Dexmedetomidine + Ketamine for Postoperative Pain

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Nadia Godin, RN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Must not be taking: Beta-blockers, Pregabalin, Gabapentin, others

Disqualifiers: Chronic pain, Allergy, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: Intraoperative

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether combining dexmedetomidine and ketamine during surgery can reduce the need for morphine, a strong painkiller, after lung surgery. The study compares each drug alone to the combination to determine if they work better together in reducing painkiller use. Candidates for the trial include individuals scheduled for lung surgery through a minimally invasive method (Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery, or VATS) who do not have certain pre-existing conditions. The goal is to determine if this approach can reduce side effects and speed up recovery. As an unphased trial, it offers patients the chance to contribute to innovative pain management strategies that could enhance recovery experiences.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain medications, such as beta-blockers, pregabalin, gabapentin, amitryptillin, nortryptillin, and duloxetin, before participating.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that using dexmedetomidine and ketamine together is generally safe and well-tolerated. Studies have found that this combination effectively relieves pain after surgery and can improve sleep quality.

Dexmedetomidine alone manages vital signs and aids recovery for patients experiencing severe post-surgical pain. In contrast, low doses of ketamine have significantly reduced pain in some cases.

Overall, both treatments have been safely used in various surgeries, and their combination appears promising for reducing pain with few side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about the combination of dexmedetomidine and ketamine for postoperative pain management because this duo offers a unique approach compared to traditional opioid-based treatments. Unlike opioids, which primarily target pain through the central nervous system and carry a risk of addiction, dexmedetomidine and ketamine work differently. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that provides sedation and pain relief without respiratory depression, while ketamine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist that can modulate pain pathways and has potential antidepressant effects. This combination could provide effective pain relief with fewer side effects and a lower risk of dependency, making it a promising alternative in the pain management field.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing postoperative pain after VATS surgery?

This trial will compare the effectiveness of different treatments for postoperative pain. Research has shown that combining dexmedetomidine and ketamine can relieve pain after surgery. Participants in one arm of this trial will receive this combination, which has been found to reduce the need for opioids, strong painkillers with potential side effects. One study found that these two drugs together helped lessen pain and improve recovery after surgery. Participants in another arm will receive dexmedetomidine alone, which has also been shown to improve pain management and decrease the need for pain medication. Those in a separate arm will receive ketamine, known for lowering pain levels and reducing opioid use. Using both drugs together might offer even better pain relief and further reduce the need for opioids compared to using either drug alone. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Veronique Brulotte, MD

Principal Investigator

Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-80 undergoing elective lung surgery (VATS) who are generally healthy or have mild to moderate systemic disease. It's not for those planning to use regional anesthesia post-surgery, on certain pain medications like beta-blockers or chronic pain treatments, with allergies to the study drugs, pregnant, unable to consent, or facing language barriers.

Inclusion Criteria

My health is good to moderately impaired according to anesthesia standards.

I am scheduled for a lung surgery using a camera-assisted method.

Exclusion Criteria

You are allergic to ketamine or dexmedetomidine.

I take more than 60 mg of morphine daily for chronic pain.

Pregnancy

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Intraoperative infusion of ketamine and dexmedetomidine to reduce postoperative morphine requirements

Intraoperative

1 visit (in-person)

Postoperative Monitoring

Monitoring of postoperative morphine requirements and pain scores at rest and after coughing

48 hours

Continuous monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for persistent postoperative pain and other outcomes

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine

Trial Overview The study tests if combining two non-opioid drugs—dexmedetomidine and ketamine—during surgery can better reduce the need for morphine afterward compared to using each drug alone. The goal is a further 30% reduction in morphine use after VATS when both drugs are infused together.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ketamine hydrochloride Active Control 1 Intervention

Intraoperative bolus (0.25 mg/kg) and infusion (0.25mg/kg/h) of ketamine plus an intraoperative bolus (over 20 min) and infusion of normal saline;

Group II: dexmedetomidine hydrochloride Active Control 1 Intervention

Intraoperative bolus (1µg/kg over 20 min) and infusion (0.5µg/kg/h) of dexmedetomidine plus an intraoperative bolus and infusion of normal saline

Group III: dexmedetomidine hydrochloride and ketamine hydrochloride Active Control 1 Intervention

Intraoperative bolus (1µg/kg over 20 min) and infusion (0.5 µg/g/h) of dexmedetomidine plus an intraoperative bolus (0.25mg/kg) and infusion (0.25mg/kg/h) of ketamine

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Lead Sponsor

Trials

81

Recruited

6,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 56 patients undergoing chemoport insertion, both dexmedetomidine-ketamine (DK) and dexmedetomidine-midazolam-fentanyl (DMF) combinations provided similar recovery times and cardiorespiratory stability, indicating both are safe options for monitored anesthesia care.

However, the DMF group reported better sedation quality and higher satisfaction scores among patients and medical staff, despite a lower infusion rate of dexmedetomidine, suggesting it may be the more effective combination for procedural sedation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dexmedetomidine-ketamine versus Dexmedetomidine-midazolam-fentanyl for monitored anesthesia care during chemoport insertion: a Prospective Randomized Study. Chun, EH., Han, MJ., Baik, HJ., et al.[2022]

In a study of 90 adults undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, adding either ketamine or dexmedetomidine to total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) significantly improved postoperative pain relief compared to a control group, with longer times before the first analgesic was needed.

Both ketamine and dexmedetomidine reduced the need for morphine after surgery, indicating they can effectively decrease opioid consumption while enhancing analgesia in the postoperative period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the Effect of Ketamine and Dexmedetomidine Combined with Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study. Efe Mercanoglu, E., Girgin Kelebek, N., Turker, G., et al.[2022]

In a study of 1,630 patients undergoing thoracic pulmonary oncologic surgery, those receiving intraoperative dexmedetomidine and ketamine were more likely to be opioid-free post-surgery (76.6% vs 60.9%, P<0.01).

Despite initial lower pain scores and opioid consumption in the recovery room for the dexmedetomidine + ketamine group, these differences were not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons, indicating no overall impact on postoperative pain management or opioid use during the hospital stay.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine Infusions in an Enhanced Recovery After Thoracic Surgery Program: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis. Mena, GE., Zorrilla-Vaca, A., Vaporciyan, A., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 126 women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy, both dexmedetomidine and ketamine significantly reduced postoperative pain compared to a placebo, with pain scores of 2.6 and 4.2 respectively, versus 1.3 for the placebo group.

While both medications were effective in managing pain, dexmedetomidine was found to be more effective than ketamine in reducing pain severity during recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of intradermal Dexmedmotidine and subcutaneous Ketamine for post-surgical pain management in patients with abdominal hysterectomy. Kamali, A., Zarepour, Z., Shokrpour, M., et al.[2020]

A mini-dose combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the incidence of moderate-to-severe pain after scoliosis correction surgery, with 65.7% of patients experiencing pain compared to 86.0% in the placebo group.

Patients receiving the combination treatment also reported better sleep quality and lower pain intensity both at rest and during movement, without an increase in adverse events, indicating a safe and effective analgesic strategy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mini-dose esketamine-dexmedetomidine combination to supplement analgesia for patients after scoliosis correction surgery: a double-blind randomised trial. Zhang, Y., Cui, F., Ma, JH., et al.[2023]

In a study of 93 children aged 3 to 17 undergoing short procedures, co-administering dexmedetomidine (Dex) with ketamine significantly reduced recovery agitation compared to using ketamine alone or with propofol, with agitation rates of 3.2% in the ketadex group versus 22.6% in the other groups.

The ketadex group also experienced fewer unpleasant recovery reactions, such as hallucinations and nightmares, indicating that Dex enhances the safety and comfort of ketamine sedation without increasing the risk of oxygen desaturation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of the effects of dexmedetomidine and propofol in reducing recovery agitation in pediatric patients after ketamine procedural sedation in emergency department. Azizkhani, R., Kouhestani, S., Heydari, F., et al.[2022]

In a study involving neonatal rats, ketamine was found to cause significant neuronal apoptosis and impair learning and memory, as evidenced by increased TUNEL-positive cells and poorer performance in the Morris water maze test.

Dexmedetomidine effectively reduced ketamine-induced neurotoxicity, showing a significant decrease in neuronal apoptosis and improved cognitive function, while dexmedetomidine alone did not exhibit neurotoxic effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dexmedetomidine provides neuroprotection: impact on ketamine-induced neuroapoptosis in the developing rat brain. Duan, X., Li, Y., Zhou, C., et al.[2022]

In a study of 90 patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy, local wound infiltration with ketamine or dexmedetomidine significantly reduced postoperative morphine consumption compared to a control group, indicating an opioid-sparing effect.

Both ketamine and dexmedetomidine delayed the first request for analgesia and lowered pain scores, with ketamine showing superior results in reducing stress markers post-surgery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of local wound infiltration with ketamine versus dexmedetomidine on postoperative pain and stress after abdominal hysterectomy, a randomized trial. Mohamed, SA., Sayed, DM., El Sherif, FA., et al.[2019]

In a study of 105 patients undergoing elective femoral surgery, adding dexmedetomidine to epidural bupivacaine significantly reduced postoperative pain scores on the first day compared to ketamine and control groups.

Patients receiving dexmedetomidine required less opioid medication post-surgery and experienced a longer duration of analgesia compared to those receiving ketamine or no adjuvant, highlighting dexmedetomidine's effectiveness as an adjuvant in epidural anesthesia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of dexmedetomidine and ketamine addition to bupivacaine 0.25% by epidural method in reducing postoperative pain in patients undergoing femur fracture surgery. Radbin, T., Kamali, A., Yazdi, B., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 37 trials found that peri-operative ketamine significantly reduces the need for rescue analgesics and lowers pain intensity in adults after surgery, particularly decreasing morphine consumption in the first 24 hours.

Ketamine also effectively reduces post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) with mild or absent adverse effects, suggesting it is a safe and effective adjuvant for pain management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peri-operative ketamine for acute post-operative pain: a quantitative and qualitative systematic review (Cochrane review). Bell, RF., Dahl, JB., Moore, RA., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Efficacy of perioperative dexmedetomidine in postoperative ... Our study demonstrates that intravenous dexmedetomidine significantly improved postoperative pain and neurocognitive functions in orthopedic surgery patients.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091224003465

Effectiveness of dexmedetomidine on patient-centred ... Intraoperative dexmedetomidine likely results in meaningful improvement in the quality of recovery and chronic pain after surgery.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12240532/

A randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the efficacy ... Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine could effectively manage the vital signs of patients with postoperative acute pain, improve treatment outcomes, ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1028704/full

Efficacy and safety evaluation of dexmedetomidine for ... This meta-analysis of quantitative studies of DEX for postoperative PCIA shows that DEX improved the analgesic effect, reduces total analgesics ...

5. asra.com asra.com/news-publications/asra-newsletter/newsletter-item/asra-news/2018/07/30/review-of-dexmedetomidine-(precedex)-for-acute-pain-and-analgesia

Review of Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) for Acute Pain ... Dexmedetomidine reduces perioperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain intensity in neurosurgery: a meta-analysis. J Neurosurg ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07022821

Comparison of Dexmedetomidine + Ketamine for ... It aims to evaluate three infusion doses of dexmedetomidine combined with ketamine using postoperative pain scores as the primary outcome measure. The ...

7. trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-025-08935-2

Combination of dexmedetomidine and esketamine for ... This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of combining dexmedetomidine and esketamine to prevent PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

8. bjanaesthesia.org.uk bjanaesthesia.org.uk/article/S0007-0912(23)00234-9/fulltext

Mini-dose esketamine–dexmedetomidine combination to ... The mini-dose esketamine–dexmedetomidine combination safely improved analgesia and subjective sleep quality after scoliosis correction surgery.

9. brieflands.com brieflands.com/articles/aapm-163063

The Use of Ketamine and Dexmedetomidine in Cesarean ... Notably, RCTs have demonstrated that the administration of low-dose ketamine (0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg IV) can reduce postoperative pain scores by 30 - ...