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Epidural Fentanyl-Bupivacaine Versus Clonidine-Bupivacaine for Breakthrough Pain in Advanced Labor
This study is not yet open for participant recruitment.
Verified by Columbia University, February 2009
First Received: June 3, 2008   Last Updated: February 2, 2009   History of Changes
Sponsored by: Columbia University
Information provided by: Columbia University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00691795
  Purpose

Epidural analgesia is widely regarding as the most effective analgesic strategy for labor pain. Modern practice is to utilize dilute local anesthetics as a continuous infusion along with an opioid, e.g., our common "recipe" of 12 ml/hr of 0.0625% bupivacaine with 2 micrograms/ml fentanyl, after the initial dose to maintain patient comfort until delivery. This dose of the infusion often provides adequate comfort without interfering with the mobility of the patient and her ability to effectively push during delivery. However, this low dose epidural infusion strategy often results in recurrence of pain after an initial pain free period.

This breakthrough pain is treated by administering small boluses of analgesics via the epidural catheter. The pain occurring in labor is initially of visceral origin and is mediated by pain fibers originating from the low thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord. As labor progresses to the late first phase (also known as transitional stage), pain sensations originating from the distension of the pelvic floor, vagina and perineum adds a somatic component to labor pain. This type of breakthrough pain is often difficult to treat.

Although requests from patients to alleviate late stage breakthrough pain are common, no one knows the most effective strategy for pain management in this stage of labor. This study is designed to compare the efficacy of two treatments for controlling late first stage breakthrough pain during labor with an epidural infusion in place: clonidine-bupivacaine versus fentanyl-bupivacaine.

Women who have labor epidural analgesia in place will be enrolled to be randomized if and when they present with breakthrough pain in the late first stage or second stage of labor (≥ 8 cm dilated). They will receive 8 ml of a solution containing 10 mg bupivacaine and 75 micrograms of either fentanyl (an opioid or "narcotic") or clonidine (an "alpha-2 agonist known to be effective as an epidural analgesic).

Pain relief, labor progress and outcome will be assessed to compare fentanyl versus clonidine.

It is the hypothesis of this study that clonidine added to bupivacaine is a better analgesic than fentanyl added to bupivacaine for breakthrough pain in advanced labor.


Condition Intervention Phase
Labor Pain
Drug: Clonidine or fentanyl
Phase IV

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Parallel Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: Comparison of Fentanyl-Bupivacaine and Clonidine-Bupivacaine for Breakthrough Pain in Advanced Labor in Patients With Continuous Epidural Analgesia

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by Columbia University:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Pain score on a VAS scale (success = score less than or equal to 2 on a 10 point scale) [ Time Frame: 15 minutes ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Maternal blood pressure [ Time Frame: 2 hours ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • Maternal heart rate [ Time Frame: 2 hour ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • Neonatal Apgar score [ Time Frame: 1 and 5 minutes post delivery ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • Mode of delivery (spontaneous vaginal versus instrumental vaginal versus cesarean [ Time Frame: at delivery ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment: 100
Study Start Date: March 2009
Estimated Study Completion Date: August 2011
Estimated Primary Completion Date: August 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
CLONIDINE: Experimental
Participants randomized to this arm of the study receive 75 micrograms clonidine with the bupivacaine in their epidural when requesting pain relief in advanced labor
Drug: Clonidine or fentanyl
After obtaining consent, the patients will be randomized into two groups using a random allocation table. At the onset of late stage breakthrough pain one arm of patients will receive a mixture of 75 mcg clonidine and 10 mg bupivacaine in 8 ml of volume and the second group will receive 75 mcg fentanyl and 10 mg bupivacaine in 8 ml of volume.
FENTANYL: Experimental
Participants randomized to this arm of the study receive 75 micrograms fentanyl with the bupivacaine in their epidural when requesting pain relief in advanced labor
Drug: Clonidine or fentanyl
After obtaining consent, the patients will be randomized into two groups using a random allocation table. At the onset of late stage breakthrough pain one arm of patients will receive a mixture of 75 mcg clonidine and 10 mg bupivacaine in 8 ml of volume and the second group will receive 75 mcg fentanyl and 10 mg bupivacaine in 8 ml of volume.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • women in labor at term pregnancy
  • healthy
  • epidural analgesia in place
  • breakthrough pain in advanced labor

Exclusion Criteria:

  • chronic pain syndrome
  • receiving systemic opioids within 4 hours
  • receiving chronic antidepressants, clonidine, opioids
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00691795

Contacts
Contact: Richard M Smiley, MD 212-305-5006 rms7@columbia.edu
Contact: Imre Redai, MD 212-305-6494 ir71@columbia.edu

Locations
United States, New York
Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York, United States, 10032
Sponsors and Collaborators
Columbia University
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Richard M Smiley, MD Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Columbia University
Principal Investigator: Imre Redai, MD Assistant Professor, Columbia University
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Columbia University ( Richard Smiley )
Study ID Numbers: AAAC9826
Study First Received: June 3, 2008
Last Updated: February 2, 2009
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00691795     History of Changes
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Columbia University:
Analgesia
Epidural
Pregnancy
Labor
Clonidine
Fentanyl
Bupivacaine
Pregnancy
Childbirth

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Anesthetics, Intravenous
Neurotransmitter Agents
Fentanyl
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
Adrenergic Agents
Clonidine
Adjuvants, Immunologic
Anesthetics
Central Nervous System Depressants
Narcotics
Pain
Cardiovascular Agents
Antihypertensive Agents
Adrenergic Agonists
Anesthetics, Local
Signs and Symptoms
Anesthetics, General
Labor Pain
Neurologic Manifestations
Bupivacaine
Analgesics
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Analgesics, Opioid

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Fentanyl
Neurotransmitter Agents
Adrenergic Agents
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anesthetics
Pain
Adrenergic Agonists
Signs and Symptoms
Sensory System Agents
Therapeutic Uses
Analgesics
Analgesics, Opioid
Anesthetics, Intravenous
Sympatholytics
Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
Clonidine
Nervous System Diseases
Central Nervous System Depressants
Narcotics
Cardiovascular Agents
Antihypertensive Agents
Pharmacologic Actions
Anesthetics, Local
Adjuvants, Anesthesia
Anesthetics, General
Autonomic Agents
Labor Pain
Neurologic Manifestations
Bupivacaine

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on July 02, 2009