Sugammadex as Rescue Therapy

Emory University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: Neuromuscular Blockade

Treatments: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Sugammadex

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT05661409

STUDY00004369

UL1TR002378 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are commonly used in the practice of anesthesiology for skeletal muscle relaxation to facilitate tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, and to provide optimal surgical conditions. In order to prevent residual NMB, it is vital to adequately reverse any use of a non-depolarizing NMBA. This was historically done using an anticholinesterase such as neostigmine, which would increase the concentration of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction leading to the return of neuromuscular transmission. Unfortunately, there are disadvantages to the use of an anticholinesterase. It was in this context that sugammadex was found to be a valuable addition to the anesthesiologist's armamentarium. It is a modified γ-cyclodextrin that encapsulates the aminosteroid NMBAs rocuronium and vecuronium.

This project is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled dose-response trial that aims to determine the time taken to achieve adequate reversal comparing five doses of sugammadex as rescue therapy following inadequate reversal with neostigmine. The study team will recruit patients aged 18 years and above from the main operating room and outpatient surgery center at Grady Memorial Hospital who are undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, who has received NMB, received neostigmine for NMB reversal, and achieved a TOF count ≥ 3 twitches but not a TOF ratio of 0.9 fifteen minutes after neostigmine was given. Those with a TOF count < 3 twitches will drop out of the study as there are already specified doses of sugammadex for that level of NMB

Full description

Neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agents are commonly used in the practice of anesthesiology for skeletal muscle relaxation to facilitate tracheal intubation, and may require reversal in order to prevent residual NMB. This was historically done using an anticholinesterase such as neostigmine, which has many adverse effects and may not effectively reverse a deep NMB. However, the introduction of sugammadex was instrumental in allowing the rapid return of neuromuscular function. The FDA has only approved three doses of sugammadex (2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg and 16 mg/kg) depending on the train of four (TOF) count, which is a qualitative measure of the depth of NMB and ranges from 0 to 4 twitches. Conversely, the TOF ratio is a quantitative measure, is calculated using the ratio of the amplitude of the fourth twitch to the first twitch, and ranges from 0 to 1. A TOF ratio of 0.9 is generally accepted as the minimum threshold to safely extubate a patient, but this information is not always readily accessible as many anesthesia providers do not have a quantitative NMB monitor.

In 2020, Carvalho et al. conducted a meta-analysis of 53 studies (12,664 adult patients) where the pooled residual NMB incidence ranged from 0.115 when quantitative neuromuscular monitoring was used to 0.331 where no neuromuscular monitoring was used. Ravel et al. conducted a meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials (1,923 adult patients), where residual NMB was found in 2.8% of patients who received sugammadex compared to 39% of those who received neostigmine 15 minutes post administration. Concerningly, 60 minutes after administration, 2.1% of the sugammadex group versus 19% of the neostigmine group still had NMB. When expanded to observational studies (58 studies with 25,277 adult patients), the incidence of residual NMB ranged from 0% to 90.5% (median 30%), which was significantly lower (0% to 16%) in the sugammadex group compared to 3.5% to 90.5% in the neostigmine group and 15% to 89% in the spontaneous recovery group.

This project is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled dose-response trial that aims to determine the time taken to achieve adequate reversal comparing five doses of sugammadex as rescue therapy following inadequate reversal with neostigmine. The study team will recruit patients aged 18 years and above from the main operating room and outpatient surgery center at Grady Memorial Hospital who are undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, who has received NMB, received neostigmine for NMB reversal, and achieved a TOF count ≥ 3 twitches but not a TOF ratio of 0.9 fifteen minutes after neostigmine was given. Those with a TOF count < 3 twitches will drop out of the study as there are already specified doses of sugammadex for that level of NMB.

These patients will then be randomized to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex, and placebo. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured and compared for statistically significant differences.

Enrollment: 71 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18 years and above who will undergo an elective surgery in the main operating room or outpatient surgery center at Grady Memorial Hospital
• Receive general anesthesia (standardized to sevoflurane for maintenance)
• Receive rocuronium for NMB
• Receive neostigmine for NMB reversal
• Achieve a TOF count of at least 3 twitches but not a TOF ratio of 0.9 fifteen minutes after neostigmine has been given
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy and/or lactating
• BMI ≥ 40
• Severe renal impairment, i.e. chronic kidney disease stages IV and V as defined by GFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2
• Severe hepatic impairment, i.e. Child-Pugh score C
• Pre-existing neuromuscular disease
• Anticipated need for postoperative intubation, and/or known hypersensitivity reactions to rocuronium, neostigmine and/or sugammadex.
• Adults unable to consent
• Prisoners
• Cognitively impaired or Individuals with Impaired Decision-Making Capacity
• Individuals who are not able to clearly understand English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

71 participants in 6 patient groups, including a placebo group

Sugammadex 2 mg/kg

Active Comparator group

Description:

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Treatment:

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 1 mg/kg

Experimental group

Description:

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Treatment:

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.5 mg/kg

Experimental group

Description:

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Treatment:

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.25 mg/kg

Experimental group

Description:

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Treatment:

Drug: Sugammadex

Sugammadex 0.125 mg/kg

Experimental group

Description:

The study team will identify patients who are scheduled to undergo an elective surgery under general anesthesia, received rocuronium for NMB and neostigmine for NMB reversal. Patients will be randomized using the Emory University REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) software to six groups: 2 mg/kg (the lowest dose approved by the FDA), 1 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg, 0.125 mg/kg of sugammadex and placebo. Doses would be based on actual body weight. The time taken to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 thereafter would be measured. If the patient fails to achieve this goal by 10 minutes, sugammadex would be given in 2 mg/kg increments until the patient reaches this threshold and can be safely extubated. The TOF ratio would be measured again at 30 minutes after arrival at the PACU to exclude delayed residual NMB with the plan to give further 2 mg/kg doses of sugammadex if detected.

Treatment:

Drug: Sugammadex

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The inclusion of a placebo group would allow the study team to examine if patients may recover spontaneously over that time without needing any sugammadex at all, and what parameters may predict that subset of patients. It will also improve the dose response modelling, in that randomization has been weighted so that patients who are least likely to need sugammadex (i.e. if they achieved a TOF count of 4 twitches without fade) are more likely to be in the placebo group or at the lowest dose of sugammadex that is being tested.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo