Methadone vs Magnesium in Spinal Fusion

Summary

Significant pain may occur following posterior spinal fusion despite the use of conventionally accepted techniques including patient controlled analgesia. If detected, a significant reduction in opioid requirements may lead to improved patient satisfaction and decreased opiate side effects. The current study would use a prospective, randomized trial investigating the efficacy of one of 2 regimens as adjuncts to intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, along with a third control group. The patients would be randomized to receive remifentanil plus a single intraoperative dose of methadone; remifentanil plus a bolus followed by an infusion of magnesium; or remifentanil alone. In addition, the two medications being studied might make it easier to determine the efficacy of neurophysiologic monitoring including somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) (amplitude and latency) and motor evoked potential (MEP) (mA) required to elicit the response. The purpose of this study would be to explore the effects of intraoperative methadone vs magnesium on intraoperative anesthetic requirements, postoperative opioid requirements, the efficacy of neurophysiologic monitoring including SSEP and MEP, inspired concentration of desflurane, remifentanil, and the need for intraoperative supplemental agents to control blood pressure.

Timeline

Start

2013-09

Primary completion

2016-08

Completion

2016-09

Publications

• Background Stemland CJ, Witte J, Colquhoun DA, Durieux ME, Langman LJ, Balireddy R, Thammishetti S, Abel MF, Anderson BJ. The pharmacokinetics of methadone in adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Paediatr Anaesth. 2013 Jan;23(1):51-7. doi: 10.1111/pan.12021. Epub 2012 Sep 14.
• Background Sharma A, Tallchief D, Blood J, Kim T, London A, Kharasch ED. Perioperative pharmacokinetics of methadone in adolescents. Anesthesiology. 2011 Dec;115(6):1153-61. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e318238fec5.
• Background Gottschalk A, Durieux ME, Nemergut EC. Intraoperative methadone improves postoperative pain control in patients undergoing complex spine surgery. Anesth Analg. 2011 Jan;112(1):218-23. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181d8a095. Epub 2010 Apr 24.
• Background Elsharnouby NM, Elsharnouby MM. Magnesium sulphate as a technique of hypotensive anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 2006 Jun;96(6):727-31. doi: 10.1093/bja/ael085. Epub 2006 May 2.
• Background Levaux Ch, Bonhomme V, Dewandre PY, Brichant JF, Hans P. Effect of intra-operative magnesium sulphate on pain relief and patient comfort after major lumbar orthopaedic surgery. Anaesthesia. 2003 Feb;58(2):131-5. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.2003.02999.x.
• Martin DP, Samora WP 3rd, Beebe AC, Klamar J, Gill L, Bhalla T, Veneziano G, Thung A, Tumin D, Barry N, Rice J, Tobias JD. Analgesic effects of methadone and magnesium following posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. J Anesth. 2018 Oct;32(5):702-708. doi: 10.1007/s00540-018-2541-5. Epub 2018 Aug 4.

Drugs

Indications