Plain English Summary
Background and study aims.
Spinal (subarachnoidal) anaesthesia is a an alternative to general anesthesia (being put to sleep for surgery), which involves an injection of a local anaesthetic (numbing agent) into a space in the spine to numb the lower part of the body. Although this technique is very effective, it can lead to a drop in blood pressure and cardiac output (the amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute). Vasopressors are group of drugs that are given to patients to raise blood pressure. The most commonly used vasopressors are ephedrine and phenylephrine. When vasopressors are given, fluids (such as ringer solution) are often given at the same time to increase the amount of circulating blood in the body. Currently, there are no studies showing whether continuously delivering ephedrine and phenylephrine through a drip is an effective way of preventing decrease in blood pressure and cardiac output after spinal anesthesia in adults or elderly patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of ringer solution combined with continuous infusion of vasopressors (ephedrine or phenylephrine) blood pressure and cardiac output in surgical patients.
Who can participate?
Adult patients aged 50 years and over undergoing leg surgery.
What does the study involve?
Patients are randomly allocated into three groups. All participants receive spinal anaesthesia, which involves injection of a local anaesthetic into the subarachnoid space (space in the spine), an receive 100ml ringer solution over 30 minutes through a drip to help regulate their bodily processes. Those in the first group receive an infusion of saline (salt water) through a drip at the same time as receiving the Ringer solution. Those in the second group receive an infusion of ephedrine through a drip. Those in the third group receive a an infusion of phenylephrine through a drip. Heart rate and blood pressure are measured using a specialised device 5 minutes before and 30 minutes after the spinal anaesthesia is given in all groups.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients in all groups benefit from being closely monitored with advanced circulation monitoring system. There are no notable risks involved with participating.
Where is the study run from?
University Medical Centre Maribor (Slovenia)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2017 to January 2018
Who is funding the study?
University Medical Centre Maribor (Slovenia)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Miodrag Žunić
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Miodrag Žunić
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0538-7497
Contact details
University Medical Centre Maribor
Ljubljanska ulica 91
Maribor
2000
Slovenia
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
National Medical Ethics Committee of Slovenia number: 0120-8/2017-3, KME 21/01/17-bis
Study information
Scientific title
The influence of the infusion of ephedrine and phenilephrine on the stability of the circulation after subarachnoidal anesthesia in senior adults
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. The blood pressure and the cardiac output in the elderly patients, older than 50 years, who are going to have lower extremity surgery after subarachnoidal anesthesia, is more stable if they have continuous infusion of ephedrine or phenilephrine in addition to Ringer lactate infusion in comparison with the group treating only with Ringer lactate infusion
2. Ephedrine will increase cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, while phenilephrine will predominately increase systemic vascular resistance
Ethics approval
National Medical Ethics Committee, 26/01/2017, ref: 0120-8/2017-3, KME 21/01/17-bis
Study design
Single-centre double-blind prospective randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Subarachnoidal anesthesia
Intervention
In the operating theatre, participants are randomised to one of three groups using closed envelope randomisation.
Group 1: Participants receive 1000 ml of Ringer solution infusion in 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anesthesia. At the same time a 30 ml infusion of 0,9% NaCl via continued infusion over 30 minutes is started.
Group 2: Participants receive 1000 ml of Ringer solution infusion in 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anesthesia. At the same time a 30 ml infusion of 0,9% NaCl with 250 mcg of phenylephrine via continued infusion over 30 minutes is started.
Group 3: Participants receive 1000 ml of Ringer solution infusion in 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anesthesia. At the same time a 30 ml infusion of 0,9% NaCl with 20mg of ephedrine via continued infusion over 30 minutes is started.
Participants in all groups undergo rescue measurements in case of haemodynamic instability:
1. Hypotension (decrease of systolic aortic pressure of more than 30% of the basic measurements before subarachnoidal anesthesia, or if the value of the systolic aortic pressure is less than 90 mmHg): additional ephedrine boluses of 5 mg repeated every three minutes with additional infusion of Ringer solution.
2. Bradycardia (<55 beats per minute): bolus of atropine 0,5 mg, repeated every one minute until heart rate frequency is more than 55 beats per minute or overall amount of 2 mg atropine is reached.
Participants have their blood pressure taken every 5 minutes, their cardiac output and heart rate frequency measured using thoracic electrical bioimpedancy using a AESCULON, OSYPCA MEDICAL, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia.
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Blood pressure is measured using oscylometric measurement with an Aesculon, Osypca Medical, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
2. Cardiac output is measured using thoracic electrical bioimpedancy using an Aesculon, Osypca Medical, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
3. Heart rate frequency is measured using thoracic electrical bioimpedancy using an Aesculon, Osypca Medical, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
Secondary outcome measures
1. Systemic Vascular Resistance (SSVR) is measured using thoracic electrical bioimpedancy using an Aesculon, Osypca Medical, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
2. Left Cardiac work (LCSW) is measured using thoracic electrical bioimpedancy using an Aesculon, Osypca Medical, 2011 monitor at baseline for 15 minutes before and 30 minutes after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
3. Potential rescue management is recorded for each patient by the investigator at the anesthetic documentation after subarachnoidal anaesthesia
Overall trial start date
01/08/2016
Overall trial end date
31/12/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 50 years and over
2. ASA II-III
3. Patients scheduled for lower extremity surgery
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Mixed
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
90
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Heart failure (known ejection fraction less than 30%)
2. Manifest heart valve disease
3. Arrythmias
4. Ishaemic heart disease
5. Manifest liver disease
6. Kidney disease (serum creatinine more than 120 mmol/L)
7. BMI more than 30
8. Drug abuse (including alcohol)
9. Chronic use of benzodiazepines, opioids or other psychotropic substances
6. Drug abuse (including alcohol)
7. Chronic use of benzodiazepines, opioids or other psychotropic substances
Recruitment start date
01/07/2017
Recruitment end date
01/12/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Slovenia
Trial participating centre
University Medical Centre Maribor
Ljubljanska ulica 5
Maribor
2000
Slovenia
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
University Medical Centre Maribor
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Miodrag Žunić.
Intention to publish date
01/02/2019
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list