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Robotic Opioid-free Prostatectomy Enhanced Strategy (ROPES)

Robotic Opioid-free Prostatectomy Enhanced Strategy (ROPES): Implementation of an Opioid-free Multimodal Analgesia Discharge Pathway

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07427043
Acronym
ROPES
Enrollment
300
Registered
2026-02-23
Start date
2026-03-01
Completion date
2027-04-30
Last updated
2026-05-22

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

Conditions

Multimodal Analgesia, Opioid Consumption, Postoperative, Prostate Cancer, Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy, Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Keywords

Multimodal Analgesia, Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy, Postoperative Opioid Consumption, Localized Prostate Cancer, Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Brief summary

This prospective, interventional, open-label, phase 3 randomized study evaluates a multimodal analgesia discharge pathway to reduce automatic opioid prescribing following routine robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Patients are counseled on post-operative pain management and then may opt into or out of the study with randomization to discharge prescriptions including (A) multimodal plan with additional automatic opioid prescription or (B) multimodal plan alone and instruction to call phone line to request opioid prescription if pain management is insufficient. Additionally, a cohort of historical controls prior to implementation of the study is also prospectively assessed as a pre-study baseline. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes include bowel function recovery, unplanned care encounters including emergency department visits or postoperative phone calls, and same-day discharge rates.

Detailed description

The Robotic Opioid-free Prostatectomy Enhanced Strategy (ROPES) study will implement and systematically evaluate an opioid-free discharge pathway (OFP) after robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham & Women's Faulkner Hospital. Patients are counseled pre-operatively and offered participation. Data will be compared across three prospectively studied groups: pre-implementation historical baseline (current practice), post-implementation ROPES with multimodal analgesia pathway alone (which requires patients to call phone line after discharge to request opioid if pain uncontrolled), and post-implementation ROPES with multimodal analgesia pathway plus up-front small opioid prescription. Standardized multimodal analgesic therapy is provided to all participating patients following study implementation, with opioids used only as needed. There is no change to the surgery and anesthesia plan (though standard care at our center includes injection of local anesthetic to incisions and ketorolac is encouraged at end of the procedure), and patients are allowed opioids while admitted to the post-op recovery area. The study aims to reduce postoperative opioid use while maintaining safety and quality outcomes; this will assess non-inferiority of ROPES OFP in comparison to standard opioid prescribing. Results may inform wider practice change within both our center, the field of urology, and perhaps surgical care more broadly.

Interventions

DRUGmultimodal analgesia pathway with up-front small opioid prescription

multimodal analgesia pathway including an up-front small opioid prescription

DRUGmultimodal analgesia pathway without up-front small opioid prescription

multimodal analgesia pathway without up-front small opioid prescription

DRUGpre-implementation baseline including opioid

pre-implementation baseline including opioid

Sponsors

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
45 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Men ≥45 years old * Undergoing Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy (RALP) at BWH or BWFH * Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Chronic kidney disease (baseline Cr \>1.3) * NSAID contraindication/allergy * Regular opioid use or substance abuse prior to surgery * Inability to provide their own consent * Deviation from standard surgical practice for RALP (e.g. major complication requiring operative intervention that would result in patient no longer being considered a routine case)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Post-discharge opioid consumption (MME)1-2 weeks after surgeryassessed at post-operative visit

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Return of bowel function1 week
Emergency Department visits30 days
Postoperative phone calls30 days
Same-day discharge rateDay of SurgeryIndex hospitalization

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTTimothy Clinton, MD
tclinton1@bwh.harvard.edu617-732-6384
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTimothy Clinton, MD

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 23, 2026