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NCT Number: NCT03349034

Local Infusion of Ropivacaine for Post-Op Pain Control After Osseocutaneous Free Flaps

Head and neck oncologic surgery often requires the use of free tissue transfer, or microvascular reconstruction, to reconstruct defects created by tumor resections. Although there are several techniques for the reconstruction of defects, resection of large tumors leave defects that require the transfer of vascularized tissue from one part of the body to repair the defect. For example, the removal of a segment of diseased mandible requires free tissue transfer containing the component parts - skin, muscle, and bone - to reconstruct the deficit created by the resection of the tumor. Over the years, microvascular surgeons have focused their attention on maximizing the success of these technically difficult surgeries. However, now, with free flap reconstruction rates in excess of 95%, surgeons are afforded the opportunity to turn their focus toward the morbidities associated with these surgeries. While much has been published about donor site wound healing, pain control in the post-operative period has largely been neglected in the head and neck reconstruction literature. Systemic analgesia with opioids is standard of care, which has been shown to lead to increased confusion, significantly increased length of stay and increased risk of pulmonary complications. In addition, it has been shown that early mobilization and optimal wound care can decrease donor site morbidity.

In this study the clinical team aims to better control donor site pain utilizing local, targeted analgesia to relieve pain at the donor site for osseocutaneous free-flaps. To reduce confounding and bias, the study will be a double-blind prospective randomized placebo controlled trial wherein patients undergoing osseocutaneous free flap surgery will be randomized to receive continuous infusion of ropivacaine or normal saline (placebo) via local continuous infusion catheter, which will be placed intraoperatively at the time of donor site closure. Patients' pain will be monitored for the first 48hrs after surgery. Donor site and global pain at rest will be evaluated every 8 hours for the first two postoperative days using a visual analogue pain scale (VAS). Essentially, there is a 100 millimeter line drawn on a piece of paper, with "no pain" marking the left end of the line and "worst pain" marking the right end of the line. Subjects mark with a pen along the line where pain is felt fits along that continuum. A researcher then measures how far along the line that mark is placed and then it is recorded. Median daily opiate use via PCA will also be tracked. Donor site-specific range of motion and strength will be assessed with a formal physical therapy evaluation on post-operative day 2 or soonest non-holiday weekday. Information on patient satisfaction, time to ambulation, and length of stay will also be collected. Subgroup analysis will be performed.

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Key information

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer Free Tissue Transfer Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pain, Postoperative Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York, 10129, United States

About this study

Procedures involved in this study include:

  • Intraoperatively, following procurement of the fibula or scapula bone graft and at the time of surgical wound closure, all patients will receive the placement of a continuous infusion catheter into the donor site wound bed. The infusion reservoir will be connected to a catheter-based On-Q pump, and the catheter will be placed in the donor site. A stab incision separate from the surgical wound will be used to bring the catheter through the skin. Patients will be randomized to receive 6 ml/hr of 0.2% Ropivacaine or 6 ml/hr of normal saline via the infusion reservoir. The catheter will be left in place with continuous infusion for first 48 hours of the post-operative period. The catheters will be removed by the housestaff on POD2. There is minimal risk to removing the OnQ catheter. Any opening in the skin will be covered with gauze to allow primary healing. Solutions of saline and ropivacaine will be prepared and made available for infusion by the Mount Sinai Pharmacy. Solutions will be blinded, and identical in appearance. Patients will be assigned to ropivacaine or saline intervention by the research pharmacy through coded envelopes. Patients, physicians, nurses, and research personnel will be blinded to treatment assignment. Every 8 hours for the first 48 hours, patients will be asked to complete a visual analogue scale (VAS) for reporting their pain. The VAS will be performed six times over the course of the 48hrs. These will be performed during regular flap check monitoring, to ensure patients are not disrupted additional times throughout the day for this study. Patients will otherwise receive standard of care pain management, including Tylenol 650 q6hr standing as well as a dilaudid PCA set to low-dose, opioid naïve. On post-operative day 2 patient will receive a physical therapy evaluation.

Prior to discharge from the hospital, the study subjects will be asked to complete a brief survey (APS-POQ-R Pain Survey) regarding their experience, with regard to pain management.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients receiving osseocutaneous free tissue transfer regardless of the indication for free tissue transfer.

This includes osseocutaneous tissue from fibula and scapula

  • Age ≥ 18

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients unable to understand the research protocol and/or provide informed consent
  • Patients under the age of 18
  • Patients with a history of allergic reaction to Ropivacaine or other local amide anesthetics
  • Patients whose participation in this trial would require exclusion from participation in another clinical research trial related to the patient's malignant diagnosis.
  • Patients with previous pain disorders or drug abuse requiring chronic narcotic use.
  • Vulnerable populations (adults unable to consent, individuals who are not yet adults, wards of the state, prisoners)

Treatment and study plan

ropivicaine

Drug

Patients will be randomized to receive a local continuous infusion of 6 ml/hr of 0.2% Ropivacaine via On-Q infusion pump, at the donor site, for the first 48 hours of the postoperative period.

Local Saline Infusion

Drug

Patients will be randomized to receive a local continuous infusion of 6 ml/hr of 0.9% normal saline via On-Q infusion pump, at the donor site, for the first 48 hours of the postoperative period.

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-Operative Pain at Donor-Site

    Time frame: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 hours

    Pain assessed every 8 hours for the first 48 hours using a visual analogue pain scale at rest. A visual analogue pain scale is a validated pain measure. Essentially, there is a 100 millimeter line drawn on a piece of paper, with "no pain" marking the left end of the line and "worst pain" marking the right end of the line. Subjects mark with a pen along the line where pain is felt fits along that continuum. A researcher then measures how far along the line that mark is placed and then it is recorded. Full scale from 0-100, higher score indicates more pain.

  2. Post-Operative Pain - Global Pain

    Time frame: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 hours

    Pain assessed every 8 hours for the first 48 hours using a visual analogue pain scale at rest. A visual analogue pain scale is a validated pain measure. Essentially, there is a 100 millimeter line drawn on a piece of paper, with "no pain" marking the left end of the line and "worst pain" marking the right end of the line. Subjects mark with a pen along the line where pain is felt fits along that continuum. A researcher then measures how far along the line that mark is placed and then it is recorded. Full scale from 0-100, higher score indicates more pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Opioid Consumption

    Time frame: 48 hours

    All subjects receive standing tylenol 650mg every 6 hours as well as a dilaudid PCA set for low-dose, opioid-naive patients for the first 48 hours post-operatively. Total opioid consumption for each subject during the first 48 hours is recorded measured in oral morphine equivalents (OME).

  2. Range of Motion

    Time frame: 48 hours

    At 48 hours all subjects will receive a physical therapy evaluation. Range of motion will be measured in degrees

  3. Distance Ambulated

    Time frame: 48 hours

    At 48 hours all subjects received a physical therapy evaluation. Distance ambulated measured in feet.

  4. Strength

    Time frame: 48 hours

    At 48 hours all subjects received a physical therapy evaluation. Strength measured on a standard neurological 5 point scale: 0 = Complete Paralysis to 5 = Normal Power.

  5. American Pain Society-Patient Outcome Questionnaire - (APS-POQ-R)

    Time frame: 48 hours

    Pain question on APS-POQ-R - A standardized pain satisfaction survey distributed to subjects at 48 hours rating their overall satisfaction with postoperative pain management. a 16-item questions measured on a 10-point numeric likert scale, with higher scores indicating more pain. Total range from 0 (no pain) to 200 (severe pain).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Role of Continuous Local Infusion of Ropivacaine for Post-Operative Pain Management in Patients Receiving Osseocutaneous Free Flaps

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Nov 21, 2017
Registry last updated
Nov 17, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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