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Deep Versus Moderate Neuromuscular Blockade During Laparoscopic Surgery

Effect of Deep Versus Moderate Neuromuscular Blockade on Peak Airway Pressures During Elective Laparoscopic Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02812186
Enrollment
79
Registered
2016-06-24
Start date
2016-12-27
Completion date
2019-02-06
Last updated
2020-04-08

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

Conditions

Bowel Obstruction, Cholecystitis, Chronic Kidney Disease, Endometriosis, Fibroids, Prostate Cancer, Uterine Prolapse

Keywords

Neuromuscular blockade

Brief summary

This is a two period cross-over study randomizing patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery into 2 different groups: group 1 in which patients receive deep neuromuscular blockade in the beginning portion of their laparoscopic surgery followed by a period of moderate blockade and, group 2 in which patients receive moderate neuromuscular blockade in the beginning portion of their laparoscopic surgery followed by a period of deep blockade. The deep neuromuscular block is defined as post tetanic count of 1 to 2 and the moderate neuromuscular block is defined as 1-2 twitches. In all patients, sugammadex is used to reverse the block at the end of surgery in order to obtain optimal extubating conditions.

Detailed description

Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is frequently utilized in laparoscopic procedures to improve surgical conditions by relaxing the abdominal muscles and thus facilitating insufflation with carbon dioxide to optimize surgical view. Increased airway pressures can lead to an increase in alveolar and perivascular edema, a decline in dynamic lung compliance and hypoxemia. Several studies have investigated surgical view under deep vs. moderate neuromuscular blockade. Literature supports deep neuromuscular blockade providing better operating conditions/view by a surgeon and low airway pressures but, potentially, longer duration to extubation and worse respiratory mechanics at the end of anesthesia versus moderate neuromuscular blockade which shows worse operating conditions/view by a surgeon and worse airway pressures but possibly shorter duration to extubation and better respiratory mechanics at the end of anesthesia. Thus, there is clearly equipoise with regard to the comparative effectiveness of deep vs medium NMB. Therefore, this study is designed to ascertain if a deep neuromuscular block will decrease the airway pressures in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures compared to those under a moderate block. A reduction in airway pressures may lead to a decrease in the complications associated with elevated airway pressures including hypoxemia, total static lung compliance, alveolar edema, and long term morbidity. Additionally, the study aims to determine if time from administration of sugammadex to reversal is different between patients that have a moderate NMB as compared to a deep NMB.

Interventions

PROCEDUREDeep to Moderate NMB

Rocuronium infusion will be paused and the Train of Four (TOF) monitor will be set to every 1-2 min. Once the patient has achieved a moderate NMB state (one to two twitches), the infusion of the muscle relaxant will be resumed at a low dose to maintain the patient at this level of blockade.

PROCEDUREModerate to Deep NMB

Rocuronium infusion will be increased in increments of 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/hr. and the TOF monitor will be set to every 1-2 min. Once the patient has no twitches and a PTC of 0-1 (deep NMB) the infusion will be adjusted to maintain the patient at this level of NMB.

DRUGRocuronium

Sponsors

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Stony Brook University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Each participant must be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the study. * Each participant must be American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I, II or III. * Each participant must be scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery (this includes robotic laparoscopic surgery). * Expected surgical duration of 60 min or longer

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to give informed oral or written consent * Known or suspected neuromuscular disorders impairing neuromuscular function; * True allergies as defined as hypotension, bronchospasm, or anaphylaxis to muscle relaxants, anesthetics or opioids * A history (patient or family) of malignant hyperthermia * A contraindication for neostigmine administration * Renal insufficiency, as defined by serum creatinine levels at 2.5 fold the normal level * Body mass index \>40 kg/m\^2 * Significant respiratory disease. * Planned postoperative mechanical ventilation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Peak Airway PressuresIntra-operative, from intubation time to extubation timeTo determine if a deep NMB can lead to lower peak airway pressures in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures when compared to a moderate NMB

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Abdominal Insufflation PressureIntra-operative, from intubation time to extubation timeTo compare surgical operating condition by Abdominal Insufflation Pressure in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures using deep NMB versus moderate NMB
Surgical Rating ScaleIntra-operative, from intubation time to extubation timeTo compare surgical operating condition by Surgical Rating Scale (SRS) in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures using deep NMB versus moderate NMB Surgical Rating Score scores are on a 1-5 scale with 1 = extremely poor conditions, 2 = poor conditions, 3 = adequate conditions, 4 = good conditions, 5= excellent conditions. Higher scores mean a better outcome.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Deep to Moderate NMB
This group will undergo deep neuromuscular blockade, defined as post tetanic count (PTC) of 1 to 2, in the beginning portion of the surgery followed by a period of moderate blockade.
29
Moderate to Deep NMB
This group will undergo moderate neuromuscular blockade, defined as 1-2 twitches, in the beginning portion of the surgery followed by a period of deep blockade.
24
Total53

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Period 1nonevaluable data sets66
Period 1Post randomization screen failure59

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicModerate to Deep NMBTotalDeep to Moderate NMB
Age, Continuous50.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.4
51.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.15
52.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.9
Procedure
General
15 Participants41 Participants26 Participants
Procedure
General/Gynecology
2 Participants3 Participants1 Participants
Procedure
Gynecology
5 Participants7 Participants2 Participants
Procedure
Urology
2 Participants2 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
24 Participants53 Participants29 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
14 Participants31 Participants17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
10 Participants22 Participants12 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 530 / 53
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 530 / 53
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 530 / 53

Outcome results

Primary

Peak Airway Pressures

To determine if a deep NMB can lead to lower peak airway pressures in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures when compared to a moderate NMB

Time frame: Intra-operative, from intubation time to extubation time

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
Deep NMBPeak Airway PressuresMean25.5 cm H2O
Deep NMBPeak Airway PressuresMaximum28 cm H2O
Moderate NMBPeak Airway PressuresMean28.3 cm H2O
Moderate NMBPeak Airway PressuresMaximum30 cm H2O
p-value: 0.01Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Abdominal Insufflation Pressure

To compare surgical operating condition by Abdominal Insufflation Pressure in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures using deep NMB versus moderate NMB

Time frame: Intra-operative, from intubation time to extubation time

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Deep NMBAbdominal Insufflation Pressure15 mmHg
Moderate NMBAbdominal Insufflation Pressure15 mmHg
p-value: 0.28Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Secondary

Surgical Rating Scale

To compare surgical operating condition by Surgical Rating Scale (SRS) in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures using deep NMB versus moderate NMB Surgical Rating Score scores are on a 1-5 scale with 1 = extremely poor conditions, 2 = poor conditions, 3 = adequate conditions, 4 = good conditions, 5= excellent conditions. Higher scores mean a better outcome.

Time frame: Intra-operative, from intubation time to extubation time

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Deep NMBSurgical Rating Scale5 units on a scale
Moderate NMBSurgical Rating Scale5 units on a scale
p-value: 0.63Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)

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