Local anaesthesia for prevention of pain after removal of tonsils in adult patients

ISRCTN ISRCTN16492065
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16492065
Secondary identifying numbers HYKSKIPU2011-1
Submission date
11/11/2011
Registration date
09/12/2011
Last edited
06/11/2012
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Treatment of postoperative pain after tonsillectomy is challenging. During first postoperative week pain is intense. Commonly used ibuprofen and paracetamol-codein combination or tramadol hydrochloride are not sufficient for adequate pain treatment at home. New methods are needed. Topical anaesthesia with ropivacaine is a safe, simple and easy method to prevent pain but we do not know well enough whether this method works.
The aim of this study is to test how well topical ropivacaine works on prevention of postoperative pain in adult patients for two postoperative weeks.

Who can participate?
160 adult patients scheduled for elective day-surgery tonsillectomy will be recruited.
We will be recruiting patients for approximately 6-8months to reach the goal of 160 patients. We will try to recruit 8 patients per week.

What does the study involve?
After tonsillectomy has been performed under general anaesthesia, each tonsillar fossae will be tightly packed with two swabs containing either 80mg ropivacaine or saline. After five minutes, swabs will be removed and after that general anaesthesia terminated and patient extubated. Other than that, patients will receive standard care. Pain will be evaluated in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for two hours. After discharge, patients will receive daily for two weeks an email containing a link to a questionnaire in a database. Patients will be asked to answer questions on pain and other symptoms, as well as the amount of pain medication used.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no additional risk to patients compared to the normal clinical procedure, in which local infiltration anaesthesia is sometimes used to prevent postoperative pain. When local anaesthesia is used after tonsillectomy, there is a possibility that patients might have trouble in swallowing, so this will be monitored closely after the operation.

Where is the study run from?
The study will be run in the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Eye-Ear Clinic, by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. There is only one trial centre.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study will start in January 2012 and is expected to run until December 2012.

Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the Helsinki University Central Hospital Research Funds, Helsinki, Finland.

Who is the main contact?
Dr Vesa Kontinen
vesa.kontinen@hus.fi

Contact information

Dr Vesa Kontinen
Scientific

Haartmaninkatu 2
Helsinki
00029
Finland

Phone +358 09 4711
Email vesa.kontinen@hus.fi

Study information

Study designSingle-centre double-blinded randomized controlled prospective study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleTopical anaesthesia for postoperative pain in adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy
Study objectivesTopical anaesthesia will improve pain relief after tonsillectomy
Ethics approval(s)Ethics Committee, Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital approved the study on 14th of September 2011
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTonsillectomy
InterventionAfter the operation, each tonsillar fossae will be tightly packed with two swabs containing either 80mg ropivacaine (study group) or same amount of saline (placebo). After five minutes, swabs will be removed. Otherwise tonsillectomy will be carried out as usual.

To make sure that every swab contains equal amount of ropivacaine or saline, swabs will be dipped in 20ml of eather ropivacaine or saline, and extra liquid pressed out. After that they will be tightly packed in tonsillar fossae.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Ropivacaine
Primary outcome measurePain intensity when swallowing measured on NRS 0-10 (0 no pain, 10 worst possible pain) during 7 postoperative days. Area under curve (AUC) of the pain intensity will be calculated.
Secondary outcome measures1. Worst pain during two hours followup in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
2. The amount of pain and pain medication during 14 postoperative days
Overall study start date01/01/2012
Completion date01/01/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants160 patients: 80 in study group and 80 in control group.
Key inclusion criteria1. Adult patients age over 18 years scheduled for elective day-surgery tonsillectomy, operation under general anaesthesia
2. American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) class I and II
Key exclusion criteria1. Peritonsillary abscess 2 weeks preoperatively
2. Suspicion of malignancy
3. Haemostatic disorder
4. Regular analgesic use
5. Antidepressant medication
6. Allergy or contraindication to research medication
7. Weight less than 50kg or more than 120kg
8. Inability to communicate in Finnish or Swedish
9. Inability to use Numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scale
Date of first enrolment01/01/2012
Date of final enrolment01/01/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Finland

Study participating centre

Haartmaninkatu 2
Helsinki
00029
Finland

Sponsor information

Helsinki University Central Hospital (Finland)
Hospital/treatment centre

Haartmaninkatu 2
Helsinki
00029
Finland

Phone +358 04711 2010
Email vesa.kontinen@hus.fi
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02e8hzf44

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Helsinki University Central Hospital (Finland)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan