Methadone and Interscalene Block for Shoulder Surgery
Status:
Active, not recruiting
Trial end date:
2021-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients undergoing shoulder surgery may experience moderate-to-severe pain during the first
2-3 days following the operative procedure. Two methods are used to control pain in the early
postoperative period. First, an interscalene nerve block (ISB) can be placed prior to surgery
to block the pain fibers that supply the shoulder. Although an ISB provides effective
analgesia for several hours after surgery, the block is associated with the potential for
transient or permanent nerve injury. Furthermore, the ISB can wear off suddenly, resulting in
the abrupt onset of severe pain. A second method of pain control involves the use of opioids.
Opioids can provide potent pain relief following surgical procedures. However, the agents
that are commonly used by anesthesiologists and surgeons only produce pain relief for 2-4
hours, which leads to fluctuations in the levels of pain control. Recent data suggest that
the use of a long-acting opioid like methadone in the operating room, which provides
analgesia for 24-36 hours, may improve pain control after surgery. The aim of this clinical
trial is to compare postoperative pain scores and analgesic requirements in patients
randomized to receive either an ISB or methadone at the start of shoulder arthroscopic
surgery.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
NorthShore University HealthSystem NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute