Skip to content

Totally Transdermal Sedation in the Weaning From Remifentanil Infusion

Impact of Totally Transdermal Sedation in the Weaning From Remifentanil Infusion Among Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation: a Pilot Randomized-controlled Study (The TOES Trial)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04204967
Acronym
TOES
Enrollment
24
Registered
2019-12-19
Start date
2021-02-15
Completion date
2024-04-06
Last updated
2024-05-17

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

Conditions

Analgesics, Opioid, Respiratory Insufficiency, Ventilator Weaning

Brief summary

The choice of the sedation protocol has a massive impact on the duration of mechanical ventilation and the timing of extubation. Many sedation protocols are described in the literature. The investigators aim to assess if a transdermal fentanyl-based sedation protocol can have an impact on the global Work of Breathing (WOB)

Detailed description

The choice of the sedation protocol has a massive impact on the duration of mechanical ventilation and the timing of extubation. Many sedation protocols are described in the literature. No data are available about the possibility of using transdermal fentanyl as an alternative to intravenous opioids during the weaning phase from mechanical ventilation and the post-extubation period until the discharge from ICU to the ward. The investigators aim to assess if a transdermal fentanyl-based sedation protocol can have an impact on the global Work of Breathing (WOB). Secondary endpoints of the study are the duration of mechanical ventilation, the duration of continuous infusion of opioids, the length of stay in ICU and in hospital. Eligible patients will be randomized in 2 groups: Group 1 will receive remifentanil; Group 2 will receive transdermal fentanyl and remifentanil. An Edi Catheter for diaphragm electrical activity monitoring will be put in place for each patient. Statistical Analysis: Distribution normality will be assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Continuous variables will be reported expressed as medians (interquartile ranges). Qualitative variables will be reported as frequencies. Analysis on the primary efficacy criterion and other quantitative variables will be assessed with the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Categorical outcomes will be compared with the chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics will be reported for all these results. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures with Bonferroni correction will be used to determine the differences in secondary endpoints. Comparisons between groups regarding these variables at each study time point were performed with the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval \[Confidence Interval 95%\] are reported for most significant results. Two-tail p values≤0.05 Will be considered significant.

Interventions

in the experimental arm transdermal fentanyl will be administered with a starting dose of 50 mcg/hr simultaneously with the preexistent remifentanil continue infusion. Remifentanil infusion rate will be increased or decreased based on PaCO2 value resulting from the Arterial Blood Gases sample (ABG) collected at each visit. After randomization, the transdermal fentanyl dose can be modified every 24 hours according to the study protocol to achieve the desired effect in terms of PaCO2 value resulting from the Arterial Blood Gases sample (ABG) collected

DRUGRemifentanil

In the active comparator arm remifentanil infusion is administered alone, the infusion rate will be increased or decreased according to the study protocol based on PaCO2 value resulting from the Arterial Blood Gases sample (ABG) collected at each visit. In the experimental arm remifentanil is use together with transdermal fentanyl

Sponsors

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

2-arm, single-center, prospective randomized controlled trial.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age \> 18 yo; * Negative pregnancy test prior to inclusion in the study; * The informed consent form needs to be signed and dated by the patient or a relative/legal guardian before of any procedure related to the study; if the patient is initially unable to sign the informed consent form, but later regains the ability to sign it, a new informed consent form will be given to the patient and must be signed and dated; * Mechanically ventilated in Pressure Support Ventilation, according to the decision to the attending physician; * A patient with prolonged weaning from the mechanical ventilator will be considered eligible. Prolonged weaning is defined as weaning that is still not terminated 7 days after the first separation attempt from the ventilator (by success or death). * Analgesia provided by continuous infusion of remifentanil lasting five days or more and an intolerance to a dose reduction of 0.025 mcg/kg/min defined as the presence of at least one of the following criteria: RASS ≥ 2, a respiratory rate ≥ 35 breaths/minute, a PaCO2 \< 30 mmHg, a heart rate \> 120 bpm, a systolic blood pressure value \> 160 mmHg or an increase of Visual Analogue Scale for pain assessment of ≥ 2 points.

Exclusion criteria

* Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients; * Hepatic or renal impairment; * Fever (body temperature ≥ 38 °C) or septic shock, hypothermia (body temperature \< 35 °C) or presence of active surface cooling systems; * Hypercapnic patients with a PaCO2 \> 45 mmHg; * Current enrollment or plan to enroll in any interventional clinical study in which an investigational treatment or approved therapy for investigational use is administered within 30 days or 5 half-lives of the agent, prior to the baseline visit; * Hypoxemic respiratory failure (P/F \< 200 mmHg); * Delirium state defined as RASS ≥ 3 and CAM-ICU positive; * Hemodynamic instability requiring high doses of inotropes or vasopressors; * Any condition that may contraindicate the use of remifentanil or transdermal fentanyl; * Patients with a BMI ≥ 35; * Patient admitted for postoperative monitoring after elective surgery; * EAdi catheter contraindicated.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of P/F ratios of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationThe P/F ratio equals the arterial PaO2 (Arterial Oxygen Partial Pressure) (mmHg) divided by the FIO2 (the fraction of inspired oxygen expressed as a decimal)
Comparison of the work of breathing per breath of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20\*sec/min
Comparison of the inspiratory effort of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20
Comparison of the delta electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi) of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationmicrovolt (mcv)
Comparison of the plateau pressures of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20
Comparison of driving pressures of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20
Comparison of transpulmonary driving pressures of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20
Comparison of the pulmonary compliance of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationml/cmH20
Comparison of P0.1 of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationcmH20
Comparison of the work of breathing (WOB) of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationTo demonstrate that the area under the curve (AUC) of the work of breathing per minute (cmH20\*sec/min) (assessed at 1, 6, 12, 24 hours for the first day after randomization, and every 24 hours for the following days) in the intervention group is not higher than the control group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of tidal volumes of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationmilliliters
Comparison of arterial blood pressure of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationmmHg
Comparison of heart rates of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationbpm
Global duration of mechanical ventilation among the two groups.starts with the randomization and ends with the discharge from the intensive care unit.Days
Global duration of intravenous remifentanil infusion among the two groups.starts with the randomization and ends with the discharge from the intensive care unit.Hours
Length of stay in hospital among the two groups.starts with the randomization and ends with the discharge from the Hospital.Days
Length of stay in ICU among the two groups.starts with the randomization and ends with the discharge from the intensive care unit.Days
Comparison of respiratory rates of the patients randomized to receive transdermal fentanyl vs. remifentanil alone.starts with the randomization and ends 72 hours after randomizationbreaths per minute

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

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