Clinical Research Directory

Contribution of Virtual Reality in the Management of Patients Undergoing Scheduled Cesarean Section - VR-SCS

Cesarean deliveries account for 20.7% of all deliveries in France, according to the latest perinatal survey. At Nice University Hospital, the C-section rate over the last 5 years is around 19%. Caesarean section patients are at greater risk of developing symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. The post-operative period is also more painful, and there is a positive correlation between immediate post-operative pain and the risk of developing chronic pelvic pain. Numerous attempts to reduce these symptoms have been evaluated, including music therapy, relaxation techniques, acupressure and the use of preoperative melatonin. Virtual reality has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing pain and anxiety in other disciplines, notably pediatric surgery and neurosurgery. In particular, several trials have demonstrated a reduction in anxiety in the paediatric population and, for pelvic procedures under local anaesthetic, during prostate biopsies or hysteroscopy in consultation, with a reduction in anxiety and pain respectively. It has been used to provide information by showing a film about the caesarean section procedure, and has been shown to be effective in terms of patient satisfaction, but without being able to demonstrate a significant reduction in anxiety (p=0.06). The use of virtual reality during the entire peri- and intra-operative management process (maternity stay, patient transfer to the operating room, locoregional anesthesia procedure and during the operation) has not been studied in the context of cesarean section.

Effects of Local Ketamine in Orthognathic Procedures

Orthognathic surgery is performed to correct congenital, developmental, or trauma-related skeletal deformities of the maxilla and mandible. These procedures involve multiple incisions, dissections, and osteotomies, leading to significant postoperative inflammatory responses and acute pain. Postoperative pain is a key factor influencing recovery, return to function, and length of hospital stay. Various analgesics have been used to manage pain after orthognathic surgery, including NSAIDs, opioids, acetaminophen, NMDA receptor antagonists, and long-acting local anesthetics. Ketamine is a well-known NMDA receptor antagonist with both central and peripheral analgesic effects. In subnesthetic doses, ketamine has been evaluated in various surgical fields for its potential to enhance analgesia when combined with local anesthetics, while minimizing systemic side effects. Studies have shown that local ketamine administration during cleft palate repair and third molar extractions can significantly reduce postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effects of locally administered ketamine in orthognathic surgery. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative effects of local ketamine injection in this context.

Evaluation of Postoperative Pain Control in Ear Surgery

Middle ear surgery is the most popular procedure in ear, nose and throat surgery. Increased sympathetic stimulation after surgery can activate the sympathetic system, causing hypertension and increased heart rate. As a result of these clinical conditions, hemorrhage can occur, which can impair the quality of the surgical field, which is undesirable in middle ear surgery.Clinical studies should be conducted with auricularis magnus nerve block applied in the perioperative period in middle ear surgery and postoperative pain scores.

Evaluation of Pain Management After Surgery When Using Exparel in the Pediatric Population

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine if administration of Exparel via local infiltration for medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction procedures in pediatric orthopaedic sports medicine patients provides significant pain relief and decreased narcotic use. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Exparel significantly reduce Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and pain levels up to one week postoperatively? * Does Exparel significantly decrease narcotic use (number of pills taken) up to one week postoperatively? Researchers will compare the pain outcomes and narcotic use of patients who receive Exparel and Marcaine via local infiltration to those of patients who receive only Marcaine via local infiltration for their MPFL reconstruction surgery. The goal is to understand if there is a significant difference in patient pain outcomes and narcotic use outside the first 24 hours postoperatively. Participants will: * receive either Exparel + Marcaine intraoperatively or Marcaine only intraoperatively during their MPFL reconstruction surgery * receive and complete questionnaires at postoperative days 1, 4, and 7 regarding their pain scores, levels, and outcomes, effective pain treatments, overall pain interference, narcotic use (number of pills taken), and overall pain treatment satisfaction * receive and complete secondary outcome measures of functional and psychological outcomes regarding their MPFL reconstruction surgery at postoperative day 1

An Exploratory Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Esketamine and Dexmedetomidine in Non-Intubated ICU Patients With Hyperactive Delirium

This investigator-initiated, randomized, controlled, superiority trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of esketamine combined with dexmedetomidine for the management of agitation or delirium in intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving non-invasive respiratory support. The primary endpoint is the duration of delirium.

Perioperative Multimodal Analgesia for Supratentorial Craniotomy

This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of scalp nerve blocks and dexmedetomidine in reducing opioid use and preventing postoperative delirium in patients undergoing supratentorial brain tumor surgery. A total of 2000 patients will be randomly assigned to one of four groups, receiving either active treatments, placebos, or their combinations. The main outcome measured will be the amount of opioid pain medication needed after surgery.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Ropivacaine for Preperitoneal Infiltration Analgesia in Upper Abdominal Laparotomy

Upper abdominal open surgery is associated with significant trauma, and postoperative pain management poses considerable challenges. The inflammatory response triggered by peritoneal incision and the transmission of visceral pain via the vagus nerve are key components of "surgical stress" and pain. A potential intervention strategy involves the local administration of anesthetic agents to suppress peritoneal overreaction and block the cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines in related nerves. Liposomal bupivacaine, as a long-acting local anesthetic, may provide more prolonged postoperative analgesia compared to ropivacaine. Therefore, this trial aims to prospectively compare the analgesic efficacy and anti-inflammatory effects of the two drugs when administered as pre-closure preperitoneal infiltration. Secondary endpoints include opioid consumption, complication rates, and postoperative recovery indicators, to comprehensively evaluate their clinical value.

Adductor Canal Block and IPACK Block vs. Isolated Adductor Canal Block for Post-Operative Analgesia Following HTO/DFO/TTO

A randomized, single-blind, single-center study measuring the effects of adductor canal block combined with IPACK infiltration compared to adductor canal block alone on post-operative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing high tibial osteotomy (HTO)/distal femoral osteotomy (DFO)/tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO).

ESP Versus PIFB for Analgesia in Open Cardiac Surgery: a Randomized Control Trial

This clinical trial compares analgesia efficiency and recovery outcomes between two different fascial plane block techniques (ESPB vs.PIFB) in cardiac surgery patients participant population/health conditions\]. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does ESPB provide superior analgesia than PIFB * Do patients who receive ESPB have better recovery outcomes

Serratus Posterior Superior Plane Block in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

This prospective randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block (SPSIPB) as part of a multimodal analgesia strategy in patients undergoing minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Sixty adult ASA III patients scheduled for minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery will be randomly assigned to either an SPSIPB group or a control group receiving standard analgesic management without a plane block. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid (tramadol) consumption, while secondary outcomes include intraoperative remifentanil consumption, pain scores at rest and during coughing, time to first rescue analgesia, time to extubation, and lengths of intensive care unit and hospital stay. All patients will receive standardized general anesthesia and postoperative patient-controlled analgesia. Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale at predefined postoperative intervals. Postoperative complications such as nausea, vomiting, and atelectasis will be recorded. This study aims to determine whether SPSIPB provides effective opioid-sparing analgesia and improves postoperative recovery parameters in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Clinical Utility of the Numerical Verbal Scale (NVS) and the Pain and Functional Activity Scale (PFAS) in the Management of Rescue Analgesia in Acute Postoperative Pain. Randomized Study.

Adequate postoperative pain management, along with mobilization and early oral nutrition, is the foundation for optimal recovery after surgery. Unidimensional pain scales (Numerical Verbal Rating Scale - NRS, Visual Analogue Scale - VAS, Categorical Scale - CRS, Facial Pain Scale - FPS) do not adequately reflect a patient's actual analgesic needs. Basing analgesic treatment on the classic algorithm of administering opioids if pain is greater than 4 on the NRS, without considering functional impairment, has been shown to be a cause of overtreatment in surgical wards. The Functional Activity Score (FAS) is the simplest scale, designed for bedside application and geared toward therapeutic decision-making. R: Able to perform any activity; B: Pain prevents some activity; C: Unable to perform any activity. Given the need to standardize functional limitation when measuring postoperative pain, we propose the Pain and Functional Activity Scale (PFAS), which combines the NVA (Non-Visual Analogue Scale) with the Functional Activity Scale. Specifically, pain on movement would be recorded using the NVA in motion (NVAm), along with functional limitation (A, B, or C). The rescue analgesia treatment algorithm adapted to the PFAS would involve treating patients with pain greater than 4 on the NVA whenever it represents a severe limitation of their functional activity (C). In this study, we aim to evaluate whether there are significant differences in the proportion of patients who meet the criteria for needing rescue analgesia according to the NVA compared to the proportion of patients who meet the criteria for needing rescue analgesia established by the PFAS, during the 2-day postoperative period. To this end, an experimental, longitudinal, prospective, randomized, single-blind study for the data analyzer will be carried out, where a group that will receive rescue analgesia if VNS\>4 and another if VNSm\>4 + FAS C will be compared in the first two days of postoperative surgical patients of the surgeries selected in the EOXI of Vigo.

Maxillary and Mandibular Nerve Block

Mandibular fractures are among the most common (60-70%) maxillofacial fractures observed in emergency rooms. In the closed reduction (non-surgical), the bone fragments are realigned manually or by using traction devices. The open reduction surgery of mandibular fractures should first ensure the restoration of the occlusion of the mandible to prevent postoperative malocclusion, followed by stabilization by means of rigid fixations such as plates, screws, and rigid intermaxillary blocks in order to minimise any nonunion, malunion, or delayed union of the fracture segments. These surgical procedures are associated with moderate postoperative pain, being the first 24 hours the most intense pain period. Maxillary and mandibular nerve blocks are performed in patients with refractory trigeminal neuralgia. However, there have been few studies evaluating the analgesic effects of these blocks for maxillofacial surgeries.

Neostigmine as an Adjuvant in Tranversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block in Cesarean Section Under Spinal Anesthesia

Cesarean birth is a common surgical procedure. After cesarean birth, postsurgical pain may delay recovery, interfere with maternal-newborn bonding, and reduce the breastfeeding if not adequately controlled. Postpartum analgesia has become a common concern. Many adjuvant drugs used for peripheral nerve blocks as( N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists , Magnesium , Ephedrine , Dexamesathone , Fentanyl , Midazolam and Neostigmine) The potential of neostigmine as an adjuvant in peripheral nerve block is through its action to increase acetylcholine at muscarinic junctions of peripheral nerves. 500 mcg neostigmine was used as adjuvant to local anesthetic in an axillary brachial plexus block leads to decreased pain and less use of analgesics in the first 24 hours postoperatively with no incidence of adverse effects.

Perioperative Multimodal Analgesia Protocol for Supratentorial Craniotomy

Supratentorial craniotomy is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures, with severe perioperative pain. Inadequate perioperative pain relief has been associated with increased blood pressure and intracranial pressure, favoring bleeding and cerebral cerebral hypoperfusion. The ideal analgesia for neurosurgery requires complete pain relief, eliminates the side effects of opioid drugs and no influence for neurological function. Previous studies have proposed a multimodal analgesic strategy, combining analgesics and local anaesthesia, it is expected to achieve the above benefits.

Evaluation of the Effects of Ketorolac Dose on Duration of Analgesia in Emergency Department (ED) Renal Colic Patients

This is a prospective interventional study examining the effect of ketorolac at doses of 15mg versus 30 mg for duration of analgesia in emergency department patients with suspected renal colic.

Intrathecal Versus Epidural Morphine for Post-Cesarean Analgesia

Cesarean section is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide, making effective management of acute postoperative pain a key issue in obstetric anesthesiology. Post-cesarean analgesia should promote rapid maternal recovery, support newborn care, and consider the pharmacological implications for breastfeeding. According to recent PROSPECT® guidelines from ESRA, neuraxial opioids play a central role in post-cesarean analgesia and are at least as effective as other techniques, such as continuous local anesthetic infusion. However, the optimal route of opioid administration remains unclear. While earlier studies favored epidural morphine, more recent evidence suggests that intrathecal morphine may provide superior analgesia. Due to limited and conflicting data, no definitive conclusion can be drawn. Given that epidural morphine remains standard practice at Hospital Central do Funchal, a randomized clinical trial is proposed to compare the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal versus epidural morphine after elective cesarean section.

Sufentanil Versus Ketamine Intranasally in the Management of Severe Acute Trauma-related Pain in Children.

Pain is one of the most common reasons for children to attend emergency departments, particularly following traumatic injuries such as fractures, sprains, or contusions. Despite advances in medical care, severe acute pain in children is still sometimes inadequately treated. One important reason is that intravenous pain medication can be technically difficult, stressful, or delayed in paediatric patients. Intranasal drug administration, which involves spraying medication into the nose, offers a rapid and needle-free way to relieve pain and is increasingly used in paediatric emergency care. Two medications can be administered through this route: ketamine and sufentanil. Intranasal ketamine is already widely used in children for pain management. Sufentanil is a potent opioid analgesic commonly used in adults and in anaesthesia but has been much less studied in children when administered intranasally. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of intranasal sufentanil and intranasal ketamine in children aged 6 to 17 years who present to the emergency department with severe traumatic limb pain. Both medications will be given in addition to standard care, including the routine use of an oxygen-nitrous oxide gas mixture (MEOPA), which is commonly used to reduce pain and anxiety in children. Children who take part in the study will be randomly assigned to receive either intranasal sufentanil or intranasal ketamine. Pain levels will be assessed at regular time points after medication administration using age-appropriate pain scales. Sedation level and possible side effects will also be closely monitored for a short period following treatment. The hypothesis of this study is that intranasal sufentanil will provide greater pain relief than intranasal ketamine 30 minutes after administration, without increasing the risk of adverse effects, when both are used alongside standard emergency care. The results of this study are expected to improve knowledge about fast, effective, and non-invasive pain relief strategies for children in emergency settings and may help optimise future pain management protocols in paediatric emergency care.

Effect of Perioperative High-dose Transdermal Nicotine Patch on Pain Sensitivity Among Male Abstinent Tobacco Smokers Undergoing Thoracic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Globally, approximately 230 million adults undergo surgical procedures each year, with around 30% of patients maintaining smoking habits prior to surgery. Extensive clinical research has confirmed that tobacco exposure is a significant independent risk factor for perioperative complications. Epidemiological data indicate that long-term smokers experience a significantly higher all-cause mortality rate during hospitalization, approximately 20% greater than non-smokers, while the incidence of postoperative complications is 40% higher. Consequently, international guidelines universally recommend the establishment of standardized preoperative smoking cessation programs for surgical patients. Nicotine withdrawal, a typical clinical manifestation during smoking cessation, involves symptoms across multiple systems: neuropsychiatric symptoms such as mood depression, sleep disturbances, and irritability; autonomic dysfunction leading to postural dizziness and bradycardia; and metabolic dysregulation resulting in increased appetite and weight gain. Notably, these withdrawal symptoms exhibit a significant time-dependent pattern, typically peaking 24-72 hours after cessation. Multicenter studies have demonstrated that tobacco-dependent patients experience an average increase of IV Abstract 35-45% in opioid consumption within 24 hours postoperatively, with the duration of analgesic requirements extended by approximately 25%. However, some patients suffer from severe adverse reactions to opioids (e.g., nausea, vomiting, confusion), making the use of adjuvant medications for multimodal analgesia and optimized pain management particularly crucial. By the late 20th century, the analgesic properties of nicotine, a primary component of tobacco, were systematically studied and applied in clinical practice.

Inter-semispinal Fascial Plane Block (ISPB) Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) in Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery

Recent advances in regional anesthesia techniques have aimed to provide more targeted and effective pain relief. Among these, the erector spinae plane (ESPB) block, the multifidus cervicis plane (MCP) block, and the paraspinal interfascial plane block (PIP) is rapidly expanding in cervical spine surgery. Of these, the inter-semispinal fascial plane block (ISPB) has gained popularity as an analgesic technique for posterior cervical spine surgery also, (ESPB) have been tried successfully for posterior cervical spine surgery in few recent trials. But to our knowledge, no study compared the efficacy of both blocks. So, the current study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of inter-semispinal fascial plane block versus erector spinae plane block in patients undergoing elective posterior cervical spine surgery.

Single Dose Preemptive Paracetamol or Ibuprofen Before Septrorhinoplasty on Intra- and Postoperative Opioid Consumption.

Reducing intra- and postoperative pain or using less opioids is an essential strategy in today's operations. One emerging and widely used method in this context is the use of preemptive analgesic medication. Paracetamol and ibuprofen used preemptively have been shown to reduce postoperative opioid use and pain scores. There are also studies showing that preemptive analgesia with different analgesic medications reduces opioid consumption and postoperative pain. Our study will evaluate both the intraoperative and postoperative effectiveness of paracetamol and ibupurofen with preemptive analgesia, considering total opioid use. It will also investigate drug side effects and their advantages using a 15-question compilation quality scale, validated in Turkish.

Low-dose Buccal Buprenorphine: Relative Abuse Potential and Analgesia

The goal of this study is to compare the abuse potential of low-dose equianalgesic buccal buprenorphine to a commonly used full mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonist in a highly controlled experimental setting. This is a translational study in which healthy participants are phenotyped for psychosocial and Opioid-Use-Disorder-risk-related metrics. In a within-subjects crossover design, 60 participants will receive a standard postoperative oral oxycodone dose (10 mg), placebo, and 3 different doses of buccal buprenorphine across 5 separate sessions. Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) will be used to evaluate alterations in pain responsiveness relative to placebo across buprenorphine doses and oxycodone, and will compare abuse potential (indexed by the standard FDA drug liking metric) following equianalgesic doses of the two drugs.

Dexmedetomidine Versus Dexamethasone as Adjuvants to Bupivacaine for Intermediate Cervical Plexus Block

Background: Many thyroidectomy patients suffer from postoperative pain that could delay early hospital discharge and place a significant burden on both the patient and the healthcare team. Bilateral intermediate cervical plexus block (ICPB) provides good analgesia for neck surgery, including thyroidectomy. However, the duration of a single-shot nerve block is usually short. Therefore, adjuvants are used in peripheral nerve blocks. Objectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus dexamethasone as adjuvants to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided intermediate cervical plexus block in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia. Patients and Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, phase four, prospective clinical trial; carried out on 60 patients, who were candidates for total thyroidectomy under general anesthesia at our hospital. Patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups; group A, received bilateral ICPB with isobaric bupivacaine plus dexmedetomidine, and group B, received bilateral ICPB with isobaric bupivacaine plus dexamethasone.

Patient Reported Outcome After Bariatric Surgery

Prospective association study to analyse patients' outcome after bariatric surgery. Outcome comprises postoperative pain, analgesia, postoperative side-effects, long-lasting pain, patients' impairment in daily living.

Genetic Variants and Perioperative Morbidity and Mortality

Prospective association study to analyse perioperative patients' outcome. Outcome comprises intraoperative and postoperative complications e.g. cardio-vascular events, allergic reactions, Possible variables which might have on influence: patient- and surgery-related data, patients' genetic background etc.