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Measuring Analgesic Interventions

Developing a Method to Objectively Measure Analgesic Interventions: A Pilot Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03794362
Enrollment
120
Registered
2019-01-07
Start date
2018-10-29
Completion date
2026-12-01
Last updated
2026-04-07

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

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

analgesia, pain, nociception, pupillometry, analgesic

Brief summary

It is generally recognized that pain assessment and management especially in newborns, children and other nonverbal populations is an unmet need. According to the American Medical Association, "the pediatric population is at risk of inadequate pain management, with age-related factors affecting pain management in children. Children are often given minimal or no analgesia for procedures that would routinely be treated aggressively in adults. Although much is now known about pain management in children, it has not been widely or effectively translated into routine clinical practice". These two factors combine to emphasize the necessity for an objective tool to quantify pain and monitor the effectiveness of analgesia, especially during treatments. Further, it is reported that many patients require a combination of treatments, and it is often necessary to test a variety of treatments before the personal match for treatment is found. The method in place to change the care on a subjective basis is difficult, time consuming, and not easily individualized. This pilot study is part of an ongoing effort to develop a method to objectively assess response to specific analgesic interventions. It specifically aims to discern the impact of analgesic interventions on sensory nerve fiber sensitivity in a diverse patient population.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Julia Finkel
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 21 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. The subject is 7 to 21 years of age 2. The subject is receiving an analgesic intervention in the Children's National Medical Center Pain Clinic 3. The subject is willing and able to provide written informed assent/parental consent to the study participation.

Exclusion criteria

1. Eye pathology precluding pupillometry 2. Patients who are actively using opioids (history of use acceptable). Rationale: opioids constrict the pupil, and therefore concomitant opioid use would bias our results. 3. Subjects who are or may be pregnant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pupillary Reflex Dilation (PRD) Area under Curve (AUC)0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutesThe changes that occur in PRD AUC as a response to an analgesic intervention will be investigated. The differences are calculated by comparing the parameters from before the intervention to after the intervention.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pupillary Light Reflex (PLR) Latency0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutesThe changes that occur in PLR Latency as a response to an analgesic intervention will be investigated. The differences are calculated by comparing the parameters from before the intervention to after the intervention.
Pupillary Light Reflex (PLR) Amplitude0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutesThe changes that occur in PLR Amplitude as a response to an analgesic intervention will be investigated. The differences are calculated by comparing the parameters from before the intervention to after the intervention.
Pupillary Light Reflex (PLR) Recovery Time0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutesThe changes that occur in PLR Recovery Time as a response to an analgesic intervention will be investigated. The differences are calculated by comparing the parameters from before the intervention to after the intervention.
Pupillary Reflex Dilation (PRD) Amplitude0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutesThe changes that occur in PRD amplitude as a response to an analgesic intervention will be investigated. The differences are calculated by comparing the parameters from before the intervention to after the intervention.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTJulia C Finkel, MD
jfinkel@childrensnational.org2024764867
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJulia C Finkel, MD

Children's National Research Institute

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 8, 2026