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EXPAREL Post-tonsillectomy Clinical Trial

Randomized Clinical Trial Examining Use of Adjunct EXPAREL for Post-tonsillectomy Pain Management in Adults

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03420638
Acronym
EXPCT
Enrollment
38
Registered
2018-02-05
Start date
2018-02-15
Completion date
2021-12-31
Last updated
2021-05-19

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

Conditions

Tonsillectomy

Keywords

Adults, Pain

Brief summary

Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States. The primary indications for tonsillectomy in the adult population include recurrent pharyngitis, chronic tonsillitis, and obstructive pathology. Tonsillectomy is often associated with severe postoperative pain, which can result in prolonged poor oral intake, dehydration, and the need for high dose narcotics. In severely dehydrated patients, epithelial shedding and necrosis of soft tissues at the surgical site can lead to postoperative complications such as bleeding, delayed healing, and severe pain. The goal for this study is to explore the use of a long acting local anesthetic bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (Exparel) to manage pain experienced by adult patients after tonsillectomy

Detailed description

The proposed investigation will examine whether Exparel (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension 1.3%-13.3 mg/mL) when used as a post-excision adjunct to the standard of care bupivacaine HCl 0.25% (2.5 mg/mL) with Epinephrine (5mcg/mL), will decrease the patient's post-tonsillectomy experience of pain intensity, especially for the first three days after surgery, and correspondingly reduce the requirement for pain medications and improve outcomes.

Interventions

DRUGAdjunct Exparel (bupivacaine liposome suspension 1.3%)

After removal of the tonsils and before extubation, the principal investigator will infiltrate 0.5 mL of the standard of care medication-bupivacaine HCl 0.25% (2.5 mg/mL) with epinephrine (5 mcg/mL) i.m.-into the upper and lower poles of the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars on the right and left side of the oropharynx for a volume of 2 mL of bupivacaine HCl on each side. Following the standard medication, the principal investigator will infiltrate 0.5 mL of adjunct Exparel (bupivacaine liposome suspension 1.3% \[13.3 mg/mL\] i.m.) into the upper and lower poles of the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars on the right and left side of the oropharynx for a volume of 2 mL of bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension 1.3% (13.3 mg/mL) on each side.

OTHERStandard Care

After removal of the tonsils and before extubation, the principal investigator will infiltrate 0.5 mL of the standard of care medication-bupivacaine HCl 0.25% (2.5 mg/ mL) with epinephrine (5 mcg/mL) i.m.-into the upper and lower poles of the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars on the right and left side of the oropharynx for a volume of 2 mL of bupivacaine HCl on each side.

Sponsors

St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Paul Hoff
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Using sealed envelope assignment, the participant will be placed in study Arm 1 or 2. The PI will not be masked because the PI will administer the adjunct treatment or the standard of care only. The outcome assessor will be masked to study group assignment for gathering data from trial participants.

Intervention model description

Randomized clinical trial

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Scheduled to undergo bilateral palatine tonsillectomy as the only procedure 2. Adults age 18 years and older.

Exclusion criteria

1. Severe systemic disease that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 2. Coagulation disorder that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 3. Current or previous history of analgesic dependence 4. Allergy to any of the drugs used in the study (bupivacaine) 5. Women known to be pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or lactating 6. Hearing impairment that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 7. Cardiovascular disease that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 8. Impaired liver function that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 9. Impaired renal function that is clinically significant in the judgement of the investigator. 10. Unable to provide consent. 11. Additional surgical procedures planned concurrently with palatine tonsillectomy. 12. Planned use of topical or injected anesthetics other than those administered by the study within the two week follow up.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in pain rating between post anesthesia care unit (PACU) baseline and designated post-operative daysPost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported average and maximum pain rating over a 24-hour period using the St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor (SJMAA) standard visual analog 11 point pain rating scale. The minimum value of 0 indicates no pain and the maximum value of 10 indicates the worst possible pain. A higher value represent greater pain and a worse outcome. The baseline pain rating is the maximum rating from PACU on the day of surgery. Day-1 begins at 12:00 AM (after midnight) day of surgery and extends through 11:59 PM. Each following designated day will begin at 12:00 AM and extend through 11:59 PM.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in total amount of prescribed narcotic pain medication taken between Day-1 and designated post-operative daysPost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported amount of prescribed narcotic pain medication in mg. taken during a 24-hour period. Higher values represent greater amounts of narcotic pain medication consumed and a worse outcome. Day-1 begins at 12:00 AM (midnight after the day of surgery and extends through 11:59 PM. Day-2 and each following designated day will begin at 12:00 AM and will extend through 11:59 PM.
Change in the total amount of over the counter pain medication taken between Day-1 and designated post-operative daysPost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported amount of over the counter pain medication taken in mg during a 24-hour period. Higher values represent greater amounts of over the counter pain medication consumed and a worse outcome. Day-1 begins at 12:00 AM (after midnight) day of surgery and will extend through 11:59 PM. Day-2 and each following designated day will begin at 12:00 AM and will extend through 11:59 PM.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in the amount of fluid intake consumed between Day-1 and designated post-operative daysPost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported amount of fluid intake in ounces during a 24-hour period. Lower values represent less fluid intake and a worse outcome.
Adverse EventPost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported adverse event such as bleeding, Emergency Department visit, return to surgery, allergic reaction, side effects of medication, etc.
Time to change in food intakePost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported time in days to change in food intake from liquids to other thicker foods such as smoothies, cream soups, puddings, etc., and to solid food such as eggs, mashed vegetables, soft pasta, etc. A longer duration until a change in food intake represents a worse outcome.
Time to first physical activity outside of the homePost-tonsillectomy Days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10Patient reported day of first physical activity outside of the home, such as running an errand. A longer duration until physical activity outside of the home represents a worse outcome.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactPaul T Hoff, MD
Paul.Hoff@stjoeshealth.org734-712-7509

Outcome results

None listed

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