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Trial Comparing Low Dose and High Dose Steroids in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Low Dose and High Dose Steroids in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01559675
Enrollment
121
Registered
2012-03-21
Start date
2010-09-30
Completion date
2012-04-30
Last updated
2018-03-29

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

Conditions

Fever, Hemodynamic Instability, Hypothermia, Orthostatic Hypotension

Keywords

Corticosteroids, perioperative, colorectal surgery

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of low dose versus high dose steroids vital signs of patients currently on steroids or recently treated with steroids undergoing major colorectal surgery. The investigators hypothesize that there will be no statistically significant difference in orthostatic hypotension (blood pressure measured on lying, sitting, and standing), blood pressure, temperature or heart rate in the standard and low dose groups.

Detailed description

Our primary aim is to study the perioperative hemodynamic profile of patients on chronic steroids undergoing colon and rectal surgery. We will do this by measuring heart rate, temperature and blood pressure in the operating room and during their postoperative hospitalization. Patients will be identified in their preoperative visit. They will be randomized to high dose and low dose steroid study groups. The standard dose steroid patients will receive hydrocortisone 100 mg IV preoperatively and 100 mg IV every 8 hrs with standard taper. The low dose steroid study group will receive the IV equivalent of their preoperative steroid dose in the postoperative period. The patients blood pressure, temperature and heart rate will be monitored in the operating room and the ward postoperatively. Outcomes will be compared between the two groups. We hypothesize that there will be no statistically significant difference in blood pressure, temperature or heart rate in the high dose and low dose groups. The secondary aim of this study will be monitoring of any differences in surgical outcomes, including postoperative length of stay, between the two patient groups.

Interventions

DRUGHydrocortisone High Dose

Patients receive Hydrocortisone 100 mg at surgical incision followed by 100mg IV every 8 hours for the first 24 hours, followed by 75 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 12 hours, followed by Prednisone 20 mg orally when oral diet is resumed

DRUGHydrocortisone Low Dose

1/3 IV equivalent dose (IVED) (hydrocortisone equivalent of the patient's preoperative steroid dose) at surgical incision, followed by 1/3 IVED for 24 hours, Patients subsequently treated with 1/4 IVED every 8 hours starting Postoperative day (POD 1), followed by 1/6 IVED every 8 hours on POD 2 and every 12 hours starting POD 3. On POD 4 or when the patient was tolerating a regular diet, oral prednisone equal to the most recent IV hydrocortisone dose resumed

Sponsors

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* History of ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease unclassified, indeterminate colitis, or Crohn's disease; * Major colorectal surgery, defined as surgery requiring an abdominal incision. Both open and laparoscopic procedures are eligible. Urgent and elective procedures are eligible; * Corticosteroid therapy within 12 months of surgery; * Able and willing to comply with all protocol procedures for the planned duration of the study * Able and willing to understand, sign and date an informed consent document, and authorize access to protected health information.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with hypotension (systolic \< 90 mm Hg or diastolic \< 50 mm Hg) in the preoperative area * Patients having emergency surgery * Children \< 18 or adults \> 75 years of age * Pregnant patients * Patients who have suffered prior hemodynamic complications of steroid withdrawal * Other major physical or major psychiatric illness, including alcohol or substance addiction, within the last 6 months that in the opinion of the investigator would affect the patient's ability to complete the trial. * Any condition or situation that, in the opinion of the investigator, would prevent proper evaluation of the safety or efficacy of the different steroid doses according to the study protocol * Patients on steroids without inflammatory bowel disease

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Orthostatic HypotensionPostoperative Day 1

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Between September 2010 and March 2012, 121 patients with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) between the ages of 18 to 75 years taking corticosteroids, or previously treated with steroids within the previous 1 year, undergoing major colorectal surgery by a single surgeon at a single institution were recruited for this study

Pre-assignment details

Of 258 patients assessed for eligibility, 137did not meet inclusion criteria. 9 patients refused to participate. 121 were then randomized to one of 2 study arms

Participants by arm

ArmCount
High Dose Steroid
Patients receive Hydrocortisone 100 mg at surgical incision followed by 100mg IV every 8 hours for the first 24 hours, followed by 75 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 12 hours, followed by Prednisone 20 mg orally when oral diet is resumed Hydrocortisone: Patients receive Hydrocortisone 100 mg at surgical incision followed by 100mg IV every 8 hours for the first 24 hours, followed by 75 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 8 hours for 24 hours, followed by 50 mg IV every 12 hours, followed by Prednisone 20 mg orally when oral diet is resumed
43
Low Dose Steroid
1/3 Intravenous equivalent dose (IVED) at surgical incision, followed by 1/3 IVED for 24 hours, Patients subsequently treated with 1/4 IVED every 8 hours starting Postoperative day (POD 1), followed by 1/6 IVED every 8 hours on POD2 and every 12 hours starting POD 3. On POD 4 or when the patient was tolerating a regular diet, oral prednisone equal to the most recent IV hydrocortisone dose resumed Hydrocortisone: 1/3 IV equivalent dose (IVED) (hydrocortisone equivalent of the patient's preoperative steroid dose) at surgical incision, followed by 1/3 IVED for 24 hours, Patients subsequently treated with 1/4 IVED every 8 hours starting Postoperative day (POD 1), followed by 1/6 IVED every 8 hours on POD 2 and every 12 hours starting POD 3. On POD 4 or when the patient was tolerating a regular diet, oral prednisone equal to the most recent IV hydrocortisone dose resumed
49
Total92

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall Study2nd operation on same patient excluded1412
Overall StudyProtocol Violation12

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicHigh Dose SteroidLow Dose SteroidTotal
Age, Continuous38 years41 years40 years
Sex: Female, Male
Female
21 Participants22 Participants43 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
22 Participants27 Participants49 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
11 / 4312 / 49
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 430 / 49

Outcome results

Primary

Orthostatic Hypotension

Time frame: Postoperative Day 1

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
High Dose SteroidOrthostatic Hypotension2 participants
Low Dose SteroidOrthostatic Hypotension2 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 10, 2026