Clinical trial NCT02247466
Conditions: Laparoscopic Herniotomy
Keywords: Neuromuscular Blockade Laparoscopy
Sponsor: Herlev Hospital
Start date: 2015-02-01; Completion date: 2017-02-23
Enrollment: 37 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: CROSSOVER

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to investigate surgical work space and surgical conditions in patients scheduled for laparoscopic umbilical, -linea alba and incisional herniotomy. The patients will act as their own control with evaluation of surgical work space and surgical conditions during both deep NMB and no NMB.

Detailed description:
Umbilical herniotomy is a frequent surgical procedure worldwide, and the larger hernia defects are preferably operated by laparoscopic technique. The advantages of the laparoscopic approach are shorter convalescence with earlier mobilization, and less wound complications \[1\]. A preferred approach is currently to close the defect by laparoscopic suturing in order to reduce the formation of seroma in the hernia sac \[2\] , and then apply a mesh by intraperitoneal onlay technique (IPOM technique). However, it may be difficult to suture the defect if there is tension in the abdominal wall muscles together with the applied pneumoperitoneum.

There is evidence that muscle relaxation improves conditions for endotracheal intubation\[3\] and reduces laryngeal morbidity but only a few studies investigate the necessity of relaxation during laparoscopic surgery \[4\].

During laparoscopic surgery muscle relaxation is used with great variability. Sometimes the procedure is performed without muscle relaxation and sometimes with a so-called surgical neuromuscular blockade, which with objective neuromuscular monitoring means that train-of-four (TOF) is kept at 3-4 responses to nerve stimulation of the ulnar nerve. In this way there is a great variability in the neuromuscular blockade and rarely the patients are receiving deep neuromuscular blockade.

Traditionally, neuromuscular monitoring is done by measuring the muscle strength of the adductor pollicis muscle on the thumb. The response to TOF nerve stimulation may be zero, while muscle relaxation of more resistant muscles such as the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm \[5;6\] are not complete which means that the patients may cough and their abdominal wall may feel "tight" during surgery, even though no response at the thumb is recorded. It is possible to quantify a deep neuromuscular block by the use of post-tetanic-count (PTC). With establishment of deep, continuous neuromuscular blockade with PTC value 0-1 all muscles including abdominal muscles and diaphragm are paralyzed \[7\]. It is therefore possible, that a deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) where the diaphragm and the abdominal wall muscles are more paralyzed will optimize the surgical work space, ease the surgical procedure, reduce operative time for the suturing part of the procedure as well as the total procedure time, and reduce the number of recurrences by long term follow-up.

The purpose of this study is to investigate surgical work space and surgical conditions in patients scheduled for laparoscopic umbilical, -linea alba and incisional herniotomy. The patients will act as their own control with evaluation of surgical work space and surgical conditions during both deep NMB and no NMB.

Hypothesis:

Deep NMB defined as TOF=0 and post-tetanic count PTC ≥1, will give better surgical workspace, better surgical conditions, as well as shorter duration of surgery and reduced number of recurrences of hernias compared with no NMB.

Arms: arm 1: Intervention after intubation and placement of trocars without NMB. Bolus of saline (placebo) 6mL (TOF 100%) the surgeon assesses the surgical workspace with pneumoperitoneum 12 mmHg. After administration of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg when TOF=0 the surgical workspace is assessed again arm 2: Intervention after intubation and placement of trocars without NMB. Bolus of rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg when TOF=0 the surgeon assesses the surgical workspace with pneumoperitoneum 12 mmHg. Three minutes after administration of sugammadex (TOF 100%) the surgical workspace is assessed again
Interventions: intervention 1: Rocuronium and Sugammadex
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: None

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
PROTOCOL 
 
Optimizing surgical conditions during laparoscopic 
umbilical, incisional –and linea alba herniotomy with deep 
neuromuscular blockade 
(The hernia study) 
Version 18 
16. September 2016 
 
 
Sponsor and primary investigator: 
Mona Ring Gätke, MD, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Department of Anaesthesiology,  
Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Project group: 
 
Roar Borregaard Medici, MD, Research Assistant, Department of Anaesthesiology,  
Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Matias Vested Madsen, MD, Research Assistant, Department of Anaesthesiology,  
Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Jacob Rosenberg, MD, Professor, DMSc., GI Unit, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Sami Assadzadeh, MD, GI Unit, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Søren Følsgaard, MD, Department of Anaesthesiology, Gentofte Hospital, University of 
Copenhagen 
  
Responsible department: 
Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, DK 2730 Herlev, tlf: 3868 
3272. 
 
Site where project will be conducted:  
Anaesthesia and Day Surgery Department, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen 
 
Monitoring: 
Copenhagen University Hospital GCP unit, Bispebjerg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, 2400 
Copenhagen NV 
 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
September 16.  2016 
 
2 
 
 
Optimizing surgical conditions during laparoscopic 
umbilical, incisional –and linea alba herniotomy with deep 
neuromuscular blockade 
(The hernia study) 
Version 18 
16. September 2016 
 
 
Principal Investigator, Sponsor & Institution accept always to follow the protocol and the 
latest Executive Order on Good Clinical Practice for Clinical, Trials involving Human 
Medicine (In Danish: Bekendtgørelse om god klinisk praksis i forbindelse med kliniske 
forsøg med lægemidler på mennesker").  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sponsor and primary investigator: 
 
Mona Ring Gätke, overlæge, ph.d. 
Anæstesiologisk Afdeling I65F10, 
Pavillon 10, Herlev Hospital,  
Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev. 
 
 
 
 
Sponsor and primary investigators signature: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
September 16.  2016 
 
3 
 
Table of contents  
 
 
 
 
Page 
 
Background 
4 
Purpose 
5 
Hypothesis 
5 
Method 
5 
Design 
5 
Outcomes 
5 
Number of patients 
6 
Groups 
7 
Criteria for participation 
7 
Withdrawal criteria 
8 
Major violation 
8 
 
End of study 
8 
Patient information 
9 
Preoperative assessment 
9 
Randomization 
10 
Blinding 
10 
Perioperative treatment 
11 
Monitoring 
11 
Anesthesia 
12 
Medicine according to intervention 
12 
Surgical conditions 
13 
Surgical rating scale 
14 
Positioning 
 
15 
Surgical method 
15 
Respiratory 
 
15 
Fluid therapy  
15 
Data collection 
 
16 
Statistics 
 
17 
 
Sample size calculation 
18 
Risks, side effects and events 
18 
Quality control and quality assurance 
23 
 
Schedule  
 
24 
Ethical considerations 
24 
Responsible department 
25 
Economy  
 
26 
Publication 
 
27 
Registration 
 
27 
References 
 
27 
Flowdiagram 
 
Appendix 1 
 
 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
4 
 
Background: 
 
Umbilical herniotomy is a frequent surgical procedure worldwide, and the larger hernia 
defects are preferably operated by laparoscopic technique. The advantages of the 
laparoscopic approach are shorter convalescence with earlier mobilization, and less 
wound complications [1]. A preferred approach is currently to close the defect by 
laparoscopic suturing in order to reduce the formation of seroma in the hernia sac [2] , 
and then apply a mesh by intraperitoneal onlay technique (IPOM technique). However, it 
may be difficult to suture the defect if there is tension in the abdominal wall muscles 
together with the applied pneumoperitoneum.  
There is evidence that muscle relaxation improves conditions for endotracheal 
intubation[3] and reduces laryngeal morbidity but only a few studies investigate the 
necessity of relaxation during laparoscopic surgery [4]. 
During laparoscopic surgery muscle relaxation is used with great variability. Sometimes 
the procedure is performed without muscle relaxation and sometimes with a so-called 
surgical neuromuscular blockade, which with objective neuromuscular monitoring 
means that train-of-four (TOF) is kept at 3-4 responses to nerve stimulation of the ulnar 
nerve. In this way there is a great variability in the neuromuscular blockade and rarely 
the patients are receiving deep neuromuscular blockade. 
Traditionally, neuromuscular monitoring is done by measuring the muscle strength of 
the adductor pollicis muscle on the thumb. The response to TOF nerve stimulation may 
be zero, while muscle relaxation of more resistant muscles such as the abdominal 
muscles and the diaphragm [5;6] are not complete which means that the patients may 
cough and their abdominal wall may feel ”tight” during surgery, even though no response 
at the thumb is recorded. It is possible to quantify a deep neuromuscular block by the use 
of post-tetanic-count (PTC). With establishment of deep, continuous neuromuscular 
blockade with PTC value 0-1 all muscles including abdominal muscles and diaphragm are 
paralyzed [7]. It is therefore possible, that a deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) where 
the diaphragm and the abdominal wall muscles are more paralyzed will optimize the 
surgical work space, ease the surgical procedure, reduce operative time for the suturing 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
September 16.  2016 
 
5 
 
part of the procedure as well as the total procedure time, and reduce the number of 
recurrences by long term follow-up.  
 
Purpose: 
The purpose of this study is to investigate surgical work space and surgical conditions in 
patients scheduled for laparoscopic umbilical, -linea alba and incisional herniotomy. The 
patients will act as their own control with evaluation of surgical work space and surgical 
conditions during both deep NMB and no NMB.  
 
Hypothesis: 
Deep NMB defined as TOF=0 and post-tetanic count (PTC) ≥ 1, will give better surgical 
workspace, better surgical conditions, as well as shorter duration of surgery and reduced 
number of recurrences of hernias compared with no NMB. 
 
Method: 
See appendix 1, flow diagram. 
Design: 
Randomized, cross-over design, with blinding of patient and surgeon. Randomization is 
used to determine the treatment sequence (no NMB followed by deep NMB (Group A) or 
deep NMB followed by no NMB (Group B)) in order to blind the surgeon. 
 
Outcomes: 
Primary outcome: 
Improvement of surgical workspace (rated on a 5-point scale) estimated as the 
difference between the workspace during deep NMB and the workspace without NMB. 
Ratings are performed in the same patient during stable pneumoperitoneum at 12 
mmHg.  
 
 


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6 
 
Secondary outcomes: (comparing Group A with Group B) 
-Surgeon´s rating of surgical conditions while suturing the hernia (5-point rating scale)  
-Duration of operating time (from first incision to last suture)  
-Assessments if the surgical space is better, unchanged or worse when evaluating before 
and after the intervention 
-Number of sudden contractions of the abdominal wall during operation (bucking or 
coughing),  
-Number of insufflator alarms where pneumoperitoneum > 17 mmHg,  
-Number of episodes with continuous abdominal contractions where the abdomen feels 
”tight” but the operation can still proceed (the intestines are gradually displaced near the 
inner surface of the abdominal wall).  
- Number of recurrences of hernias by 2 year follow-up (separate publication). Patients 
will 2 years after operation receive a letter with invitation to ambulatory clinical 
assessment by a surgeon at Herlev Hospital or have the opportunity to receive a visit by 
a surgeon at their home address.  
 
Number of patients: 
34 eligible patients allocated into an assessor-blinded randomized cross-over design: 
one group first receives deep NMB followed by no NMB and the other group first 
receives no NMB followed by deep NMB. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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7 
 
 
 
Groups: 
Group A:  
 After intubation and  placement of trocars: Bolus of saline 
(placebo) 6 ml. After three minutes the surgeon assesses 
the surgical workspace with pneumoperitoneum 12 
mmHg. Bolus of rocuronium 0,6 mg/kg When TOF=0 the 
surgical workspace is assessed again. 
 
Group B:  
 After intubation and placement of trocars: Bolus of 
rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg  When TOF=0 the surgeon assesses 
the surgical workspace with pneumoperitoneum 12 
mmHg. Sugammadex is administered and when 
TOF=100%  the surgical workspace is assessed again[8].  
Criteria for participation: 
 
Inclusion criteria: 
Patients > 18 years old  
Elective laparoscopic umbilical herniotomy, incisional herniotomy and linea alba  
herniotomy.  
Can read and understand Danish  
Informed consent 
 
Exclusion criteria: 
Known allergy to sugammadex, rocuronium or mivacurium 
Known homozygous variants in the butyrylcholinesterase gene 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
8 
 
Severe renal disease, defined by S-creatinine> 0.200 mmol/L, GFR < 30ml/min or 
hemodialysis) 
Neuromuscular disease that may interfere with neuromuscular data 
Lactating or pregnant (Women of child bearing potential must take a urine pregnancy 
test at the day of the operation. The test will be provided by the hospital staff).  
Indication for rapid sequence induction  
 
 
 
Withdrawal criteria: 
- In case of cancelling the operation, the patient will not receive the intervention. Data will 
not be available and therefore not analyzed and the patient will be considered as a 
“dropout”.  
- In case of the patient not receiving the intervention (trial medicine/placebo) after 
randomization, the data will not be analyzed and the patient will be considered as a 
“dropout”.  
These ”dropout” patients will be disclaimed further data analysis. 
 
Major violation:  
- In case of need for increasing pneumoperitoneum to > 12 mmHg due to poor surgical 
conditions  
- Converting to laparotomy 
These will be characterized as major violations. The data will be analyzed in the 
intention-to-treat analysis, but excluded from the per-protocol analysis.  
End of study: 
When 34 patients have been evaluated considering the primary endpoint according to 
the intention-to-treat analysis, the study is finished.  
 
 


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September 16.  2016 
 
9 
 
 
 
Patient information: 
Responsible for patient information and declaration of consent is local investigator. The 
patient will receive oral and written information about the project. 
The initial contact with the patient will be done at a preoperative surgical evaluation at 
Herlev Hospital. The surgeon conducting the evaluation will handout the written patient 
information to all patients planned to have laparoscopic ventral-hernia surgery at 
Gentofte Hospital. The patient will at the same time receive a short oral information 
about the study and will be informed that the local investigator will contact the patient 
by telephone within a few days. This gives the patient time to read the information and 
to discuss it with family or relatives. The patient will be offered the possibility of being 
accompanied by a family member or another person at the telephone information 
interview. The local investigator will answer any question regarding the study and check 
that the inclusion criteria are met and none of the exclusion criteria are found. The 
patient will be offered a face-to-face interview if he/she whish. The patient will be 
informed that he/she will receive usual treatment if he/she does not want to participate, 
and that participation is voluntary, and that he/she always has the right to disclaim 
consent without affecting the further treatment.  
After a period of consideration, depending on the patient´s needs, an attempt will be 
made to obtain consent. 
 
Pre-operative assessment: 
In the Case Report Form (CRF) the following baseline data is noted: 
Age 
Weight 
Height 
Sex 
BMI 


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September 16.  2016 
 
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ASA group (I-IV) 
Previous abdominal surgery 
Co-morbidity which requires daily medical treatment 
Parity 
 
 
 
 
Randomization: 
Randomization is 1:1, and done using Randomization.com. Two persons unattached to 
the study will use the randomization generator and pack the 34 envelopes consecutive 
numbered from 1 to 34.  A paper revealing the intervention group assigned will be 
placed in each envelope. A copy of the randomization list will be kept in a sealed 
envelope by the coordinating investigator until the study is completed.  
The randomization envelopes will be used in numerical order. 
After randomization the investigator writes the randomization-group on the 
neuromuscular blockade sheet (NMB sheet). 
34 eligible patients will be randomized. 
 
Blinding: 
Intervention medicine is prepared in the medicine room before the operation.  This is 
done under double control by the investigator who also performed the randomization. 
Labels named “project medicine” will be placed on the syringes.  
Randomization group will be noted on a sheet (NMB sheet), on which other data 
concerning neuromuscular blockade (NMB) will also be noted. On this sheet will also be 
noted the quantity of rocuronium and sugammadex administered, as well as values 
measured with TOF-Watch. This will not be noted on the anesthesia form. After 
conclusion of anesthesia the NMB sheet will be placed in the accompanying envelope, 
which is sealed and placed in a locked drawer where only investigators of the study has 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
11 
 
access to. If there is a need for emergency unblinding the envelope is placed in this 
drawer: The envelope must only be opened, if it is considered strictly necessary to know 
which group the patient belongs to with respect to further treatment. This will happen 
after agreement with the investigator responsible for the trial and the phone number of 
the investigator is written on the envelope. Motivation for broken seal shall be included 
in the Case Report Form (CRF). 
At the front of the patient’s case file a sheet will be placed, which states that the patient is 
included in the trial. 
 The patient will at no time during hospitalization and possible recurrences follow up 
(regarding recurrences) be informed about treatment group allocation. The patient may 
however be informed of this upon conclusion of data collection. 
 The surgeon, will be blinded to treatment group allocation during the operation.  
The anesthesia personnel, including local investigator, who anaesthetize the patient, may 
during inception and operation not be blinded, because the degree of the neuromuscular 
block shall be adjusted. 
 Surgical personnel, recovery ward personnel and ward personnel will be blinded to 
treatment group allocation. 
 
 
Perioperative treatment: 
Monitoring: 
The patient will be monitored with ECG, non-invasive blood pressure, oxygen saturation, 
sleep depth measure with BIS [BiSpectral Index], and temperature sensors.  
Neuromuscular monitoring will be done with TOF-Watch SX connected to a computer for 
collection of neuromuscular data (Version 2.5 INT 2007, Organon, The Netherlands). The 
monitoring will be done according to international research guidelines [9]. TOF-Watch 
SX will be placed on the arm, where there is the least monitoring in general. The skin 
over the ulnar nerve will be washed with spirits and rubbed with a piece of gauze. Small 
ECG electrodes will be used. They are placed on the wrist over the ulnar nerve. The 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
12 
 
acceleration transducer is placed on the thumb and attached in the associated hand 
adaptor. TOF-Watch SX will be started. It will be calibrated (CAL2), when the patient 
does not react to verbal command and TOF mode will be started. Measurements will be 
taken every 15 sec. When stabile neuromuscular monitoring during 2 minutes is assured, 
rocuronium will be given. When TOF=0, PTC will be measured every 3 min., and 
rocuronium/saline infusion is adjusted in accordance with randomization.  
The hand with TOF-Watch and apparatus is covered. The readings from the TOF-Watch 
are seen on the connected computer by nurse anesthetist and investigator. 
Intravenous cannula is placed in the opposite hand.  
 
 
Anesthesia: 
General anesthesia with induction of propofol 2 mg/kg and remifentanil 1.0 
mcg/kg/min. Tracheal intubation is performed no less than 3 minutes after induction of 
anesthesia making sure that the patient has received at least 3 mcg/kg remifentanil 
[10;11].  Anesthesia will be maintained with propofol 3 mg/kg/hour and remifentanil 
0.25-0.5 mcg/kg/min, and adjusted according to depth of anesthesia under guidance of 
BIS (Entropy GE Healthcare).  
 
Treatment values:  
Blood pressure: Mean artery pressure (MAP) max. 30 % difference from baseline  
BIS 40-60. 
 
Medicine according to intervention: (see appendix 1) 
 
Group A:  
Bolus of saline 6 mL (placebo) before first assessment  followed by bolus rocuronium 0.6 
mg/kg ideal body weight (IBW) and rocuronium infusion to target level TOF=0 and PCT 
≥ 1 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
13 
 
 
Group B:  
Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg IBW before first assessment followed by sugammadex according 
to level of NMB and saline infusion (placebo). 
 
Both groups:  
At the end of surgery and to reverse first intervention the neuromuscular blockade is 
reversed with sugammadex/placebo. Sugammadex 2 mg/kg is given if TOF>2, and 4 
mg/kg if TOF <2 and 16 mg/kg if PTC < 1. If TOF > 0.90 placebo reversal (NaCl) is given. 
Neuromuscular monitoring continues until TOF>0.90, stable over 2 min. The patient is 
awakened and taken to the recovery room.  
Capped vials, ampoules, etc. for the test substances, i.e., rocuronium, sugammadex, are 
discarded after batch number, quantities removed from vials and quantities 
administered are registered on the NMB sheet.  
 
Pneumoperitoneum: 
Pneumoperitoneum is initiated after intubation and the operation will be performed at 
pneumoperitoneum 12 mmHg.    
  
Surgical conditions: 
The surgeon will evaluate the surgical workspace on a 5 point subjective rating scale 3 
minutes after first intervention with rocuronium/saline and again three minutes after 
second intervention with rocuronium/sugammadex. Pneumoperitoneum is maintained 
at 12 mmHg. Additionally, the surgeon will assess if the surgical space is better, 
unchanged or worse when evaluating before and after the second intervention. Surgical 
workspace will also be evaluated while suturing the hernia. Evaluation of surgical work 
space will consider the assessment of the distance between the intestines and inner 
surface of the abdominal wall in a standardized manner.    


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14 
 
During operation the surgeon will evaluate the surgical conditions on a 5 point rating 
scale while suturing the hernia with the use of IPOM technique and finally after the 
fascial closure. Evaluation will consider tightness or contractions of the abdominal wall 
muscles affecting the suturing.  
Also the number of insufflator alarms for pneumoperitoneum > 17 mmHg will be 
registered. 
In case of need for anesthetic intervention due to poor surgical conditions (with normal 
BIS, pulse and blood-pressure) after administration of intervention 
(rocuronium/sugammadex) this will be done in a standardized manner:  
Group A: bolus saline (placebo) and wait for three minutes. Then the operation will 
proceed.  
Group B: bolus of mivacurium and wait for three minutes. Then the operation will 
proceed.  
Three minutes after bolus administration the surgeon will evaluate the surgical space 
and operating conditions on the 5 point rating scales.  
If these interventions will not optimize the surgical conditions, a bolus of propofol or 
remifentanil can be administered.  
 
Surgical rating scale [12] 
1 Extremely poor conditions  
2 Poor conditions 
3 Acceptable conditions 
4 Good conditions 
5 Optimal conditions 


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Before beginning of the study the surgeons will receive an educational program to learn 
how to use of the rating scale and test it on pilot patients.  
 
 
Positioning: 
The patient will be positioned with the arm with neuromuscular monitoring equipment 
in abducted position. It is ensured that the monitoring equipment is as unaffected as 
possible to achieve the most precise neuromuscular data.  
 
 
Surgical method:  
With intraabdominal pressure of 12 mmHg laparoscopic umbilical, -linea alba and 
incisional herniotomy will be performed by suturing the defect and applying mesh by 
IPOM technique.  Operations will be performed as outpatient procedures according to 
our usual routines. The mesh will be secured with fibrin sealant after the defect has been 
sutured. Mesh size will be circular with a diameter of the hernia defect size plus 5 cm . 
The defect will be sutured with Ethibond 0 suture with single stitches, intracorporal 
technique .   
Insufflator: Olympus UHI-3, Pressure controlled (Olympus Medical System Corp. Tokyo, 
Japan) 
 
Respiratory: 
Patients are oxygenated at FiO2=1.0 during preoxygenation and induction of anesthesia 
until the trachea is intubated. Anesthesia continues with FiO2=0.40. Patients are 
ventilated with Pressure Control Ventilation, tidal volume 7 ml/kg, PEEP (positive end-
expiratory pressure) 5 cm H2O and respiration frequency 10-12 targeting normocapnia 
(ETCO2 at 4.5-5.5 kPa). If PaCO2> 6 kPa primarily the respiration frequency (RF) will be 
increased. If hypoxemia arises, defined as SpO2< 95 or PaO2< 10 kPa primarily FiO2 will 


Protocol 
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September 16.  2016 
 
16 
 
be increased. In the event of deficient effect, PEEP will be increased.  
Fluid therapy:  
1000 ml isotonic NaCl 0.9% is given intraoperatively. Blood loss up to 500 ml is replaced 
with isotonic NaCl 1:2.5. Blood loss in excess of this is replaced in accordance with the 
local guidelines. 
In case of hypotension ephedrine or phenylephrine will be administered.  
Antibiotics 
According to local guidelines. Dose and name will be noted on the CRF. 
Pain treatment:  
Postoperative pain treatment with paracetamol, NSAID and morphine according to local 
guidelines.  
PONV profylaxis: 
I.v. dexamethason 8 mg routinely 
 
Data collection 
Perioperative data collection that will be noted in CRF: 
Type of operation with operation code 
Batch-number, expiration date, used and surplus quantities of rocuronium and 
sugammadex, TOF values (NMB sheet) 
Body temperature measured immediately after intubation and again immediately before 
extubation 
Size of hernia defect measured during operation just before the defect is sutured 
Surgical ratings on 5 point scale  
Operating time (from first incision to last suture ) 
Number of sudden abdominal contractions and episodes with “tight” abdomen  


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September 16.  2016 
 
17 
 
Need for additional NMB to optimize surgical conditions 
 
Postoperative registration: 
Number of patients with recurrences of hernias 2 years after herniotomy. 
 
Statistics: 
Eligible patients and excluded patients will be registered at a screening list.  
Data from all randomized patients, who receive the intervention, will be included in the 
intention-to-treat analysis. 
Patients, included in the intention-to-treat analysis, but who are categorized as major 
violation, will be excluded from the per-protocol analysis. 
Normal distributed variables will be expressed by means and standard deviation; 
variables that are not normal distributed will be expressed by medians and interquartile 
range and the Mann-Whitney U test used for comparison of the median values. 
Fisher´s exact test will be used at comparisons of percentages. A p value < 0.05 is 
considered significant. 
As the study is a crossover trial, it is necessary to test for a possible period effect and a 
treatment period interaction. To detect a possible period effect a two sample t test to 
compare the differences between the periods in the two groups of patients will be 
carried out. If there is no general tendency for patients to do better in one of the periods, 
we assume that the mean differences between the periods to be of the same size but with 
opposite signs.  
To investigate the possibility of a treatment-period interaction a two sample t test will be 
carried out by noticing, that in the absence of an interaction, the patients response to the 
treatment will be the same regardless of the order in which it is received.  
If there is no period effect and no treatment-period interaction the analysis of the data 
regarding the primary outcome will be done by performing a Wilcoxon signed-rank sum 
test on all 34 patient´s data (differences in workspace between the two treatments).  
 


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18 
 
Primary outcome: 
Improvement of surgical workspace estimated as the difference between the workspace 
(rated on a 5-point scale) during deep NMB and the workspace without NMB. Ratings are 
performed in the same patient during stable pneumoperitoneum at 12 mmHg. 
 
Sample size calculation: 
With a clinical relevant decrease of surgical workspace of 1 on the rating scale, an 
expected standard deviation of 2, type 1 error 0.05 and power 0.80, we calculated the 
sample size of 34 patients in total.  
Up to 50 patients can be included to have an evaluable primary outcome in 34 patients.   
 
 
Risks, side-effects and events: 
Sugammadex: According to the Danish Medicine Agency’s product summary, the side 
effects are as follows: 
Very common (> 10%)  
Taste disturbances.  
Common (1-10%)  
Anesthesia complication  
Not common (0,1-1%)  
Consciousness during 
anesthesia.  
Allergic reactions.  
 
Laparoscopic herniotomy is done at Gentofte Hospital with an intraabdominal pressure 
at 12 mmHg without use of muscle relaxation for intubation and in some cases with use 
of bolus of muscle relaxation decided by the attending anesthetist. Patients allocated to 
group DEEP will receive rocuronium in a dose corresponding to a deep neuromuscular 
blockade (PTC < 8) after intubation. It is not regarded as a disadvantage to use large 
doses of muscle relaxation, since the effect is fully reversed by sugammadex at the end of 
surgery.  
 


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Registration of adverse events: 
Patients will be observed during their stay at the hospital and will be contacted by 
telephone on first and seventh postoperative day. Possibly adverse events during this 
period will be reported. Finally the patient´s case files will be reviewed for reports of 
adverse events at 17-21 days after operation.  
The patients are encouraged to contact the local investigator, if they suspect any adverse 
events in connection with the trial and are treated according to applicable clinical 
principles and guidelines in the department.  
Adverse events are registered as of the time when the patient is signing informed 
consent and the intravenous anesthetic is administered. All events are followed up until 
the final diagnosis or cause is established, and this is registered on the CRF.  
Investigator being the sole Sponsor has to comply with all regulatory and legal 
requirements as far as monitoring and data collection is concerned by following 
the latest Executive Order on Good Clinical Practice for Clinical Trials Involving Human 
Medicine (In Danish: "Bekendtgørelse om god klinisk praksis i forbindelse med kliniske 
forsøg med lægemidler på mennesker"). 
 
                 
 
Reporting Procedures for Exchange of Adverse Event Information. 
 
(i)           For purposes of this Protocol and Agreement the below terms shall be defined as follows: 
 
  
"Adverse Event" or "AE" shall mean any untoward medical occurrence in a Study 
subject who is administered the Study Drug regardless of whether or not a causal 
relationship with the Study Drug exists.  By way of example and without limitation, an AE 
can be any unfavorable and unintended sign (for example, an abnormal laboratory 
finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of the Study Drug.  
 
  
"Device Deficiency" shall mean inadequacy of a Study Drug device related to its 
identity, quality, durability, reliability, safety or performance, such as malfunction, 
misuse or use error and inadequate labeling. 
 


Protocol 
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20 
 
 
"Incident" shall mean any malfunction or deterioration in the characteristics and/or 
performance of a Study Drug device, as well as any inadequacy in the labeling or the 
instructions for use which, directly or indirectly, might lead to or might have led to the 
death of a patient, or user, or of other persons or to a serious deterioration in the state of 
health. 
 
 
"Medical Device Event" shall mean any malfunction or deterioration in the 
characteristics and/or the performance of a Study Drug device, as well as any inadequacy 
in the labeling or the instructions for use which led to or could have led to an untoward 
event for the user or any other person. 
 
 
"Serious Adverse Event" or "SAE" shall mean any untoward medical occurrence in a 
Study subject who is administered the Study Drug that results in death, a life-threatening 
drug experience, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing 
hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, or is a congenital 
anomaly/birth defect, cancer, or is a new cancer if the cancer is the condition of the 
study, or overdose.  Other important medical events that may jeopardize the patient or 
may require intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed previously should also be 
considered "serious". 
 
 
 
"Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction" or "SUSAR" shall mean any 
Serious Adverse Event, the nature, severity or frequency of which is not consistent with 
information in the most current investigator's brochure, or with respect to a marketed 
product the most current Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) or Package Insert. 
 
(ii) 
 
Serious Adverse Event and Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction, Medical 
Device Event, Potential Incident, Device Deficiency or Incident Reporting:  Principal 
Investigator shall forward to MSD's Global Safety ("MSD GS") group, any SAE and SUSAR, 
Medical Device Event, Device Deficiency or Incident information, including, but not 
limited to, all initial and follow-up information involving any Study subject in the Study.  
Notification shall be in the form of a completed CIOMS I/MedWatch (or other mutually 
agreed upon format) within two (2) business days of learning of the information.  This 
information shall be transmitted to MSD GS using the contact information provided 
below or such other modified contact information as provided by MSD in writing.  All 
information shall be transmitted in the English language and contain the reporter's name 
and the Study subject identifier code.   SUSAR information will be reported unblinded if 
the Study Drug has been blinded in the Study.  Randomization codes for all other SAEs  
will be provided to MSD GS at end of Study if the Study Drug has been blinded in the 
Study. 
 
(iii)   
 
MSD may define certain Non-Serious Events of Interest.  If any Non-Serious Events 
of Interest are defined, Merck will provide such information in writing to Principal 
Investigator at the time of Protocol approval, execution of this Agreement or anytime 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
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21 
 
thereafter.  Reporting of any defined Non-Serious Events of Interest will be handled in 
the same manner as SAEs unless mutually agreed otherwise in writing by the parties.   
 
(iv)  
 
All reports of Study Drug exposure during pregnancy or lactation (including a female 
partner of a male Study subject using the Study Drug), whether associated with an AE or 
not, must be reported to MSD GS in accordance with the timelines and contact 
information for an SAE.  Principal Investigator shall follow pregnancies to term to obtain 
the outcome of the pregnancy.  The outcome of the pregnancy shall be forwarded to MSD 
GS. 
 
(v)   
 
Institution and Principal Investigator shall fully comply with all of their respective 
reporting obligations to the applicable regulatory authorities with respect to any AE, SAE 
or SUSAR that arises from the Study. 
 
(vi) 
 
SAE reports and any other relevant safety information are to be forwarded to MSD 
GS facsimile number:  +45 44 82 42 99. 
 
 
 
C.  In the event Principal Investigator or Institution becomes aware of a defect or 
possible defect in the Study Drug, Institution and Principal Investigator agree to notify 
MSD within one business day of first becoming aware of the defect or possible defect.   
 
 
D.  Principal Investigator and Institution further agree to conduct the Study and 
maintain records and data during and after the term or early termination of this 
Agreement in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.  If 
required by law, regulation, regulatory authority or to confirm compliance with this 
Agreement and the Protocol, MSD or MSD's representatives shall have the right to 
examine and inspect all records and reports related to the Study Drug or directly relating 
to the Study, at mutually agreeable times with reasonable advance notice and during 
normal business hours (subject to applicable patient confidentiality considerations).  
Principal Investigator and Institution agree to take any action necessary, as reasonably 
requested by MSD, to properly correct or address any deficiencies noted during any 
inspection and agree to cooperate with MSD with respect to any action taken to address 
any such deficiencies. 
 
 
E.  Principal Investigator agrees to notify MSD within twenty-four (24) hours in the 
event that any regulatory authority notifies the Study site of a pending inspection that 
concerns the Study or Institution's ability to perform clinical research.  In addition, 
Principal Investigator will forward to MSD any written communication received as a 
result of the inspection within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of such communication 
and agrees to allow MSD to assist in responding to any citations involving the Study 
Drug.  Such responses shall be made as soon as possible under the circumstances or 
within any earlier deadline set by the issuing regulatory authority. Principal Investigator 
shall also provide to MSD a complete description of documents and any correspondence 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
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22 
 
provided to any inspector.  In the event the regulatory authority requests or requires any 
action to be taken to address any citations, Principal Investigator and Institution agree, 
after consultation with MSD, to take such action as necessary to address such citations. 
 
 
 
F. A copy of all 15 Day Reports and Annual Progress Reports / Development Safety 
Update Report (DSUR) are to be submitted as required by the applicable regulatory 
authority by the Principal Investigator.  Principal Investigator agrees to cross reference 
this submission according to local regulations, to the Study Drug number (IND, Clinical 
Study Authorization (CSA)/EudraCT approval number, etc) at the time of submission.  
Additionally Principal Investigator agrees to submit a copy of these reports to MSD (Attn: 
Global Safety; FAX +45 44 82 42 99) at the time of submission to the appropriate 
regulatory agency. 
 
 
 
G.  MSD may provide the Principal Investigator and Institution, at Study initiation 
and on an ongoing basis, with information regarding the Study Drug, including but not 
limited to safety information.  The Principal Investigator and Institution agree to hold 
this information in confidence. 
 
 
 
H. Principal Investigator & Institution accept to follow the latest Executive Order on 
Good Clinical Practice for Clinical, Trials involving Human Medicine (In Danish: 
Bekendtgørelse om god klinisk praksis i forbindelse med kliniske forsøg med lægemidler 
på mennesker").  
 
Principal Investigator and Institution accept also to report the serious adverse reactions 
and unexpected non-serious adverse reactions discovered within 2 working days to MSD 
att: Pharmacovigilance by fax +45 44 82 42 99. 
 
 
Side effects/events that will not be registered: 
In general, side effects and events that are typically seen in connection with the normal 
course of anesthesia and operation will not be registered and reported to the Danish 
Medicines Agency. In this protocol side effects/events (AE) will be defined in the form of 
expected changes in pulse and blood pressure as a result of the anesthesia. Pulse and 
blood pressure values (measured 3 repeated times within a 10-minute period) that 
deviate less than +/- 30% of the starting level will thus be accepted and not registered. 
Side effects/events that may be ascribed to the operation with certainty, for example, 
pain in the surgical wound or wound infection will not be registered. Side effects/events 
that with certainty have arisen as a result of the patient’s postoperative treatment will 


Protocol 
The hernia study 
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23 
 
not be registered. 
As reference documents for assessment of whether an SAR is a ”suspected unexpected 
serious adverse reaction” (SUSAR), the Danish Medicines Agency and EMEA’s product 
summary will be used for Sugammadex. 
The local investigator reports AR, AE, SAR, SAE and SUSAR to sponsor/ investigator. In 
the event of SAR/ SAE this happens at once. In the event of SUSAR the coordinating 
investigator will likewise report at once to sponsor/investigator. Sponsor/investigator 
will immediately report SUSAR to the Danish Medicines Agency. Within 7 days 
sponsor/investigator will ensure that all information is registered and reported to the 
Danish Medicines Agency, as well as what consequences they have for the trial. Eight 
days after reporting sponsor/investigator will report to the Danish Medicines Agency all 
relevant information about sponsor/investigator’s follow-up to the report. The case file 
of each individual trial subject will postoperatively be reviewed by the coordinating 
investigator for the purpose of tracking side effects. All AR, AE, SAR, SAE and SUSAR will 
be gathered on one list, which sponsor/investigator reports to the Scientific Ethics 
Committee and the Danish Medicines Agency at the conclusion of the trial. The list will 
contain all registered side effects/events.  
 
Quality control and quality assurance: 
General procedures for quality control and quality assurance will be followed, cf. ICH 
GCP guidelines. Data will be monitored by the GCP unit. Upon granting of informed 
consent, authorization will be obtained from the trial subjects for third parties to be able 
to have access to information on the person in question’s health condition. Investigator 
will thus allow the GCP unit or the Danish Medicines Agency direct access to source 
data/documents with monitoring, auditing and/or inspection. Concomitant medication 
and treatment before and during the trial is allowed, if it is not described under the 
exclusion criteria. A decision on which regular medicine the patient shall continue with 
before, during and after the operation will be made by the doctors in the department in 
which the patient is admitted in normal collaboration with doctors from Gentofte 


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24 
 
Hospital. 
 
 
 
Schedule: 
Anticipated start (inclusion of first patient) February 2015. Long term follow-up data 
(recurrences) will be published separately when data are ready. 
Inclusion of 1-2 patients per week is expected corresponding to duration of inclusion of 
approximately 24 months. Inclusion: Planned to go on in the period from February 2015 
to February  2017. Inclusion of patients will be stopped when the desired number of 
patients is achieved. The trial will be counted as concluded, when the last patient has 
registered with the primary endpoint.  
Data analysis and reporting: from April to May 2017. 
Ethical considerations:  
Laparoscopic herniotomy is presently conducted at Gentofte Hospital with an 
intraabdominal pressure of 12 mmHg and sometimes with use of a small quantity of 
muscle relaxant for intubation. 
It is not considered an inconvenience to use large doses of muscle relaxant, as the effect 
of this is fully reversed by sugammadex at the end of the anesthesia. Anesthesia and 
surgery will follow guidelines apart from the dosage of muscle relaxants. 
We think that it is justifiable that information about the use of muscle 
relaxants/antidotes be stored in a sealed envelope in the patient record with respect to 
the blinding. There is an option to break the seal on the envelope in an emergency 
situation. Routinely unblinding of the included patients will be done after the operation. 
Sugammadex is considered active in the first 24 hours, but the intervention will be 
considered to be over. 
The possible benefit in this trial is to investigate whether deep neuromuscular blockade 
gives better surgical space conditions at pneumoperitoneum 12mmHg in patients > 18 
years old undergoing laparoscopic umbilical, -linea alba and incisional herniotomy.  


Protocol 
The hernia study 
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25 
 
Informed consent will be obtained before the patients arrive to the operation ward. We 
thereby wish to avoid having the patient make a decision about participation in the trial, 
in the stressed environment an operation ward is often experienced as for a patient 
before an operation. The inclusion and exclusion criteria used will ensure that we only 
investigate patients who will be able to tolerate being treated according to the two 
strategies. Intervention with respect to possible complications from this, are not 
unchanged either.  
The investigation will be reported to the Scientific Ethics Committees, Danish Medicines 
Agency and Danish Data Protection Agency. The participants in the investigation are 
assured access to receive further information about the project through the coordinating 
investigator, who as contact person is referred to in the participant information. The 
“Rights of Trial Subjects” published by the Scientific Ethics Committee will be provided. 
The trial will be considered as having started on the date when there is a signed 
declaration of consent from the first patient, who will thereby be considered as included. 
The trial will be considered ended when the last patient has had the post-operative 
interview and the CRF for this patient is completed. At the end of the trial, investigator 
and sponsor will inform the Scientific Ethics Committee and the Danish Medicines 
Agency of this within 90 days. The trial will be registered in an international database 
(www.clinicaltrials.gov), before the recruitment of patients is started. 
 
Data collection and storage: 
Primary investigator will arrange for data collection and storage of CRFs in locked 
premises. The study will be reported to the Data Protection Agency. Data will be stored 
for 5 years after conclusion of the trial. The information about the patients’ health 
conditions, other purely private circumstances and other information that arises in 
connection with the trial is covered by the obligation of confidentiality. The information 
about the patients is protected by the Act on processing of personal information and the 
Danish Health Act. 
 


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26 
 
Responsible department: 
Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, legally 
represented by sponsor and primary investigator Mona Ring Gätke  
 
Economy: 
The sponsor and primary investigator has taken initiative to the biomedical research 
project.  
The project budget covers: 
 
1) salary for subinvestigator  
459.000 DKK 
2) expenses including GCP course,BIS monitoring electrodes and BIS monitor  
60.000 DKK 
3)  fees at the Danish Medicines Agency and The National Committee on Health Research 
Ethics  
15.000 DKK 
4) expenses to project medicine (Sugammadex) 
80.000 DKK (applied for from the MISP committee) 
 
Total budget 640.000 DKK 
 
Financial support (640.000 DKK = 113.790 USD) for the project has been applied for via 
the pharmaceutical company MSD, Glostrup to the international MSD MISP program.  
MSD is lending TOF-Watch for use for the study. 
Sponsor and primary investigator Mona Ring Gätke is not receiving any salary from MSD. 
She has received lecture fees and travel expenses from MSD.  
Jacob Rosenberg has received lecture fees and travel expenses from MSD.  
Matias Vested Madsen has received travel funding and speaker fee from MSD. 
 


Protocol 
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27 
 
 
 
 
 
Publication: 
The results, either positive, negative or inconclusive, will be submitted for publication in 
an international, English-language journal. Authorship will occur in accordance with 
international Committee of Medical Journal Editors’ rules (the Vancouver Group). The 
right to data and know-how that emerges in connection with the trial will belong to the 
primary investigator and the Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Hospital. 
We currently plan to publish 1) a results paper, and 2) a paper including data on 
recurrences after two years. If it, however, seems appropriate to split the data in more 
papers, then the subsequent papers will bear the same trial registration number as the 
primary papers. 
 
 
Registration: 
The study will be registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov 
 
 
 
 
 
References 
 
 1.  O'Malley C, Cunningham AJ. Physiologic changes during laparoscopy. Anesthesiol.Clin.North 
America. 2001; 19: 1-19. 
 2.  Chelala E, Gaede F, Douillez V, Dessily M, Alle JL. The suturing concept for laparoscopic mesh 
fixation in ventral and incisional hernias: preliminary results. Hernia. 2003; 7: 191-6. 
 3.  Lundstrom LH, Moller AM, Rosenstock C, Astrup G, Gatke MR, Wetterslev J. Avoidance of 
neuromuscular blocking agents may increase the risk of difficult tracheal intubation: a 
cohort study of 103,812 consecutive adult patients recorded in the Danish Anaesthesia 


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The hernia study 
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28 
 
Database. Br.J.Anaesth. 2009; 103: 283-90. 
 4.  Williams MT, Rice I, Ewen SP, Elliott SM. A comparison of the effect of two anaesthetic 
techniques on surgical conditions during gynaecological laparoscopy. Anaesthesia 2003; 58: 
574-8. 
 5.  Cantineau JP, Porte F, d'Honneur G, Duvaldestin P. Neuromuscular effects of rocuronium on 
the diaphragm and adductor pollicis muscles in anesthetized patients. Anesthesiology 1994; 
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 6.  Hemmerling TM, Donati F. Neuromuscular blockade at the larynx, the diaphragm and the 
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 7.  Dhonneur G, Kirov K, Motamed C et al. Post-tetanic count at adductor pollicis is a better 
indicator of early diaphragmatic recovery than train-of-four count at corrugator supercilii. 
Br.J.Anaesth. 2007; 99: 376-9. 
 8.  Groudine SB, Soto R, Lien C, Drover D, Roberts K. A randomized, dose-finding, phase II study 
of the selective relaxant binding drug, Sugammadex, capable of safely reversing profound 
rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block. Anesth.Analg. 2007; 104: 555-62. 
 9.  Fuchs-Buder T, Claudius C, Skovgaard LT, Eriksson LI, Mirakhur RK, Viby-Mogensen J. Good 
clinical research practice in pharmacodynamic studies of neuromuscular blocking agents II: 
the Stockholm revision. Acta Anaesthesiol.Scand. 2007; 51: 789-808. 
 10.  Klemola UM, Mennander S, Saarnivaara L. Tracheal intubation without the use of muscle 
relaxants: remifentanil or alfentanil in combination with propofol. Acta Anaesthesiol.Scand. 
2000; 44: 465-9. 
 11.  Stevens JB, Wheatley L. Tracheal intubation in ambulatory surgery patients: using 
remifentanil and propofol without muscle relaxants. Anesth.Analg. 1998; 86: 45-9. 
 12.  Boon M, Martini CH, Aarts LP, Bevers RF, Dahan A. Effect of variations in depth of 
neuromuscular blockade on rating of surgical conditions by surgeon and anesthesiologist in 
patients undergoing laparoscopic renal or prostatic surgery (BLISS trial): study protocol for 
a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2013; 14: 63.