Patients undergoing cardiac surgery often experience moderate to severe pain in the early
postoperative period. A number of methods have been used to help control pain after surgery;
however, each of these techniques adds additional costs and risks. A simple and effective way
to decrease this pain is to administer a long-acting opioid in the operating room. Methadone
is a opioid that can produce analgesia (pain relief) that lasts up to 48 hours when given in
large doses (0.3 to 0.4 mg/kg). Previous studies have demonstrated that both pain and
requirements for analgesic medications are significantly reduced for up to three days after
surgery if methadone is given at induction (the start) of anesthesia. In the study that was
performed at Evanston Hospital, cardiac surgical patients who were given methadone also
appeared to "feel better" after surgery compared to those given a standard or typical
intraoperative opioid. The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether
overall quality of postoperative recovery can be enhanced if methadone is given in the
operating room. Quality of recovery will be determined by using a validated scoring system,
the QoR 40, which will be given to patients to complete on the first three days after
surgery.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
NorthShore University HealthSystem NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute