Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Gastric Emptying and Gastrointestinal Transit

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the study is to determine the effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on gastric emptying and oro-caecal transit time in healthy volunteers, judged by measuring plasma paracetamol concentrations after paracetamol ingestion and pulmonary hydrogen measurement technique after lactulose ingestion. The effects of dexmedetomidine will be compared to the effects of morphine and placebo.

Official Title
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Effect of Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Gastric Emptying and Gastrointestinal Transit in Healthy Volunteers

Conditions
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Gastric Emptying, Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Dexmedetomidine
* Drug: Morphine
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Normal cognitive function and fluent skills in the Finnish language in order to be able to give informed consent and communicate with the study personnel Age ≥ 18 years. Male gender. Weight ≥ 60 kg. Written informed consent from the subject. Exclusion Criteria: Previous history of intolerance to the study drugs or related compounds and additives. Concomitant drug therapy of any kind except ibuprofen in the 14 days prior to the study days. Existing or recent significant disease. History of haematological, endocrine, metabolic or gastrointestinal disease. History of asthma or any kind of drug allergy. Previous or present alcoholism, drug abuse, psychological or other emotional problems that are likely to invalidate informed consent, or limit the ability of the subject to comply with the protocol requirements. A positive test result for urine toxicology. A yes answer to any of the questions in a modified Finnish version of the Abuse Questions Donation of blood within six weeks prior to and during the study. Special diet or lifestyle factors which would compromise the conditions of the study or the interpretation of the results. BMI > 30 kg / m2. Participation in any other clinical study involving investigational or marketed drug products concomitantly or within one month prior to the entry into this study. Smoking during one month before the start of the study or during the study period. Clinically significant abnormal findings in physical examination, ECG or laboratory screening [routine haematology (haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, platelets), renal function tests (creatinine, urea) and liver function tests (bilirubin)].

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Dexmedetomidine<br>The study subjects will be given a normal loading dose (1 μg/kg in 20 minutes) of dexmedetomidine (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride 100 μg/ml, Precedex® Abbott Laboratories North Chicago, IL 60064, USA) followed by continuous infusion of 0.7 μg/kg/h for 190 min. The administration of the loading dose will be started at t = -30 min (30 min prior to the administration of paracetamol and lactulose). | Drug: Dexmedetomidine<br>* The study subjects will be given a normal loading dose (1 μg/kg in 20 minutes) of dexmedetomidine (dexmedetomidine hydrochloride 100 μg/ml, Precedex® Abbott Laboratories North Chicago, IL 60064, USA) followed by continuous infusion of 0.7 μg/kg/h for 190 min. The administration of the loading dose will be started at t = -30 min (30 min prior to the administration of paracetamol and lactulose).<br>|
| Active Comparator: Morphine<br>The study subjects will be given 0.10 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride (morphine hydrochloride 2 mg/ml, Morphin® Nycomed Austria GmbH, St. Peter Strasse 25, A-4021, Linz, Austria) in 20 minutes followed by a placebo infusion for 190 min. The administration of the morphine infusion will be started at t = -30 min (30 min prior to the administration of paracetamol and lactulose). | Drug: Morphine<br>* The study subjects will be given 0.10 mg/kg morphine hydrochloride (morphine hydrochloride 2 mg/ml, Morphin® Nycomed Austria GmbH, St. Peter Strasse 25, A-4021, Linz, Austria) in 20 minutes followed by a placebo infusion for 190 min. The administration of the morphine infusion will be started at t = -30 min (30 min prior to the administration of paracetamol and lactulose).<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>The study subjects will be given a saline infusion. | Drug: Placebo<br>* 0.9 % NaCl will be infused.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The effect of dexmedetomidine on gastric emptying and oro-caecal transit time | 5 ml venous blood samples will be collected immediately prior to administration of paracetamol (baseline) and thereafter at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 210 and 240 min into EDTA tubes for determination of paracetamol plasma concentrations. End-expiratory breath samples will be obtained immediately prior to administration of lactulose (baseline) and thereafter at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min. | 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 75, 80, 90, 105, 120, 135, 150, 165, 180, 210 and 240 min | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Dexmedetomidine, gastric emptying, oro-cecal transit time, Sedation in intensive care, Gastrointestinal effects of sedation