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Sevoflurane Sedation in Patients With Septic Shock

Sevoflurane Sedation: A Potentially Promising Immunomodulation in Patients With Septic Shock

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03643367
Acronym
SSiS
Enrollment
153
Registered
2018-08-22
Start date
2026-01-31
Completion date
2027-11-30
Last updated
2025-04-01

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

Conditions

Shock, Septic

Keywords

Sepsis, Septic Shock, Sevoflurane Conditioning

Brief summary

Recent in vivo studies from others as well as the investigators group demonstrated that volatile anesthetics immunomodulate sepsis and improve outcome. Also, several clinical trials have convincingly shown that application of a volatile anesthetic provides protection in patients undergoing major surgery. Patients with sepsis are intubated and ventilated and therefore need sedation. So far, most ICU centers use intravenously applied sedatives in these patients. In the proposed study, we will switch sedation from an intravenous to a volatile anesthetic for a short period of time to explore if sepsis markers improve within the following 120 hours upon sevoflurane conditioning.

Detailed description

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted over a period of 48 months, to investigate if volatile anesthetics have a positive effect on the prognostic sepsis marker IL-6. All patients with septic shock are intubated, ventilated and sedated with an intravenous anesthetic. In this study, eligible patients diagnosed with septic shock will be randomized 1:1 to the 'volatile group' with interruption of the propofol infusion, followed by a 4-hour sedation with the volatile anesthetic sevoflurane, or a continuous intravenous sedation ('intravenous' =control group). In both groups, 'intravenous' and 'volatile', the inflammatory markers as well as clinical parameters will be determined. The investigators will explore if there is a difference between the course of sepsis markers of the two groups within 5 days after intervention in favor of the volatile group.

Interventions

DRUGSevoflurane

Included patients, randomized in experimental group, intravenous sedation will be interrupted and followed by a 4 hour sedation with the volatile anesthetic sevoflurane.

DRUGControl Group

Included patients randomized in control group, intravenouse sedation is continued with propofol

Sponsors

Kantonsspital Münsterlingen
CollaboratorOTHER
Triemli Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Waid City Hospital, Zurich
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Zurich
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Masking description

Patients will not be informed about their group assignments, technicians, processing the samples, will not have any access to ICU or patient charts (= double blind trial)

Intervention model description

Patients with septic shock are intubated and ventilated and therefore need sedation. So far, most ICU centers use intravenously applied sedatives in these patients. In the proposed study, we will switch sedation from an intravenous to a volatile anesthetic for a short period of time (4 hours) to explore if sepsis markers improve within the following 120 hours upon sevoflurane conditioning.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female patients, age 18 to 80 years * Intensive care Unit (ICU) patients with septic shock (despite fluid resuscitation vasopressors needed to maintain mean arterial pressure ≥65 millimeter of mercury (mmHg), and serum lactate \>2mmol/l even with fluid application) * Treatment of septic shock on ICU with vasopressors not longer than 12 hours * Sedation and mechanical ventilation on ICU * Female patients of childbearing potential with negative pregnancy test * Informed Consent as documented by signature

Exclusion criteria

* Previous surgery and/or anesthesia (within last 7 days) * Application of nitric oxide (NO) * Suspected or known intolerance by history to volatile anesthetics (malignant hyperthermia) * Immunosuppressive agents * Systemic corticosteroids in the phase before hospitalization (\> 10mg/d prednisone) * Significant concomitant disease (acute cerebral vascular event, acute coronary syndrome, decompensated heart failure, acute pulmonary edema, major cardiac arrhythmia, seizure, burn, chronic kidney disease, end stage liver failure, neuromuscular disease) * AIDS * Autoimmune disease * Organ transplant * Subject with active malignancy receiving * chemotherapy or radiation treatment within last 60 days * Hepatitis B/C virus infection * Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy * Pregnancy and/or Breast feeding * Use of cytokine absorber * Enrollment in any other clinical trial during the course of this trial, 30 days prior to its beginning or 30 days after its completion

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Concentration of interleukin-6 over time5 daysTo see if the interleukin-6 decreases under the influence of sevoflurane

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Vasopressor support5 daysUse of vasopressor support (norepinephrine, dobutamine, vasopressin) will be determined.
Sequential organ failure score (SOFA Score)5 daysSepsis related organ failure score
Pro-/anti-inflammatory mediators5 dayseffect on inflammatory/anti- inflammatory mediators
Duration of mechanical ventilation28 daysTime of mechanical ventilation
Mortality28 daysMortality information in intensive care unit and on the ward
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale5 daysA scale to measure the agitation or sedation level of a patient

Countries

Switzerland

Contacts

Primary ContactMartin Schlaepfer, PD
martin.schlaepfer@usz.ch+41 44 255 4690
Backup ContactMartin Schläpfer, PD
martin.schlaepfer@usz.ch+41 44 255 4690

Outcome results

None listed

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