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Preventing Post-Operative Delirium in Patients Undergoing a Pneumonectomy, Esophagectomy or Thoracotomy

Preventing Post-Operative Delirium in Pneumonectomy, Esophagectomy and Thoracotomy Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02213900
Acronym
PE-POD
Enrollment
135
Registered
2014-08-12
Start date
2013-09-30
Completion date
2015-12-31
Last updated
2017-04-13

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

Conditions

Anxiety, Cognitive Impairment, Delirium, Depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Keywords

delirium, confusion, surgery, cognitive Impairment, post-traumatic Stress disorder, depression, anxiety

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a preventative low-dose of Haloperidol to prevent delirium in patients undergoing a esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy. Delirium is state of severe confusion and some symptoms include: * Cannot think clearly * Have trouble paying attention * Have a hard time understanding what is going on around them * May see or hear things that are not there. These things seem very real to them.

Detailed description

50% of patients who undergo esophageal and/or lung resection suffer from acute brain dysfunction or delirium postoperatively. Delirium is a state of brain failure characterized by disturbance of consciousness with reduced ability to focus, sustain, or shift attention that occurs over a short period of time and tends to fluctuate over the course of the day. Presence of delirium in the post-operative phase is associated with a longer length of both intensive care unit and hospital stay, increased health-care costs, long-term functional and cognitive decline, and an increased risk of in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. Haloperidol primarily acts by blocking dopamine (D2) receptors. This dopamine blockade in the cerebral cortex improves cognition and reduces delirium. Along with the dopamine blockade, haloperidol has anti-inflammatory properties. It inhibits production of lipopolysaccharide induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Haloperidol also increases levels of Interleukin -1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), an anti-inflammatory cytokine that blocks the action of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. If unchecked, the inflammatory cytokines cause impaired concentration, sleep disturbances, and agitation the cardinal symptoms of delirium; and induce a reduction in cholinergic activity. Given the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on certain cytokines such as interleukin-6, a repetitive cycle of inadequate regulation of inflammation due to cholinergic depletion ensues. Haloperidol with its anti-inflammatory properties seeks to mitigate this repetitive vicious cycle.

Interventions

DRUGHaloperidol

0.5mg IV Push immediately after surgery and Q8H following for a total of 4 days

DRUGPlacebo

Sponsors

Indiana University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. At least ≥ 18 years of age and older 2. Undergoing a possible or scheduled thoracotomy 3. English speaking

Exclusion criteria

1. History of Schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease 2. History of Severe Dementia 3. History of Alcohol Abuse 4. On Cholinesterase Inhibitors or Levodopa 5. Pregnant or Nursing 6. Corrected QT interval \> 550 milliseconds at the time of randomization 7. History of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Haloperidol Allergy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium IncidenceUp to 30 daysTest the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing delirium incidence among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Days With DeliriumUp to 30 daysTest the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing the number of days with delirium among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.
Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of StayDate of hospital admission through date of hospital discharge, up to 3 weeks on average.Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing ICU and hospital length of stay among patients who are status post esophagectomy or pneumonectomy compared to placebo.
Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-upUp to 3 months after hospital discharge on average.Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing cognitive impairment at post-operative follow-up among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo. Cognitive status is assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The RBANS measures attention, language, visuospatial/constructional abilities, and memory. It is made up of 12 subtests. The subtests produce 5 index scores and a total scale score. All the subtest scores are summed to calculate a Total Index score. The Total Index score is presented. The Total Index score scale is from 0-100 with higher scores indicating less cognitive impairment.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Haloperidol
Randomized patients will receive 0.5mg Haloperidol immediately after surgery and Q8H following the initial dose for a total of 4 days. Haloperidol: 0.5mg IV Push immediately after surgery and Q8H following for a total of 4 days
68
Placebo
Randomized patients will receive a placebo solution immediately after surgery and Q8H following for a total of 4 days. Placebo
67
Total135

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicHaloperidolPlaceboTotal
Age, Continuous59.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.4
59.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14
59.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.2
Sex: Female, Male
Female
22 Participants13 Participants35 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
46 Participants54 Participants100 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 680 / 67
serious
Total, serious adverse events
3 / 682 / 67

Outcome results

Primary

Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium Incidence

Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing delirium incidence among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.

Time frame: Up to 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium Incidence15 Participants
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Delirium Incidence19 Participants
Secondary

Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-up

Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing cognitive impairment at post-operative follow-up among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo. Cognitive status is assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The RBANS measures attention, language, visuospatial/constructional abilities, and memory. It is made up of 12 subtests. The subtests produce 5 index scores and a total scale score. All the subtest scores are summed to calculate a Total Index score. The Total Index score is presented. The Total Index score scale is from 0-100 with higher scores indicating less cognitive impairment.

Time frame: Up to 3 months after hospital discharge on average.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-upBaseline RBANS Total Score31.7 Units on a scaleStandard Deviation 27.6
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-up3 Month RBANS Total Score31.8 Units on a scaleStandard Deviation 30.1
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-upBaseline RBANS Total Score30.1 Units on a scaleStandard Deviation 22.8
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Cognitive Impairment at Post-operative Follow-up3 Month RBANS Total Score22.7 Units on a scaleStandard Deviation 23.2
Secondary

Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Days With Delirium

Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing the number of days with delirium among patients who are status post esophagectomy, pneumonectomy or thoracotomy compared to placebo.

Time frame: Up to 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Days With Delirium0.3 Days with DeliriumStandard Deviation 0.7
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing Days With Delirium0.5 Days with DeliriumStandard Deviation 0.9
Secondary

Efficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of Stay

Test the efficacy of low dose haloperidol in reducing ICU and hospital length of stay among patients who are status post esophagectomy or pneumonectomy compared to placebo.

Time frame: Date of hospital admission through date of hospital discharge, up to 3 weeks on average.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of StayICU Length of Stay2.5 DaysStandard Deviation 2.2
HaloperidolEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of StayOverall Length of Stay9.3 DaysStandard Deviation 3.5
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of StayICU Length of Stay2.8 DaysStandard Deviation 10.2
PlaceboEfficacy of Low-dose Haloperidol in Reducing ICU and Hospital Length of StayOverall Length of Stay10.2 DaysStandard Deviation 4.6

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 16, 2026