Clinical trial NCT05379179: Ketamine Pilot Study
Official title: Pilot Study: Ketamine for Acute Pain After Rattlesnake Envenomation
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Rattlesnake Envenomation
Keywords: Acute pain after rattlesnake bite
Rattlesnake envenomation
low dose ketamine
pain dose ketamine
Lead sponsor: University of Arizona
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2022-05-18
Enrollment: 3
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Following enrollment, subject will be randomly assigned to receive either ketamine, or fentanyl. A randomization masterlist has been developed that will be used to assign drug. Subjects will be assigned in sequential order. Each block will alternate between each drug. Subjects will have 50/50 chance of being assigned to ketamine or fentanyl.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This is a pilot study to evaluate pain responses from two different approved medications (ketamine and fentanyl) in the treatment of pain after rattlesnake envenomation (RSE). Both medications are currently used in standard practice to treat both acute and chronic pain and are options for pain management after RSE. Multiple studies exist showing ketamine to be both safe and effective for the treatment of acute pain, and to be as good as or better than opioids for this indication. The specific comparison of ketamine to fentanyl, however, has never been studied for the treatment of acute pain after rattlesnake envenomation in the United States. The investigators plan to measure pain scores after a single dose of ketamine or fentanyl in patients shortly after being envenomated, followed by continued treatment of pain guided by the treating doctor. There will be no restrictions on additional pain medications given and no other changes to the treatment of these patients during their hospitalization. This research is important because pain after RSE can be difficult to control and may require frequent, high doses of opioids for several days. An effective non-opioid medication would be helpful both to better-control pain and to reduce exposure to opioids in this patient population. This study will compare patient-reported pain scores after receiving a single dose of ketamine or fentanyl in patients with rattlesnake bites who have been admitted to the toxicology service at Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix (BUMCP).

Detailed description: Multiple studies have shown ketamine to be safe and effective agent for acute pain syndromes. RSEs classically result in severe pain that can be difficult to control, despite use of opioids, non-opioid analgesics, and positioning techniques, including splinting and elevation. Furthermore, the ongoing opioid epidemic pushes clinicians to explore non-opioid agents to avoid unnecessary exposure of patients to these high-risk medications. At least one small study has shown ketamine to be safe in rattlesnake envenomated patients.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Ages ≥ 18 years.
* Able to speak and understand English.
* RSE requiring IV pain medication for NRS pain score \> 5.
* No allergy to ketamine or fentanyl.
* Ability to provide informed consent.
* ≤ 24 hours from envenomation.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or lactating.
* Prisoners.
* Refugees.
* History of schizophrenia.
* Clinically intoxicated.
* On buprenorphine therapy.
* History of uncontrolled hypertension
* Increased intracranial pressure
* Systemic envenomation

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Pain Assessment Post Medication
timeFrame: 30-120 minutes after drug administration
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Adverse Events
timeFrame: During hospitalization, up to 120 minutes
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Phoenix
country: United States
facility: Banner - University Medical Center, Phoenix campus
state: Arizona
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Arizona
name: Meghan Spyres, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Karlow N, Schlaepfer CH, Stoll CRT, Doering M, Carpenter CR, Colditz GA, Motov S, Miller J, Schwarz ES. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Ketamine as an Alternative to Opioids for Acute Pain in the Emergency Department. Acad Emerg Med. 2018 Oct;25(10):1086-1097. doi: 10.1111/acem.13502. Epub 2018 Jul 17.
citation: Brandehoff N, Benjamin JM, Balde C, Chippaux JP. Ketamine for pain control of snake envenomation in Guinea: A case series. Toxicon. 2020 Nov;187:82-85. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.08.020. Epub 2020 Sep 3.
citation: Balzer N, McLeod SL, Walsh C, Grewal K. Low-dose Ketamine For Acute Pain Control in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Apr;28(4):444-454. doi: 10.1111/acem.14159. Epub 2021 Jan 2.
citation: Andolfatto G, Willman E, Joo D, Miller P, Wong WB, Koehn M, Dobson R, Angus E, Moadebi S. Intranasal ketamine for analgesia in the emergency department: a prospective observational series. Acad Emerg Med. 2013 Oct;20(10):1050-4. doi: 10.1111/acem.12229.
citation: Gallagher EJ, Liebman M, Bijur PE. Prospective validation of clinically important changes in pain severity measured on a visual analog scale. Ann Emerg Med. 2001 Dec;38(6):633-8. doi: 10.1067/mem.2001.118863.