Effect of Bupivacaine-infused Fibrin Sealant Application on Post-tonsillectomy Pain & Hemorrhage
Information source: Indiana University
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 23, 2015 Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Pain, Postoperative; Postoperative Hemorrhage
Intervention: Bupivacaine (Drug); Fibrin Sealant (Biological)
Phase: Phase 2
Status: Enrolling by invitation
Sponsored by: Indiana University School of Medicine Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s): Bruce H Matt, MD,MS, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Indiana University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of combining two interventions already
in use at some institutions for reducing post-operative pain following tonsillectomy or
adenotonsillectomy. The standard of care at most institutions is to leave the tonsillectomy
wound bed exposed to heal on its own over one to two weeks. At many institutions, surgeons
inject or topically apply local anesthetics such as bupivacaine hydrochloride to the
tonsillectomy wound bed to help reduce post-operative pain. At other institutions, surgeons
apply a layer of fibrin sealant, which is derived from the proteins that help form blood
clots in blood, to the tonsillectomy wound bed in order to cover the site and reduce
irritation and exposure of the wound bed. Use of fibrin sealant has the additional benefit
of potentially reducing postoperative bleeding (hemorrhage) rates. Both the
post-tonsillectomy use of bupivacaine (injection and topical) and the use of topical fibrin
sealant application have been studied previously in the scientific literature; some studies
show a clear benefit, others show no significant reduction in pain when they are used. No
studies have documented harm. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of
infusing bupivacaine anesthetic into the fibrin sealant prior to application to the
tonsillectomy wound bed. In this way, the combined product would function as a sort of
"medicated bandaid" covering the painful wound bed and slowly delivering an entirely safe
total dose of bupivacaine into the wound bed to reduce post-operative pain. Parents will be
provided post-operative pain measurements to complete during the first 10 postoperative days
and return to the researchers for data analysis.
Clinical Details
Official title: Effect of Bupivacaine-infused Fibrin Sealant Application on Post-tonsillectomy Pain & Hemorrhage: a Clinical Trial.
Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Primary outcome: Postoperative PainPostoperative Hemorrhage
Secondary outcome: Total Pain Medication UsageTime to Return to Normal Diet Number of Required Calls to Healthcare Personnel (either the Clinic or the Physician on Call Overnight) Postoperative Nausea & Emesis Time to Return to Normal Activity
Detailed description:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of combining two interventions already
in use at some institutions for reducing post-operative pain following tonsillectomy or
adenotonsillectomy. The standard of care at most institutions is to leave the tonsillectomy
wound bed exposed to heal on its own over one to two weeks. At many institutions, surgeons
inject or topically apply local anesthetics such as bupivacaine hydrochloride to the
tonsillectomy wound bed to help reduce post-operative pain. At other institutions, surgeons
apply a layer of fibrin sealant, which is derived from the proteins that help form blood
clots in blood, to the tonsillectomy wound bed in order to cover the site and reduce
irritation and exposure of the wound bed. Use of fibrin sealant has the additional benefit
of potentially reducing postoperative bleeding (hemorrhage) rates. Both the
post-tonsillectomy use of bupivacaine (injection and topical) and the use of topical fibrin
sealant application have been studied previously in the scientific literature; some studies
show a clear benefit, others show no significant reduction in pain when they are used. No
studies have documented harm. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of
infusing bupivacaine anesthetic into the fibrin sealant prior to application to the
tonsillectomy wound bed. In this way, the combined product would function as a sort of
"medicated bandaid" covering the painful wound bed and slowly delivering an entirely safe
total dose of bupivacaine into the wound bed to reduce post-operative pain.
The hypothesis of this study is that the application of the bupivacaine-infused fibrin
sealant will 1) reduce post-operative mean pain scores in children undergoing tonsillectomy
or adenotonsillectomy using a validated pediatric pain scoring system, 2) reduce
post-operative hemorrhage rates, 3) reduce post-operative vomiting, 4) reduce total doses of
post-operative pain medication and narcotic pain medication required, and 5) expedite
recovery as determined by return to normal diet and activity level.
The questions specific for this study include: 1) Does bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant
significantly reduce mean postoperative pain scores compared to fibrin sealant alone and
compared to leaving the wound bed open to heal?, 2) Does bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant
significantly reduce mean postoperative tonsil hemorrhage rates compared to fibrin sealant
alone and compared to leaving the wound bed open to heal? 3) Do children receiving
bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant require less pain medication compared to fibrin sealant
alone or to leaving the wound bed open to heal?, 4) Do children receiving
bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant return to normal diet and normal activity sooner compared
to fibrin sealant alone or to leaving the wound bed open to heal?, 5) Do the parents of
children receiving bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant make less calls to the clinic or the
physician on call compared to fibrin sealant alone or to leaving the wound bed open to
heal?
After discussion of the risks and benefits of performing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy
per routine, parents will be offered (if child meets inclusion criteria elaborated below) to
participate in this research study. This discussion will take place either during the clinic
encounter when the patient is signed up for their surgical procedure or on the day of
surgery. The Informed Consent Statement will be reviewed with the parent/patient and either
the surgical staff, resident investigators, or clinic nursing personnel included in the IRB
proposal will be the individuals performing the discussion with the parents. If parents are
agreeable to participating in the study and all questions have been asked and no exclusion
criteria met, then the child will be enrolled.
The child will be randomized to one of the three treatment arms elaborated in this
application. Randomization arms include either: 1) leave wound bed open to heal, 2)
application of unaltered fibrin sealant, and 3) application of bupivicaine-induced fibrin
sealant. Children will undergo tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy per routine, but at the
conclusion of the surgical procedure will have either of the 3 treatment options performed
as above.
For some children who have clinical concern for sleep disordered breathing or obstructive
sleep apnea on a sleep study, the surgical procedure may also involve a direct laryngoscopy
and bronchoscopy performed prior to tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. During the
laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, the airway from the level of the mouth to the branches of the
windpipe into each lung are inspected with small rigid cameras (endoscopes); if
floppiness/collapse (laryngomalacia) of the supraglottis (tissue above the vocal cords) is
observed, the child will undergo a laser supraglottoplasty to remove the floppy tissue and
relieve the obstruction. If a child has laryngomalacia and supraglottoplasty is performed,
the child will then be excluded from the study. Exclusion at this time is based on the
creation of an additional wound bed in the throat which could weaken our ability to
determine if application of fibrin sealant or bupivacaine-infused fibrin sealant is
effective. If during direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, no laryngomalacia is observed and
no supraglottoplasty is performed, then the child will continue into the treatment arm into
which they were randomized.
After inclusion, randomization, and proceeding with treatment based on the study arm to
which the child was randomize, all parents/participants will received standardized
post-operative discharge instructions with regard to pain medicine regimens and diet as well
as an envelope containing pain assessment questionnaires to be completed 3 times daily for
10 days as a means of documenting pain scores among other data points. The parents will
receive a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelop to facilitate return of their data to the
researchers. Currently our clinic nurses call the family of patients approximately 2-3 weeks
after surgery to inquire as to how the child is doing and to ensure that if the family
desires a follow up appointment that one will be made. Parents of children included in this
study will receive a similar phone call during the same approximate time frame either by the
clinic nurses or by the surgical staff or resident investigators, but additional specific
questions regarding post-operative bleeding and pain control will be documented for research
purposes. Additionally, during this phone call, parents will be reminded to complete and
return their post-operative pain assessment sheets in the provided pre-addressed,
pre-stamped envelopes they received on the day of surgery.
Eligibility
Minimum age: 1 Year.
Maximum age: 12 Years.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:
1. All children aged 1 through age 12 and weighing >10 kilograms who are scheduled for
tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy for the following indications by surgical staff
included in the IRB submission will be considered for inclusion in the study.
A) Chronic Pharyngitis / Recurrent Tonsillitis B) PAPFA (Periodic Aphthous Ulcers /
Pharyngitis / Fevers / Adenopathy) Syndrome C) Upper Aerodigestive Obstruction Symptoms
felt to be related to tonsil size. D) Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy (enlarged tonsils and
adenoids) E) Obstructive Sleep Apnea (clinical diagnosis or by Polysomnogram [sleep
study]) F) Chronic/Recurrent Tonsillolithiasis (tonsil stones)
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Undergoing additional surgical procedures within 14 days preceding or following the
tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy which could affect pain assessment scores.
2. Additional concurrent surgical procedures (other than direct laryngoscopy,
bronchoscopy, nasal endoscopy, ear examination under anesthesia, cerumen removal, or
myringotomy with ear ventilation tube placement)
2. If decision is made to perform supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia intraoperatively
3. Tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy for concern of malignancy of unknown primary
4. Documented aprotinin allergy
5. Documented amide anesthetic allergy
6. Documented bleeding disorder
7. Documented anticoagulant use
8. Documented chronic pain disorder
9. Documented chronic use of prescription narcotics or methadone
10. Documented history of substance abuse or illicit drug use
11. Documented history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse
12. Gastrostomy/orogastric/nasogastric tube placement/use
13. Planned postoperative ICU placement
14. Refusal to participate
15. Exclusion at judgment of investigator (Language barriers, Ward of Court, etc.)
Locations and Contacts
Riley Childrens' Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
Additional Information
Starting date: March 2015
Last updated: June 10, 2015
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