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Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol for Anorectal Surgery

Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol for Anorectal Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03738904
Enrollment
111
Registered
2018-11-13
Start date
2018-10-26
Completion date
2022-08-18
Last updated
2023-12-18

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

Conditions

Anorectal Disorder

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether being randomized to an aggressive postoperative non-narcotic pain regimen that treats pain from multiple different pathways may decrease postoperative pain levels, decrease constipation, and decrease the dependency on opioid medications after anorectal surgery versus the standard of care for managing pain. This use of a more aggressive pain regimen is considered an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol because it is theorized to improve or enhance postoperative recovery by both decreasing the use of narcotics and their detrimental effects as well as increasing the benefit of using additional non-narcotic pain medication.

Detailed description

Although pain is a predictable part of the postoperative experience, inadequate management of pain is common and can have profound implications Most patients who undergo surgical procedures experience acute postoperative pain, but evidence suggests that less than half report adequate postoperative pain relief. Many preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative interventions and management strategies are available for reducing and managing postoperative pain. Mostly, pain is treated with opioids which are narcotics. medically they are primarily used for pain relief and these are historically considered safe drugs as they do not impose an increased risk of bleeding, kidney, or stomach problems. However, many patients taking high dose opioids have a higher risk of constipation. Unrelieved postoperative pain may result in economic and medical implications such as extended lengths of stay, readmissions, and patient dissatisfaction with medical care. With the rising concern over narcotic use, physicians are increasingly seeking alternative ways to help patients manage pain throughout their hospital stay and beyond However, few studies in anorectal surgery have shown that using an aggressive postoperative non-narcotic pain regimen (ERAS) can help reduce postoperative pain and decreased returns to emergency care.

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCTERAS

Gabapentin Acetaminophen Ketoroloac IV (intraop) and PO Dexamethasone (included with benzocaine in local anesthesia) Oxycodone PO Polyethylene glycol

COMBINATION_PRODUCTStandard of care

Oxcodone PO Ketorolac IV only (intraop)

Sponsors

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Able to freely give written informed consent to participate in the study and have signed the Informed Consent Form; * Males or females, age 18 to 70 years old at the time of study screening; * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class I-III (Appendix III) undergoing elective anorectal surgery * Patients undergoing the following hemorrhoid surgeries will be included: * Excisional single column or multiple column hemorrhoidectomy including internal and external component * Stapled hemorrhoidpexy (aka procedure for prolapsed hemorrhoids with or without excision of external hemorrhoid or skin tag) * Trans anal hemorrhoidal dearterialization with mucopexy (THD) with or without excision of external hemorrhoid or skin tag * Patients undergoing the following anal fistula surgery will be included: * Anal fistulotomy or fistulectomy of intersphincteric or tran-sphincteric fistula with wound \> 1 cm * Endorectal or an cutaneous advancement flap for anal fistula re-pair

Exclusion criteria

* Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or comply with study procedures * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class IV or V; emergency surgeries * Children \<18 * Patients over age 70 due to small risk of altered mental status with gabapentin in elderly6 * Patients with impaired renal clearance (baseline creatinine 1.5mg/dL, creatinine clearance \< 60ml/min or known renal dysfunction) * Patients with known liver dysfunction (Childs class A, B, or C) * Patients with prior liver or kidney transplant * Pregnant patients * Patients requiring emergency surgery * Patients taking narcotics or steroids at the time of surgery * Patients having external hemorrhoidectomy or skin anal tag excision only * Patients having anal abscess drainage, seton placement without definitive fistula repair, or ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract, subcutaneous fistulotomy or fistulotomy with wound \<1 cm

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Narcotic Use Postoperatively in Oral Morphine Equivalents1 week postoperativelyTotal amount of narcotics used

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Median Postoperative Pain Scores1 week postoperativelyLevel of pain measured on a scale of 0-10 with 0 being the lowest level of pain and 10 being the highest level of pain as reported by the participant
Complications1 month postoperativelyNumber of participants who experienced complications

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm 1 (Multimodal ERAS)
Arm1 (Multimodal ERAS): Preoperative: oral gabapentin 600mg and oral acetaminophen 1,000mg Postoperative pain control: 1. Gabapentin oral 300 mg TID (#42, refill #1) 2. Acetaminophen oral 1000mg TID (#42, refill #1) 3. Ketorolac oral 10 mg TID (#15, refill #0) 4. Oxycodone oral 5 mg PRN every 6 hours (#30, refill #0) Postoperative laxative regimen: 1. Daily MiraLAX 1 scoop in 1 glass of water for 15 days 2. Daily milk of magnesia 1 tablespoon if no bowel movement by POD2 until regular bowel movements 3. Daily mineral oil 1 table spoon if no bowel movement by POD2 until regular bowel movements ERAS: Gabapentin Acetaminophen Ketoroloac IV (intraop) and PO Dexamethasone (included with benzocaine in local anesthesia) Oxycodone PO Polyethylene glycol
45
Arm 2 (Control)
Postoperative pain control: 1. Oxycodone oral 5 mg PRN every 6 hours (#30, refill #0) 2. Patients will be allowed to take oral acetaminophen and ibuprofen over the counter if needed but active narcotic-sparing pain management regimen will not be implemented Postoperative laxative regimen: 1. Daily MiraLAX 1 scoop in 1 glass of water for 15 days 2. Daily milk of magnesia 1 tablespoon if no bowel movement by POD2 until regular bowel movements Daily mineral oil 1 table spoon if no bowel movement by POD2 until regu-lar bowel movements Standard of care: Oxcodone PO Ketorolac IV only (intraop)
44
Total89

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm 2 (Control)TotalArm 1 (Multimodal ERAS)
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
44 Participants88 Participants44 Participants
Age, Continuous38 years38 years38 years
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
44 participants89 participants45 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
16 Participants41 Participants25 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
28 Participants48 Participants20 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 450 / 44
other
Total, other adverse events
4 / 452 / 44
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 450 / 44

Outcome results

Primary

Total Narcotic Use Postoperatively in Oral Morphine Equivalents

Total amount of narcotics used

Time frame: 1 week postoperatively

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Arm 1 (Multimodal ERAS)Total Narcotic Use Postoperatively in Oral Morphine Equivalents8 Oral morphine miligram equivalents
Arm 2 (Control)Total Narcotic Use Postoperatively in Oral Morphine Equivalents79 Oral morphine miligram equivalents
Secondary

Complications

Number of participants who experienced complications

Time frame: 1 month postoperatively

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm 1 (Multimodal ERAS)Complications4 Participants
Arm 2 (Control)Complications2 Participants
Secondary

Median Postoperative Pain Scores

Level of pain measured on a scale of 0-10 with 0 being the lowest level of pain and 10 being the highest level of pain as reported by the participant

Time frame: 1 week postoperatively

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Arm 1 (Multimodal ERAS)Median Postoperative Pain Scores4 score on a scale
Arm 2 (Control)Median Postoperative Pain Scores6 score on a scale

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 5, 2026