NCT05237700

Brief Summary

Robotic assisted laparoscopic and laparoscopic gynecological, colon-rectal and urological surgical procedures require that patients be placed in steep Trendelenburg positioning with or without lithotomy on operating table. Steep Trendelenburg positioning is a variation of supine positioning in which the patient lies face up with the head and body tilted 250-450 downwards. In lithotomy position the legs are placed in stirrups and knees bent flexing the leg on the operating table. Lithotomy position can be graded in four levels according to what access the surgeon needs. The arms are tucked and padded parallel to the body, or the arms left on an arm board at an angel of less 900. Intraoperative peripheral nerve injury (IPNI) may follow incorrect positioning, inadequate fixation, or prolonged time in positioning. IPNI is defined as new (within 48 h) sensory and/or motor deficits and occurs following a combination of stretch, ischemia and/or compression during surgery and the injuries are either temporary or permanent. In a systematic review we found that IPNI was related to lithotomy positioning with steep Trendelenburg in upper and lower extremity and the incidence of IPNI ranges from 0.16% to 10 %. IPNI after patient positioning on operating table has been described to result in pain and other symptoms as numbness, weakness, and tingling. As demonstrated in our systematic review many of the patients with IPNI did not report pain, which also supported in a recent review. In addition, our systematic review showed that the symptoms appeared immediately after surgical procedures and usually subside within three months. The systematic review also demonstrates that a few patients continue to have pain or/and other symptoms of IPNI up to one year following the surgery. Furthermore, previous studies have demonstrated that pain intensity and duration of pain influence daily activities and quality of life negatively. Positioning of the patients on operating table is a teamwork where the operating room nurse (ORN) has a pivotal role in order to protect the patients from experiencing injuries due to e.g. nerve compression and compromised circulation. The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge of IPNI related to positioning in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery and laparoscopic surgery. As IPNI is an unclear phenomenon that can be difficult to diagnose, we want to identify pain and other symptoms immediately after surgery that might have an impact on development of IPNI. Several studies have reported persistent pain after surgery like neuropathic pain and that neuropathic pain occur soon after nerve lesion. To get at a broader picture of IPNI we want to explore pain and other symptoms and to characterize how these symptoms might change, and to identify risk factors associated with IPNI. Therefore, the aims of the present study are:

  1. 1.Identify the incidence of IPNI up to 12 months after surgery.
  2. 2.Explore pain, other symptoms, physical function and quality of life up to 12 months after surgery.
  3. 3.Explore risk factors associated with IPNI.
  4. 4.Explore associations between IPNI and quality of life.

Trial Health

35
At Risk

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
500

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2022

Typical duration for all trials

Status
unknown

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

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 20, 2022

Completed
12 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2022

Completed
13 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 14, 2022

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2023

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

February 14, 2022

Status Verified

February 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

1.8 years

First QC Date

January 20, 2022

Last Update Submit

February 11, 2022

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Neuropathic pain

    Douleur Neuropathies (DN4) will be used to evaluate neuropathic pain. DN4 is a validated tool to screen the neuropathic origin of pain. It includes three items about the type of pain (burning/painful cold/electric shock), four items about the associated symptoms (tingling/pins and needles/numbness/itching), two about the existence of numbness in painful area (on contact/on pinching), and one about initiation or enhancement of pain rubbing. Three or more positive answers on the seven questions are defined as neuropathic pain. At baseline a study nurse will help the patients to complete the questionnaire. At follow up, for use in this study the questions are adapted for completion by the patients.

    3 months

  • Pain

    Brief pain inventory (BPI) will be used to measure pain occurrence, pain intensity, pain interference with function and pain relieve. Occurrence is examined using one item where the patients' ticked yes or no if they are generally bothered by pain. Three items measure pain intensity (pain now, worst pain and average pain) and seven items' measures pain interference with functioning (i.e., daily activity, mood, walking ability, normal work, sleep, enjoyment of life, relations with others). The items are scored on an 11-point numeric rating scale from 0-10. The BPI has been reported to be sensitive to change for pain intensity, and a change of two units on the 11-point scale is considered clinically significant. The BPI has been established as a reliable and valid measure of pain in a Norwegian sample.

    3 months

  • Neuropathic symptoms

    It is developed a study specific questionnaire about neuropathic symptoms (i.e., burning, tingling, numbness, electric shocks) as a supplement to DN4. It is also designed questions to reveal if the patients have reduced muscular force or reduced sensibility in the extremities.

    3 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Physical function

    12 months

  • Health related quality of life (Rand 12)

    12 months

Other Outcomes (1)

  • Multiple symptoms (MSAS)

    12 months

Study Arms (2)

Trendelenburg with lithotomy positioning on the operating table.

The patient is positioned in Trendelenburg with lithotomy positioning on the operating table.

Other: Patient positioning on operating table

Trendelenburg without lithotomy positioning on the operating table.

The patient is positioned in Trendelenburg without lithotomy positioning on the operating table.

Other: Patient positioning on operating table

Interventions

The patients are either positioned in Trendelenburg with lithotomy positioning or in Trendelenburg without lithotomy positioning on the operating table when undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery or laparoscopic surgery.

Trendelenburg with lithotomy positioning on the operating table.Trendelenburg without lithotomy positioning on the operating table.

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodProbability Sample
Study Population

The study will be conducted at three of the locations of Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Radium-, Ullevål- and Aker Hospital. We will include 500 patients undergoing elective robotic-assisted or laparoscopic urological, gynecologic and gastroenterological surgery in steep Trendelenburg with or without lithotomy positioning.

You may qualify if:

  • Above 18 years.
  • Robotic assisted surgery and laparoscopic surgery (urological, gynecologic, gastroenterological)
  • Trendelenburg with or without lithotomy positioning on operating table.
  • Planned room time \> 1.5 hours.
  • Speak and understand Norwegian.
  • Cooperate (clinical examination).

You may not qualify if:

  • Preexisting neuropathies.
  • Neurological disease.
  • Impaired cognitive function.
  • Drug misuse.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Peripheral Nervous System DiseasesIntraoperative Complications

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neuromuscular DiseasesNervous System DiseasesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Benedikte Bjøro

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor, registered nurse, operating room nurse

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 20, 2022

First Posted

February 14, 2022

Study Start

February 1, 2022

Primary Completion

December 1, 2023

Study Completion

December 1, 2024

Last Updated

February 14, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-02