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Cycling of Sedative Infusions in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients

A Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Trial of Cycling Continuous Sedative Infusions in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01333059
Enrollment
25
Registered
2011-04-11
Start date
2010-09-30
Completion date
2013-01-31
Last updated
2019-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Respiratory Failure

Keywords

Sedation, Cycling, Pediatric

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if the reduction of the total amount of sedative critically pediatric ill patients receive in the PICU will achieve a significant decrease in mechanical ventilation days and a decrease in the overall length of stay in the PICU and hospital.

Detailed description

Continuous sedative infusions have been associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation, longer stay in the intensive care unit (PICU) and total hospital stay. Also, extended duration of continuous sedative infusions limits the ability to assess for adequate neurologic function. There is, however, no published data on the use of daily interruption of continuous sedative infusions in pediatric patients, nor are there any recommendations from the leading pediatric critical care groups regarding this issue. Infants and children exposed to noxious stimuli (endotracheal tube, endotracheal suctioning, mechanical ventilation, indwelling catheters) in addition to an unknown environment are less likely to cooperate during normal daily interventions in the PICU. Continuous infusions of benzodiazepines and opioids in addition to as needed (PRN) bolus doses have been the standard of care in our institution for mechanically ventilated patients. The study seeks to determine if reducing the total dose of sedatives, by holding them in a cyclical manner, will be a safe and effective intervention that will not increase adverse patient outcomes. This will be achieved by limiting the patient tolerance to the sedatives, decreasing the body total deposit of sedatives and subsequently decreases awakening time when patient is ready for extubation.

Interventions

DRUGMidazolam
DRUGNormal saline
DRUGFentanyl

Sponsors

Javier Gelvez, MD
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Less than or equal to 18 years of age * Intubated and mechanically ventilated * Expected to require continuous infusions of sedatives for at least 48 hours * Parent or legal guardian available for informed consent * Males and females of any race are eligible

Exclusion criteria

* Less than 72 hours after surgery * Cyanotic heart disease with unrepaired or palliated right to left intracardiac shunt * Critical airway (according to PICU Attending) * Ventilator dependent (including noninvasive) on PICU admission * Greater than 48 hours of continuous sedation infusion(s) * Neuromuscular respiratory failure * Managed by patient controlled analgesia (PCA) or epidural catheter * Known allergy to any of the study medications (fentanyl or midazolam) * Family/Medical team have decided not to provide full support (patient treatment considered futile) * Patient requires ECMO * Head trauma requiring intracranial pressure monitoring * Pregnancy * Following resuscitation from cardiorespiratory arrest whose initial pH is \< 6.9 * ICU Attending judgment that patient should be excluded for safety reasons

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Duration of Mechanical Ventilation DaysFrom date of randomization until the date of discharge from PICU, assessed up to 1 monthParticipants will be followed for an expected average of 4 days. The Data Safety Monitoring Group will review the data every 6 months.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PICU Length of StayFrom date of randomization until the date of discharge from PICU, assessed up to 1 monthParticipants will be followed for an expected average of 7 days. This secondary endpoint is to be evaluated every six months.
Hospital Length of StayFrom date of hospital admission to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 6 weeksParticipants will be followed for an expected average of 7 days in PICU and 10 days of hospitalization. This secondary endpoint is to be evaluated every six months.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Experimental Group
In this arm Fentanyl and Midazolam was replaced with placebo (normal saline) during cycling. At cycling time for midazolam, the continuous infusion of midazolam was stopped by the bedside nurse. The nurse started a pump containing a syringe labeled Study Drug M which contained the placebo drug (normal saline). The switch to Study Drug M occurred twice daily at 0800 and 2000 for a period of 3 hours each. At cycling time for fentanyl, the continuous infusion of fentanyl was stopped by the bedside nurse. The pump containing a syringe labeled Study Drug F, which contained the placebo drug (normal saline), was started. The switch Study Drug F occurred twice daily at 1400 and 0200 for a period of 3 hours each. Dosing was done per standard of care and not prescribed per protocol.
14
Control Group
In this arm, midazolam and fentanyl were administered during cycling. At cycling time for midazolam, the continuous infusion of midazolam was stopped by the bedside nurse. The nurse started a pump containing a syringe labeled Study Drug M which contained the control drug (midazolam). The switch to Study Drug M occurred twice daily at 0800 and 2000 for a period of 3 hours each. At cycling time for fentanyl, the continuous infusion of fentanyl was stopped by the bedside nurse. The pump containing a syringe labeled Study Drug F, which contained the control drug (fentanyl), was started. The switch to Study Drug F occurred twice daily at 1400 and 0200 for a period of 3 hours each. Dosing was done per standard of care and not prescribed per protocol.
11
Total25

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyPhysician Decision33
Overall StudyProtocol Violation30

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicExperimental GroupControl GroupTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
14 Participants11 Participants25 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Continuous0.24 years.20 years0.22 years
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity
African American
2 Participants0 Participants2 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian
6 Participants5 Participants11 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants6 Participants12 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
14 participants11 participants25 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants6 Participants12 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants5 Participants13 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 141 / 11
other
Total, other adverse events
7 / 142 / 11
serious
Total, serious adverse events
2 / 141 / 11

Outcome results

Primary

Duration of Mechanical Ventilation Days

Participants will be followed for an expected average of 4 days. The Data Safety Monitoring Group will review the data every 6 months.

Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of discharge from PICU, assessed up to 1 month

Population: In October of 2012, the DSMB unanimously voted to close this study due to safety concerns and inactivity. The Board noted that recruitment goals had not been met and statistical analysis could not be made with current data.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Experimental GroupDuration of Mechanical Ventilation Days10.14 daysStandard Deviation 5.55
Control GroupDuration of Mechanical Ventilation Days5.82 daysStandard Deviation 1.85
Secondary

Hospital Length of Stay

Participants will be followed for an expected average of 7 days in PICU and 10 days of hospitalization. This secondary endpoint is to be evaluated every six months.

Time frame: From date of hospital admission to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 6 weeks

Population: In October of 2012, the DSMB unanimously voted to close this study due to safety concerns and inactivity. The Board noted that recruitment goals had not been met and statistical analysis could not be made with current data

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Experimental GroupHospital Length of Stay25.21 daysStandard Deviation 16.69
Control GroupHospital Length of Stay20.82 daysStandard Deviation 17.8
Secondary

PICU Length of Stay

Participants will be followed for an expected average of 7 days. This secondary endpoint is to be evaluated every six months.

Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of discharge from PICU, assessed up to 1 month

Population: In October of 2012, the DSMB unanimously voted to close this study due to safety concerns and inactivity. The Board noted that recruitment goals had not been met and statistical analysis could not be made with current data.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Experimental GroupPICU Length of Stay13.93 daysStandard Deviation 7.49
Control GroupPICU Length of Stay9.82 daysStandard Deviation 6.75

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026