Clinical Research Directory

Preoperative Opioid Tapering Before Spine Surgery

This is a pilot study in which patients taking opioids chronically who are scheduled for spine surgery at least 4 weeks in advance will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: opioid tapering with education alone or opioid tapering with education plus cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The primary objective is to determine the proportion of each group that is successful in achieving their opioid tapering goals by the time of surgery.

The Impact of Perioperative Lidocaine Infusions on Enhanced Recovery After Non-Cardiac Surgery

The goal of this single-center, pragmatic, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the impact of intravenous (IV) lidocaine within the existing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)program on outcomes in patients after major non-cardiac surgery. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: The primary hypothesis is that utilization of IV lidocaine as part of a perioperative multimodal pain regimen will result in a reduction in hospital Case Mix Index-Adjusted Resource Length of Stay (CARLOS). The secondary hypotheses are that lidocaine infusion will result in a reduction in total inpatient opioid consumption (oral morphine milligram equivalents, oMMEs) and pain scores, and improved surgical outcomes (including return of bowel function, ileus, nausea, rapid responses called, surgical site infections, and ICU transfers), while also having minimal incidence of side effects (including double/blurry vision, tinnitus, sedation, and adverse events requiring early cessation).

Robotic Opioid-free Prostatectomy Enhanced Strategy (ROPES)

This prospective, interventional, open-label, phase 3 randomized study evaluates a multimodal analgesia discharge pathway to reduce automatic opioid prescribing following routine robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Patients are counseled on post-operative pain management and then may opt into or out of the study with randomization to discharge prescriptions including (A) multimodal plan with additional automatic opioid prescription or (B) multimodal plan alone and instruction to call phone line to request opioid prescription if pain management is insufficient. Additionally, a cohort of historical controls prior to implementation of the study is also prospectively assessed as a pre-study baseline. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes include bowel function recovery, unplanned care encounters including emergency department visits or postoperative phone calls, and same-day discharge rates.

Evaluation of the Postoperative Efficacy of Bilateral Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Disc Herniation Repair Surgery

This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the efficacy of bilateral lumbar erector spinae plane (ESP) block in providing effective postoperative analgesia and its potential impact on early mobilization and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing surgical repair of lumbar disc herniation. Regional anesthesia techniques, particularly erector spinae plane blocks, have become an integral component of multimodal analgesia strategies in postoperative pain management. The ESP block has demonstrated effective analgesia across a wide spectrum of thoracic and abdominal surgeries and is increasingly utilized due to its ease of application and safety profile. By implementing multimodal analgesic techniques, this study seeks to achieve effective pain control, reduce opioid consumption and associated complications, facilitate early mobilization, decrease hospital length of stay, and enhance patient comfort.

Suzetrigine in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Total hip and knee joint replacements are among the most common and painful orthopedic procedures performed worldwide, often requiring intensive analgesia to support early ambulation and recovery. Despite widespread use of multimodal regimens, many patients still rely on opioids, which can cause sedation, nausea, constipation, and long-term dependency. Evaluating Suzetrigine in this high-need population may improve recovery trajectories, reduce opioid consumption, and support enhanced recovery protocols. Given the growing surgical volume and the emphasis on opioid-sparing strategies, rigorous investigation of Suzetrigine's efficacy in joint replacement is of high clinical value. In this study, patients undergoing primary total hip replacement will be randomized to receive either Suzetrigine or placebo for seven days, with the loading dose administered prior to surgery. The primary outcome is cumulative 48-hour opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents starting from entry into the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Bupivacaine for Ultrasound-Guided External Oblique Intercostal Block

Effect of Adding Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant toBupivacaine in Ultrasound Guided ExternalOblique Intercostal Plane Block in UpperAbdominal Cancer Surgery.

Intravenous Acetaminophen to Reduce Post-operative Opioid Consumption

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a commonly used medication after surgery to control pain. Tablets for oral use and suppositories for rectal use are the most frequently employed forms of acetaminophen after surgery. Intravenous (IV) acetaminophen is widely used in several countries but is not a standard medication for the adult population in Canada. It is mainly considered when it is impossible to take medication in tablet or suppository form. Opioids (Morphine, Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, etc.) are another class of medications commonly used after surgery for pain management. While they are generally very effective and stronger than acetaminophen or other pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen/Advil), reducing their use is preferable, as they can cause various side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and dependence. IV acetaminophen may help control pain while also reducing opioid consumption. However, there are few high-quality scientific studies proving the benefits of IV acetaminophen compared to other forms, such as tablets or suppositories. Acetaminophen has been available in Canada for many years and has already been recommended for use in Quebec by the Institut national d'excellence en santé et services sociaux (INESSS) under certain conditions. This study aims to validate its benefits with clear data.

Comparison of Pain Relief Methods for Hip Surgery: A Study on Two Different Nerve Block Techniques

This prospective randomized comparative study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) and lumbar erector spinae plane block (L-ESP) groups to relieve postoperative pain in participants over the age of 18 undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. The main question it aims to answer is: To demonstrate whether PENG block or L-ESP block is more effective in postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty surgery based on pain scores, opioid consumption, and patient satisfaction. Total hip arthroplasties cause severe pain with movement in the postoperative period. After surgery, the movements of the participants are severely restricted, which increases the possibility of complications. In this study, the participants' pain status, VAS score, opioid consumption through patient-controlled analgesia, and patient satisfaction will be measured with a questionnaire for 24 hours at predetermined time points and then compared. Both types of blocks have pain-relieving effects. This study will only investigate which one is more effective in reducing pain, and there will be no deficiency in relieving the pain of the participants.