NCT01860521

Brief Summary

This study included women who underwent voluntary second trimester termination of pregnancy. Patients were randomized to programmed intermittent epidural anesthetic bolus or continuous epidural infusion for pain analgesia. In this randomized, double-blind study, the investigators assess the incidence of motor block (primary outcome), degree of satisfaction of the patients, total levobupivacaine and sufentanil consumption and adverse events (secondary outcomes) between the two study groups.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
104

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2011

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2011

Completed
1.7 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 13, 2013

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 22, 2013

Completed
10 days until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2013

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2013

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

October 28, 2013

Completed
Last Updated

October 28, 2013

Status Verified

August 1, 2013

Enrollment Period

1.8 years

First QC Date

May 13, 2013

Results QC Date

June 10, 2013

Last Update Submit

August 19, 2013

Conditions

Keywords

Termination of pregnancySecond trimesterProgrammed intermittent epidural bolusContinuous epidural infusionEpidural analgesiaLegally Induced Abortion

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Incidence of Motor Block

    The assessment of the degree of motor block was performed in the right and left lower extremities using the Breen modified Bromage score: 1 = complete block (unable to move feet or knees), 2 = almost complete block (able to move feet only), 3 = partial block (just able to move knees), 4 = detectable weakness of hip flexion while supine (between scores 3 and 5), 5 = no detectable weakness of hip flexion while supine (full flexion of knees), and 6 = able to stand and to perform partial knee bend. Patients with a Bromage score \< 6 were considered to have motor block.

    Assessed every hour from starting the analgesia procedure (up to 66 hours from starting of the procedure).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Degree of Satisfaction of the Patients With the Analgesia Procedure

    At discharge from the hospital (up to 72 hours from starting of the procedure).

  • Total Levobupivacaine Consumption

    At the moment of fetal expulsion (up to 66 hours from starting of the procedure).

  • Total Sufentanil Consumption.

    During the whole analgesia procedure (assessed between the starting of the procedure until 66 hours).

Study Arms (2)

Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Procedure: Programmed Intermittent Epidural BolusProcedure: Procedure of interruption of pregnancyDrug: Drug used for analgesia proceduresDevice: Pump for programmed intermittent bolus.Drug: Drug used for termination of pregnancy procedure.

Continuous Epidural Infusion

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Procedure: Continuous Epidural InfusionProcedure: Procedure of interruption of pregnancyDrug: Drug used for analgesia proceduresDevice: Pump for continuous epidural infusion.Drug: Drug used for termination of pregnancy procedure.

Interventions

An initial epidural loading dose consisting of 0.0625% levobupivacaine 20 mL (Chirocaine®, Abbott, Chicago, USA) plus sufentanil 10 µg (Fentatienil®, Angelini, Rome, Italy) was followed by 0.0625% levobupivacaine with sufentanil 0.5 µg/mL, 10 mL every hour, starting 60 minutes after the administration of the initial epidural loading dose until expulsion of the fetus. If the patient still felt pain (VAPS score ≥ 30mm), despite the analgesia, additional manual incremental boluses of 5-mL levobupivacaine 0.125% until the VAPS score was \< 30 mm were administered.

Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

An initial epidural loading dose consisting of 0.0625% levobupivacaine 20 mL (Chirocaine®, Abbott, Chicago, USA) plus sufentanil 10 µg (Fentatienil®, Angelini, Rome, Italy) was followed by 0.0625% levobupivacaine with sufentanil 0.5 µg/mL at a rate of 10 mL/h, starting 60 minutes after the administration of the initial epidural loading dose until expulsion of the fetus. If the patient still felt pain (VAPS score ≥ 30mm), despite the analgesia, additional manual incremental boluses of 5-mL levobupivacaine 0.125% until the VAPS score was \< 30 mm were administered.

Continuous Epidural Infusion

Patients were administered 1 mg of gemeprost pessaries (Cervidil®, Merck Serono SPA, Roma, Italy) in the posterior fornix of the vagina every 3 hours up to 5 doses. If the expulsion of the fetus did not occur, the therapeutic regimen was repeated after 24 hours from the initiation of the treatment. Induction-to-abortion time (hours) was considered the period of time comprised between the first gemeprost pessary administration and fetal expulsion. Failure of induction of abortion was defined as women undelivered after two completed cycles (48h).The evacuation of the uterus under general anesthesia was performed if ultrasonography showed retained productions of conception.

Continuous Epidural InfusionProgrammed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

Levobupivacaine (Chirocaine®, Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA) and sufentanil(Fentatienil®, Angelini, Rome, Italy) were administered in both study groups according to the regimen of each intervention arm (Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus Versus Continuous Epidural Infusion).

Also known as: Levobupivacaine: Chirocaine®, Abbott, Chicago, IL, USA., Sufentanil: Fentatienil®, Angelini, Rome, Italy.
Continuous Epidural InfusionProgrammed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

Pump administering programmed intermittent epidural bolus for the maintenance of analgesia was used.

Also known as: Pump: Gemstar®; Hospira, Lake Forest, USA.
Programmed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

Pump administering continuous epidural infusion for the maintenance of analgesia was used.

Also known as: Pump: Gemstar®; Hospira, Lake Forest, USA.
Continuous Epidural Infusion

Gemeprost pessaries.

Also known as: Gemeprost pessaries: Cervidil®, Merck Serono SPA, Rome, Italy.
Continuous Epidural InfusionProgrammed Intermittent Epidural Bolus

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • age ≥ 18 years
  • pregnancy at second trimester
  • willingness of voluntary interrupt the pregnancy
  • comprehension of Italian Language
  • baseline pain score ≥ 30 on a 100-mm visual analog pain scale (VAPS)

You may not qualify if:

  • contraindication to epidural analgesia and to narcotics
  • history of drug abuse or chronic use
  • maternal disease (such as severe asthma, cardiac, liver or kidney disease)
  • inability to comprehend or comply with the analgesia pain management procedures.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Martino Hospital and National Institute for Cancer Research, University of Genoa

Genoa, Ligury, 16132, Italy

Location

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Umberto Leone Roberti Maggiore
Organization
IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy

Study Officials

  • Simone Ferrero, PhD

    Universita degli Studi di Genova

    STUDY DIRECTOR
  • Umberto Leone Roberti Maggiore, MD

    Universita degli Studi di Genova

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator, Research Fellow.

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2013

First Posted

May 22, 2013

Study Start

September 1, 2011

Primary Completion

June 1, 2013

Study Completion

June 1, 2013

Last Updated

October 28, 2013

Results First Posted

October 28, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-08

Locations