptor agonist with sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects. Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine improves analgesia and sleep quality after surgery, an relieves surgery-related stress response and inflammation. Accumulating evidence showed that perioperative dexmedetomidine decreased early postoperative delirium and delayed neurocognitive recovery in older patients. The effect of perioperative dexmedetomidine is dose-dependent; however, routine dose dexmedetomidine increases bradycardia and hypotension which are potentially harmful to older patients.

Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist and has been used as an anesthetic and analgesic for decades. Esketamine is the S-enantiomer of ketamine and twice as potent as racemic ketamine. Recent studies found that subanesthetic dose of ketamine or esketamine is effective in improving analgesia and sleep quality and relieving depression; it also attenuated surgery-related stress response. However, even subanesthetic ketamine or esketamine increases neuropsychiatric side effects and is not recommended to be used alone for analgesia and sedation.

In clinical practice, the sedative effect of exmedetomidine is used to relieve the neuropsychiatric side effects of ketamine/esketamine, and the sympathomimetic effect of ketamine/esketamine can be used to counteract the sympatholytic effect of dexmedetomidine. Combination of dexmedetomidine and esketamine has been used for premedication in children and postoperative analgesia in adults and showed additive or synergistic effects. The investigators hypothesize that perioperative combined use of low dose dexmedetomidine and esketamine may be more effective in preventing postoperative delirium and delayed neurocognitive recovery in older patients.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique and increasingly used for treatment of various neurological diseases such as neurodevelopmental disorders and post-stroke dysphagia. Preliminary studies in the perioperative settings showed that perioperative use of tDCS improved sleep quality and reduced delirium occurrence early after surgery. The investigators hypothesize that perioperative use of tDCS may help reduce early postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery in older patients.

This 2×2 factorial trial is designed to investigate the effects of perioperative dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination and tDCS on early postoperative neurocognitive recovery and delirium occurrence in older patients.

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

1160

Estágio

  • Fase 4

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Estude backup de contato

Locais de estudo

    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100034
        • Peking University First Hospital
        • Contato:
        • Contato:
    • Fujian
      • Fuzhou, Fujian, China, 362011
        • Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
        • Contato:
    • Guangdong
      • Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, 518036
        • Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
        • Contato:
    • Shaanxi
      • Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710032
        • Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University
        • Contato:
    • Zhejiang
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310006
        • First Affilited Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
        • Contato:
      • Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310009
        • Second Affilited Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
        • Contato:

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto mais velho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 65 to 90 years;
  • Preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 27 points, indicating possible cognitive impairment ranging from mild to moderate;
  • Scheduled to undergo elective non-cardiac, non-neurosurgical surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected surgical duration > 1 hour;
  • Required patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Preoperative inability to communicate due to coma, severe dementia, end-stage disease, or language impairment;
  • History of schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, brain trauma/surgery, or myasthenia gravis;
  • Presence of metal implants in the intracranial or cervical region (such as cochlear implants, aneurysm clips, deep brain stimulation electrodes), or skin damage or severe skin disease on the head;
  • Severe cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction < 30%), comorbid with sick sinus syndrome, severe bradycardia (heart rate < 50 bpm), or second-degree or higher atrioventricular block, or implantation of a cardiac pacemaker;
  • Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism or pheochromocytoma;
  • Severe liver dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), severe renal dysfunction (requiring dialysis), or ASA classification ≥ IV;
  • Allergy to dexmedetomidine or esketamine;
  • Participation in other clinical studies within the past 3 months;
  • Other conditions that are deemed unsuitable for study participation.

Plano de estudo

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Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Prevenção
  • Alocação: Randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição fatorial
  • Mascaramento: Quadruplicar

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Experimental: Dex-Esk + active tDCS
Participants will receive dexmedetomidine-esketamine (Dex-Esk) combination and active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a battery-powered stimulator. The anode will be positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, F3) and the cathode over the right supraorbital region (Fp2). The stimulation intensity will be set at 2.0 mA, featuring a 30-second linear ramp-up at the beginning and a 30-second ramp-down at the end of each session.

Each participant will receive a total of three 20-minute sessions of active tDCS. The first session will be provided at 40 minutes after extubation in the post-anesthesia care unit. Two other sessions will be provided on postoperative days 1 and 2 (between 10:00 and 12:00 am).

Outros nomes:
  • Active transcranial direct current stimulation

Dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination (1 μg/mL dexmedetomidine and 0.5 mg/mL esketamine) will be administered after anesthesia induction, firstly as a loading dose at a rate of [0.4 x body weight (kg)] mL/h for 30 minutes (0.2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.1 mg/kg esketamine), followed by a maintenance infusion at a rate of [0.1 x body weight (kg)] mL/h (0.1 μg/kg/h dexmedetomidine and 0.05 mg/kg/h esketamine) until one hour before the expected end of surgery.

Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia will be established with a 100 mL mixture (containing 1.0 μg/mL sufentanil, 1.25 μg/mL dexmedetomidine, and 0.25 mg/mL esketamine in normal saline), programmed to deliver 2-mL boluses with an 8-minute lockout interval and an 1-mL/h background infusion, and provided for 48 hours (at least 24 hours).

Outros nomes:
  • Dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination
Experimental: Dex-Esk + sham tDCS
Participants will receive dexmedetomidine-esketamine (Dex-Esk) combination and sham (placebo) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a battery-powered stimulator. The anode will be positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, F3) and the cathode over the right supraorbital region (Fp2). To ensure blinding, the device will deliver a initial 30-second ramp-up to 2.0 mA followed immediately by a 30-second ramp-down to 0 mA. The device remains "ON" for the remaining 19 minutes with no effective current output, mimicking the peripheral scalp sensation without delivering cortical modulation.

Each participant will receive a total of three 20-minute sessions of sham tDCS. The first session will be provided at 40 minutes after extubation in the post-anesthesia care unit. Two other sessions will be provided on postoperative days 1 and 2 (between 10:00 and 12:00 am).

Outros nomes:
  • Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua Simulada

Dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination (1 μg/mL dexmedetomidine and 0.5 mg/mL esketamine) will be administered after anesthesia induction, firstly as a loading dose at a rate of [0.4 x body weight (kg)] mL/h for 30 minutes (0.2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.1 mg/kg esketamine), followed by a maintenance infusion at a rate of [0.1 x body weight (kg)] mL/h (0.1 μg/kg/h dexmedetomidine and 0.05 mg/kg/h esketamine) until one hour before the expected end of surgery.

Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia will be established with a 100 mL mixture (containing 1.0 μg/mL sufentanil, 1.25 μg/mL dexmedetomidine, and 0.25 mg/mL esketamine in normal saline), programmed to deliver 2-mL boluses with an 8-minute lockout interval and an 1-mL/h background infusion, and provided for 48 hours (at least 24 hours).

Outros nomes:
  • Dexmedetomidine-esketamine combination
Experimental: Placebo + active tDCS
Participants will receive placebo (normal saline) and active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a battery-powered stimulator. The anode will be positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, F3) and the cathode over the right supraorbital region (Fp2). The stimulation intensity will be set at 2.0 mA, featuring a 30-second linear ramp-up at the beginning and a 30-second ramp-down at the end of each session.

Each participant will receive a total of three 20-minute sessions of active tDCS. The first session will be provided at 40 minutes after extubation in the post-anesthesia care unit. Two other sessions will be provided on postoperative days 1 and 2 (between 10:00 and 12:00 am).

Outros nomes:
  • Active transcranial direct current stimulation

Placebo (normal saline) will be administered after anesthesia induction, firstly as a loading dose at a rate of [0.4 x body weight (kg)] mL/h for 30 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion at a rate of [0.1 x body weight (kg)] mL/h until one hour before the expected end of surgery.

Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia will be established with a 100 mL mixture (containing 1.0 μg/mL sufentanil in normal saline), programmed to deliver 2-mL boluses with an 8-minute lockout interval and an 1-mL/h background infusion, and provided for 48 hours (at least 24 hours).

Outros nomes:
  • Solução salina normal
Comparador de Placebo: Placebo + sham tDCS
Participants will receive placebo (normal saline) and sham (placebo) transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) will be administered using a battery-powered stimulator. The anode will be positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC, F3) and the cathode over the right supraorbital region (Fp2). To ensure blinding, the device will deliver a initial 30-second ramp-up to 2.0 mA followed immediately by a 30-second ramp-down to 0 mA. The device remains "ON" for the remaining 19 minutes with no effective current output, mimicking the peripheral scalp sensation without delivering cortical modulation.

Each participant will receive a total of three 20-minute sessions of sham tDCS. The first session will be provided at 40 minutes after extubation in the post-anesthesia care unit. Two other sessions will be provided on postoperative days 1 and 2 (between 10:00 and 12:00 am).

Outros nomes:
  • Estimulação Transcraniana por Corrente Contínua Simulada

Placebo (normal saline) will be administered after anesthesia induction, firstly as a loading dose at a rate of [0.4 x body weight (kg)] mL/h for 30 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion at a rate of [0.1 x body weight (kg)] mL/h until one hour before the expected end of surgery.

Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia will be established with a 100 mL mixture (containing 1.0 μg/mL sufentanil in normal saline), programmed to deliver 2-mL boluses with an 8-minute lockout interval and an 1-mL/h background infusion, and provided for 48 hours (at least 24 hours).

Outros nomes:
  • Solução salina normal

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Incidence of delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR)
Prazo: At 5 days after surgery or before hospital discharge

Cognitive function will be assessed at baseline and at 5 days after surgery (or before hospital discharge) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function).

Delayed neurocognitive decline (dNCR) is defined as: a |Z| value of decline in MoCA score ≥1.96. Z value = [(change from baseline in MoCA score in a surgical patient - mean change from baseline in MoCA score in the non-surgical group)] / (standard deviation of change from baseline in MoCA score in the non-surgical group).

At 5 days after surgery or before hospital discharge

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Incidence of postoperative delirium
Prazo: Up to 4 days after surgery
Delirium will be assessed twice daily (8-10 am and 6-8 pm) using the 3-Dimensional Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) for patients without intubation or the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) for patients with intubation.
Up to 4 days after surgery
Incidence of postoperative neurocognitive disorders (pNCD)
Prazo: At 30 days after surgery

Cognitive function will be assessed at baseline and at 30 days after surgery using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function).

Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (pNCD) is defined as: a |Z| value of decline in MoCA score ≥1.96. Z value = [(change from baseline in MoCA score in a surgical patient - mean change from baseline in MoCA score in the non-surgical group)] / (standard deviation of change from baseline in MoCA score in the non-surgical group).

At 30 days after surgery

Outras medidas de resultado

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Early postoperative pain intensity
Prazo: Up to 4 days after surgery

Pain intensity will be assessed twice daily (8-10 am and 6-8 pm) both at rest and with movement (coughing or turning over) using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; scores range from 0 to 10 where 0=no pain and 10=the worst pain).

Pain intensity early after surgery will be summarized as the area under the curve (AUC) using the trapezoidal method.

Up to 4 days after surgery
Length of hospital stay (LOS) after surgery
Prazo: Up to 30 days after surgery
From the day of surgery until the day of hospital discharge.
Up to 30 days after surgery
Incidence of postoperative complications within 30 days
Prazo: Up to 30 days after surgery
Postoperative complications are defined as new-onset conditions that are deemed harmful and required therapeutic intervention, i.e., grade II or above on the Clavien-Dindo classification.
Up to 30 days after surgery
Subjective sleep quality at 30 days after surgery
Prazo: At 30 days after surgery
Subjective sleep quality at 30 days will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality).
At 30 days after surgery
Early postoperative subjective sleep quality
Prazo: Up to 4 nights after surgery

Subjective sleep quality will be assessed once daily (8-10 am) using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS; scores range from 0 to 10 where 0=the best sleep and 10=the worst sleep.

Subjective sleep quality early after surgery will be summarized as the cumulative score of subjective sleep quality during the first 4 postoperative nights.

Up to 4 nights after surgery

Colaboradores e Investigadores

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Publicações Gerais

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

1 de junho de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de junho de 2029

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de junho de 2030

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

2 de maio de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

3 de maio de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

8 de maio de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

12 de maio de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

7 de maio de 2026

Última verificação

1 de maio de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • 2026-1219
  • 82293644 (Número de outro subsídio/financiamento: National Natural Science Foundation of China)

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

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