Signs and Symptoms of Opioid-associated Iatrogenic Withdrawal in Critically Ill Adults — SOWA-ICU  

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title: Signs and Symptoms of Opioid-associated Iatrogenic Withdrawal in Critically Ill Adults

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Mechanically ventilated critically ill adults may require prolonged administration of opioids to facilitate ventilator support and maintain comfort. The prolonged use has been associated with withdrawal symptoms upon rapid weaning in critically ill patients, known as the opioid-associated withdrawal syndrome (OIWS). Such withdrawal symptoms are well described in the paediatric population, however there is a lack of information in the adult population. Currently there is no bedside tool to rapidly identify such patients. Recognition of withdrawal symptoms is the basis for the development of an assessment tool to identify patients with OIWS.

Clinical Trial Description

Objectives:

1. To identify specific signs and symptoms of OIWS in mechanically ventilated adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving at least 72 hours of regular opioids at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) and the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) from February to October 2018.

2. To determine if a change in serum cortisol is associated with the presence of OIWS.

Hypotheses:

1. Considering our first objective is purely descriptive, no hypothesis can be stated.

2. OIWS is associated with an increase in serum cortisol.

Methods:

A prospective multicentre observational study will be carried out in two university-affiliated hospital ICUs (Montreal General Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital). All mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients receiving regular (continuous or intermittent) opioids for more than 72 hours will be prospectively screened daily for withdrawal symptoms once the opioid dose is reduced by 10% or more. From that moment, daily evaluation by a physician using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria for opioid withdrawal will be conducted. Concomitantly, signs and symptoms of withdrawal will be collected by an investigator blinded to the DSM-5 assessment. These assessments will continue daily until the patient is transferred out of ICU or a maximum of 14 days and will be repeated once more between day 1 and day 4 post-transfer out of ICU.

A serum cortisol will be drawn on the first day of dose reduction by 10% or more (baseline) and will be repeated either after 72 hours or upon patient discharge from the ICU, whichever one occurs first. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Critical Illness
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

• NCT number: NCT03435614
• Study type: Observational
• Source: McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
• Status: Completed
• Start date: February 26, 2018
• Completion date: September 30, 2018