Autonomous Nervous System Regulated Paediatric Anaesthesia With Dexmedetomidine or Placebo

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this randomized, double blinded study is to examine in children whether postoperative agitation can be reduced. The main question it aims to answer is Will optimized, monitor guided analgesic treatment and dexmedetomidine reduce postoperative agitation Participants will receive a standard anaesthesia regimen and on top of that, a titrable remifentanil infusion guided via Mdoloris Anastasia nociception index (ANI) monitor will be added. Additionally, the patients will receive either bolus placebo or bolus dexmedetomidine. The postoperative agitation measured via the Richmond agitation and sedation scale (RASS) score, will be compared. Secondary outcome measures including carbon dioxide trends will be made.

Detailed Description
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Study protocol Screening of eligible patients before procedure day All children assigned for evaluation for abdominal or urology procedures are primarily seen by surgeons in an ambulatory visit. This takes place in the months or weeks before surgery. If surgery for abdominal or urology issues is decided, the paediatric surgeons hand out a patient s folder about the present study. The patient information folder is seen in supplement 1. Line Gry Larsen (LGL) will attend the surgeon's ambulatory visits in the start-up phase, assisting the paediatric surgeons in what information to give by handing out patient information folders. It is not the intent that the paediatric surgeons should give the full information. If the parents/legal representative(s) consent to further contact, they sign a brief consent form for primary contact, including the preferred phone number and time frame, see supplement 2 The parents are then contacted by phone by one of the researchers within the assigned time frame, and the study is now introduced in full, in line with the information given in the patient information folder. There will be time for questions and careful consideration about participation. The researchers who provide the information to the families are all experienced within the field of anaesthesia, research, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-guidelines. If the parents show immediate interest in participating, the importance of bringing a signed power of attorney if one of the parents/legal representatives is not attending on the procedure day is emphasized. Progress on procedure day Information, consent, and randomization On the procedure day, one of the researchers again consults with the child and its parents/legal representatives in a private meeting room. They are offered the possibility to bring a bystander or be provided one. A summary of information about the study previously given by phone is done, including the right to withdraw consent. Questions are again encouraged. If the parents/legal representatives after receiving oral and written information agree on participation, consent forms are now signed and randomization is done to either placebo or intervention group, blinded for the participant, researcher, and other staff. The procedure is then performed that same day. Contact information is stored in the REDCap database for follow-up data, and to provide the family conclusions of the study after finalization. Anaesthesia One or both parents or legal representatives follow the child to the operating theatre. Induction of anaesthesia is set as time = 0 and the first RASS score is registered. The child is then anaesthetized via inhalation of sevoflurane 8% on a mask while she or he is sitting with one of the parents. As soon as the child is asleep, the parents are shown to a waiting area. I.v access is obtained, and fentanyl 2-4 mcg i.v is given, and adjusted to fit the planned procedure. Airway management is typically done with a laryngeal mask aiming to keep the child spontaneous breathing throughout the procedure. Standard monitoring is applied: ECG, blood pressure cuff measuring, and fingertip oxygen saturation. Furthermore, all children are ANI monitored. A continuous infusion of remifentanil 0,5 mcg/kg/hour is started immediately and withheld for the entire procedure. Sevoflurane concentrations, airway pressure, and end-tidal carbon dioxide tensions, are noted. When all monitoring equipment is applied, a bolus infusion of the study drug (dexmedetomidine 0,5 mcg/kg or placebo) is given within the first 10 minutes. With ANI values < 50, a bolus of fentanyl of 1 mcg/kg or remifentanil 0,1 mcg/kg is given. Which drug is given, is assessed, and decided by the anaesthetist. The effect of this intervention is evaluated every five minutes and repeated if ANI is still < 50. Sevoflurane concentration is adjusted, guided by a clinical evaluation in a usual manner, guided by Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC) values 0,7-1,4. In the case of bradycardia or other arrhythmias, bolus dexmedetomidine (DEX) is immediately discontinued, and remifentanil (REMI) is withheld until baseline heart frequency is achieved. If longer-lasting bradycardia exists, iv. Atropine/kg bodyweight is given. To connect specific events to ANI values, the following are registered via the monitor: infusions, airway in, incision, bolus remifentanil, bolus fentanyl, neuraxial, local anaesthesia, bolus sevoflurane, suture, intense surgical stimuli, bradycardia, other [note in anaesthesia chart], and airway out. All children receive standard premedication, consisting of oral or rectal diclofenac and paracetamol according to weight. Children will receive wound infiltration with local anaesthetics (bupivacaine 2.5 mg/mL) or a regional block while anaesthetized, when indicated. The anaesthesia is terminated, the airway device is removed before leaving the operating theatre, and the child is then followed to the postoperative care unit (PACU). Even if project medication is withheld, data collected until that time and until discharged and follow-up, are included. In the case of an unexpected major change of standard procedure, e.g., a severe surgical complication resulting in surgeries far from normal procedures, ex. laparotomies, the patient will be excluded from the study. The most time-critical point is on procedure day when general ward flow is to be balanced with appropriate time for the information, consent, randomization, and medicinal setup. The most time-critical data are the ANI values perioperatively and the importance of administering supplementary remifentanil boluses at the same time as when ANI values go below 50. PACU stay Usual Face Legs Activity Cry Consolidation (FLACC) and Postoperative Nausea and Vomitation(PONV) scorings are done. For this study population, a supplementary RASS score is done every 15 minutes, a maximum nurse-Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)f, and a Paediatric Agitation and Emergence Delirium (PAED) score, each done once. Follow up The parents/legal representatives will automatically receive a questionnaire via electronic mail as soon as the children are included in the study. In this, a parent NRS, nausea, type, and dosage of pain killers are noted. If it is deemed too much of a task for the parent, the researchers can instead offer a follow-up phone interview and make the questionnaire orally with the parents. A questionnaire is seen in supplement 3. Due to the short half-life of the drugs used in this study, a long-term follow-up will not be done and participation in this study terminates at 24h. Any protocol violations, adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), or suspected unexpected adverse reactions (SUSARS) are noted in a REDCap database and can be noted by all investigators. Additionally, SAE and SUSARS are noted in the SAE/SUSAR registration form as seen in supplement 4 The sponsor is notified of these automatically via an email notification provided by REDCap, or in case of breakdown, directly from the responsible researcher on procedure day. Common events such as challenges with obtaining i.v. access or laryngeal mask leak are not registered or stored in this study, as they are common and do have no correlation to study drugs or equipment. Finally, the investigators wish to emphasize caution is taken, in creating a safe and comfortable atmosphere for both patients and their parents/legal representatives.

Official Title
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Autonomous Nervous System Regulated Anaesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Dexmedetomidine and Placebo in Heart Rate Variability Monitored Children

Conditions
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Postoperative Confusion, Postoperative Delirium, Postoperative Pain, Acute, Postoperative Complications

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Dexmedetomidine
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria Children allocated for general anaesthesia in abdominal and urology setup. American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score 1-2. Consent from both parents/legal representatives Exclusion Criteria: ASA >2 Missing consent from both parents/legal representatives. Known allergies or intolerances for remifentanil and dexmedetomidine. Intubation. Non fluently Danish speaking/reading parents/representatives

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 1 Year
Maximum Age: 6 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

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

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: DEX: Bolus dexmedetomidine 0,5 mcg/kg<br>Intravenous infusion during first 10 minutes of anesthesia | Drug: Dexmedetomidine<br>* To reduce postoperative agitation<br>* Other names: DEX;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo (PCB): Bolus isotonic saline<br>Intravenous infusion during first 10 minutes of anesthesia | Drug: Placebo<br>* Placebo bolus saline<br>* Other names: PCB;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale Score (RASS) | Nurse evaluation of agitation/sedation on a scale from -5 (deeply sedated) to +4 (highly agitated) | Once within the first minute at entering operating theatre | 
| Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale Score (RASS) | Nurse evaluation of agitation/sedation on a scale from -5 (deeply sedated) to +4 (highly agitated) | Once within the first minute at entering the postoperative care unit (PACU) | 
| Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale Score (RASS) | Nurse evaluation of agitation/sedation on a scale from -5 (deeply sedated) to +4 (highly agitated) | Every 15. minutes while admitted to postoperative care unit (PACU) and until discharge, within a time frame of maximum 240 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anaesthesia time consumption | Anaesthesia duration | From the minute of induction of anaesthesia minute of extubation, within a time phrame of 180 minutes | 
| Postoperative care unit (PACU) time consumption | PACU duration | From the minute of entering PACU area to the minute of discharge from hospital, within a time phrame of 400 minutes | 
| Total time consumption | Total admission duration | From the minute of induction of anaesthesia to the minute discharge from hospital, within a time phame of 600 minutes | 
| Total fentanyl dosage | Total dosage of fentanyl from whole hospital stay | From the minute of induction of anaesthesia to the minute discharge from hospital, within a time phame of 600 minutes | 
| total remifentanil dosage | Total dose remifentanyl infusion + boluses | From the minute of induction of anaesthesia to the minute discharge from hospital, within a time phame of 600 minutes | 
| Postoperative Nausea and vomiting (PONV) in Postoperative Care Unit (PACU) | One maximum score within a 0 - 2 scale, 2 represents most PONV | From the minute of entering the PACU area to the minute of discharge from hospital, time phrame of maximum 400 minutes | 
| Postoperative Nausea and vomiting (PONV) after discharge | One maximum score within a 0 - 2 scale during the first 24 hours after discharge. 2 represents most nausea. | From the minute of discharge from hospital until 24 hours after discharge from hospital. Time phrame of maximum 24 hours. | 
| Nurse - numeric Rating Score (nNRS) | Scale from 1-10 and 10 represents most pain. One maximum score for the entire postoperative care unit (PACU) stay | From the minute of entering the PACU area to the minute of discharge from hospital, a time phrame of maximum 400 minutes | 
| Parent - Numeric Rating Scale (pNRS) | Scale from 1-10, 10 is most pain. Maximum NRS estimated by parents | From the minute of discharge from hospital until 24 hours after discharge from hospital. Time phrame of maximum 24 hours. | 
| Face Leggs Agitation Cry Consolidation (FLACC) scale score | One maximum score, 0-10 points, 10 points represents most pain state | From the minute of entering the PACU area to the minute of discharge from hospital, a time phrame of maximum 400 minutes | 
| Paediatric Emergency Delirium Scale Score (PAED) scale score | One maximum score, 0-18 points, 18 points represents most delirium. Scoring done once during entire postoperative care unit (PACU) stay. | From the minute of entering the PACU area to the minute of discharge from hospital, a time phrame of maximum 400 minutes | 
| Paracetamol dosage | Total dose paracetamol given in relation to the anesthesia, both premedication and what is given from caretakers in hospital and parents the following day. | From admission to hospital until 24 hours after anesthesia, maximum of two days | 
| Voltaren dosage | Total dose paracetamol given in relation to the anesthesia, both premedication and what is given from caretakers in hospital and parents the following day. | From admission to hospital until 24 hours after anesthesia, time phrame of maximum of two days | 
| Other analgesics dosage | Total dose of miscellaneous medications given in relation to the procedure/anesthesia | From admission to hospital until 24 hours after anesthesia, time phrame of maximum of two days | 
| Propofol dosage | Total dosage propofol given in relation to the anaesthesia | From the minute of induction of anaesthesia until care overtaken by postoperative care (PACU) nurses, within a time frame of 400 minutes | 
| events | Events during anesthesia: cough, movement, incision, extra fentanyl administration, bolus remifentanil, ANI < 50, suture, extubation, other | During anaeshtesia between induction and extubation, within a time frame of maximum 400 minutes | 
| Carbondioxide tensions | End-Tidal carbondioxide tension during anaeshtesia | Every five minutes during anaestesia, between induction and extubation, within a time phrame of maximum 400 minutes |