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Optimal Concentration of Remifentanil for NIM Tube Intubation With Low-dose NMBA

NCT06162390 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 21

Last updated 2025-03-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

During thyroid surgery, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) plays a crucial role in preventing serious complications such as bilateral vocal cord paralysis. It achieves this by detecting damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and predicting the RLN's functional status. The utilization of Nerve Integrity Monitoring tubes (NIM tubes) is on the rise for effective IONM. As IONM relies on observing electromyographic (EMG) responses to direct electrical nerve stimulation, the routine use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in general anesthesia can impact the interpretation of IONM results and potentially reduce sensitivity to nerve responses to stimulation. However, the use of NMBAs is essential for ensuring smooth endotracheal intubation in patients undergoing general anesthesia. Numerous studies suggest that NMBA usage provides superior intubation conditions and reduces vocal cord complications compared to scenarios without NMBA.

Various regimens for neuromuscular blockade methods are employed during IONM in thyroid surgery, ranging from not using NMBAs at all to using a full dose of NMBA for intubation. This is followed by the administration of sugammadex, an NMBA reversal agent, before nerve monitoring. One of the methods known for providing satisfactory intubation conditions while ensuring the quality of EMG signals during IONM in thyroid surgery is using rocuronium at an ED95 dose of 0.3 mg/kg. This approach is considered suitable for most IONM scenarios. However, when adequate muscle relaxation is not achieved, not all patients can undergo intubation, necessitating a strategy for appropriate intubation conditions.

Historically, it has been reported that achieving satisfactory intubation conditions without the use of NMBA during general anesthesia requires higher amounts of propofol and opioids. Therefore, the assumption is made that using remifentanil, an opioid used in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), at an appropriate concentration can provide acceptable intubation conditions with minimal NMBA use for patients undergoing IONM.

This study aims to determine the optimal concentration of remifentanil needed to achieve excellent intubation conditions in patients undergoing thyroid surgery with IONM using rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg as the NMBA during TIVA

Conditions

  • Thyroidectomy

Interventions

DRUG

Remifentanil

Following a sequential allocation scheme, the predetermined Ce of remifentanil for each patient will be determined by the Dixon up-and-down method. The Ce of remifentanil for the first patient will be 4.0 ng/ml, and then the remifentanil Ce will be increased or decreased in 0.5 ng/ml increments for subsequent patients depending on the success or failure of intubation. The Ce of remifentanil to provide acceptable intubation at low dose neuromuscular blockade, the primary outcome, will be determined by obtaining seven crossovers of patients with "acceptable intubation"/"unacceptable intubation" and then calculating the mean of the midpoint doses for each independent pair of patients. According to previous studies that estimated EC50 by Dixon's up-and-down method, 6-8 "failure/success crossover pairs" are required, so this study aims to collect independent data of 7 pairs of "intubation acceptable/unacceptable" patients.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Model
SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-11-20
Primary Completion
2024-03-10
Completion
2024-03-20

Countries

  • South Korea

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06162390 on ClinicalTrials.gov