Skip to content

Effects of Methylprednisolone on Immunological Function and Postoperative Pain

Effect of Preoperative Low-dose of Methylprednisolone on Postoperative Pain and Immune Functions After Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03393949
Enrollment
112
Registered
2018-01-09
Start date
2015-07-01
Completion date
2017-01-15
Last updated
2020-12-10

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

Conditions

Immunological Function, Methylprednisolone, Postoperative Pain

Keywords

Methylprednisolone, Postoperative pain, Immunological function

Brief summary

Surgical trauma is characterized by a tightly integrated sequence of neurohumoral and immunological processes. When this is marked, it can manifest as a clinical entity called the systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Previous studies reported that inflammatory milieu in the postoperative period can be a harmful and potentially modifiable condition that may affect postoperative recovery, which includes the level of pain, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and vomiting (PONV), muscle weakness, and sleep quality and then increases the need for hospitalization. The effect of postoperative inflammation-related immune suppression such as the T-cell exhaustion and lymphocyte anergy may render the patient vulnerable to both infection and the recurrence of malignancy on postoperative infection risk and malignancy recurrence are currently subjects of intense speculation and investigation. Glucocorticoids are well known for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive agents and antiemetic effects. Though previous studies' results on postoperative outcome have been positive and in favor of glucocorticoid use, with postoperative nausea and vomiting and pain outcome parameters most significantly improved. However, high-dose methylprednisolone treatment could result in decreases T-cells postoperatively. Based on these consideration, the aim of our study was to assess the effect of a single low-dose preoperative methylprednisolone (MP) 1 mg/Kg i.v. on postoperative pain and immune functions in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) under general anesthesia.

Detailed description

The eighty-one patients were randomly assigned either to the MP Group or the Control Group in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated randomization number sequence. The group assignment was sealed in sequentially numbered opaque envelopes. No stratification or block randomization was made. The envelopes were opened on the morning of surgery, and the trial drug was prepared by a senior anaesthetist not otherwise involved in data collection. The MP group received a single-dose of MP, 1 mg/Kg i.v. (Solu-Medrolw; Pfizer, Ballerup, Denmark) and the Control group a single-dose of isotonic saline ( equal capacity with MP) i.v. The test solution was administered just 30 mins before the operation. The patients, attending anesthesiologists, surgeons, and data collectors were all blinded to patient group assignment.The primary outcomes of the levels of T lymphocyte subsets of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were measured at T0, T1, and T2. Postoperative pain scores were evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) score16, where 0 indicates painlessness, and 10 indicates severe pain. The patients were asked to evaluate their pain at rest and during coughing at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours postoperatively. Total pump press numbers of PCA and adverse effects during 24 hours after surgery such as hypotension, bradycardia, nausea and vomiting, and dizzy were recorded and treated accordingly.

Interventions

DRUGMethylprednisolone 1 mg•kg-1

Patients in Group M received methylprednisolone 1mg•kg-1

DRUGisotonic saline 1mg•kg-1

Patients in Group C received isotonic saline 1mg•kg-1

Sponsors

Shengjing Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* ASA Ⅱ~Ⅲ * aged 65-85years * consciousness,with no psychological or communication disorders, with educational level above primary school (including primary school). * with no chemotherapy or radiotherapy before admission. * no history of medicine allergy. * no evident abnormality of liver, kidney or nervous system * scheduled for radical operation for lung cancer under general anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

* diagnosed with diseases in nervous system or psychological disorder, history of taking sedatives or anti-depressants. * history of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebral infarction. * had drugs which affect immunological function before. * severe acuity or vision dysfunction or have difficulty in communication. * with special complications during surgery. * had blood transfusion treatment during perioperation period history of heart operation * Mini-mental State Examination Scores less than 25 before surgery.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in the level of T lymphocyte subsets cluster of differentiation 3(CD3+)Baseline, the end of surgery, 24 hours after surgeryTested the level of CD3+ with flow cytometry at the time points of pre-induction (T0), the end of surgery (T1) and 24h after surgery (T2)
Change in the level of T lymphocyte subsets cluster of differentiation 4(CD4+)Baseline, the end of surgery, 24 hours after surgeryTested the level of CD4+ with flow cytometry at the time points of pre-induction (T0), the end of surgery (T1) and 24h after surgery (T2)
Change in the level of T lymphocyte subsets cluster of differentiation 8(CD8+)Baseline, the end of surgery, 24 hours after surgeryTested the level of CD4+ with flow cytometry at the time points of pre-induction (T0), the end of surgery (T1) and 24h after surgery (T2)
The ratio of T lymphocyte subsets cluster of differentiation 4(CD4+)/ T lymphocyte subsets cluster of differentiation 8(CD8+)Baseline, the end of surgery, 24 hours after surgeryCalculated the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ at the time points of pre-induction (T0), the end of surgery (T1) and 24h after surgery (T2)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
postoperative pain score2, 4 6, 24 hours after surgeryTested postoperative pain by using visual analog scale
Adverse effect24 hours after surgeryTested postoperative adverse effect

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

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