Minimal important difference in postoperative morphine consumption after hip and knee arthroplasty using nausea, vomiting, sedation and dizziness as anchors

BACKGROUND

Morphine-sparing effects are often used to evaluate non-opioid analgesic interventions. The exact effect that would warrant the implementation of these interventions in clinical practice (a minimally important difference) remains unclear. We aimed to determine this with anchor-based methods.

METHODS

This was a post hoc analysis of three studies investigating pain management after hip or knee arthroplasty (PANSAID [NCT02571361], DEX-2-TKA [NCT03506789] and Pain Map [NCT02340052]). The overall population was median aged 70, median ASA 2, 54% female. We examined the correlation between 0 and 24 h postoperative iv morphine equivalent consumption and the severity of nausea, vomiting, sedation and dizziness. The anchor was different severity degrees of these opioid-related adverse events. The primary outcome was the difference in morphine consumption between patients experiencing no versus only mild events. Secondary outcomes included the difference in morphine consumption between patients with mild versus moderate and moderate versus severe events. We used Hodges-Lehmann median differences, exact Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests and quantile regression.

RESULTS

The difference in iv morphine consumption was 6 mg (95% confidence interval: 4-8) between patients with no versus only mild events, 5 mg (2-8) between patients with mild versus moderate events and 0 mg (-4 to 4) between patients with moderate versus severe events.

CONCLUSIONS

In populations comparable to this post-hoc analysis (orthopaedic surgery, median age 70 and ASA 2), we suggest a minimally important difference of 5 mg for 0-24 h postoperative iv morphine consumption.

Opioid consumption and non-opioid multimodal analgesic treatment in pain management trials after hip and knee arthroplasties: A meta-epidemiological study

BACKGROUND

The leading principle in peri-operative pain management is multimodal analgesia, which reduces opioid requirements and associated adverse effects. Pragmatic pain trials should optimally test interventions in addition to multimodal non-opioid analgesics and interventions to ensure clinical relevance and baseline levels of opioid consumption that reflect clinical settings. We aimed to investigate opioid consumption and use of non-opioid analgesics administered adjunct to interventions in post-operative pain trials after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted 7 January 2020 in The Cochrane Library's CENTRAL, PubMed, and EMBASE. Trials investigating analgesic interventions for post-operative pain in adults undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty were included. The primary outcome was the aggregated median 0-24 h post-operative opioid consumption. Further, we assessed the use of paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, high-dose glucocorticoids, local infiltration analgesia and nerve blocks administered as co-interventions equally to all participants. We assessed trends over time for all outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 14,200 records, 570 trials were included. Median 0-24 h opioid consumption was 21 and 22 mg iv morphine equivalents in hip and knee arthroplasty trials, respectively. Meta-regression showed no overall linear correlation between opioid consumption and publication year. The use of multimodal non-opioid analgesia increased over time, though only 48% of trials published from 2010 to 2020 administered two or more non-opioid analgesics. Applying more non-opioid analgesics was associated with lower opioid consumption in intervention groups.

CONCLUSION

Post-operative 0-24 h morphine consumption was median 21-22 mg. The demonstrated differences in non-opioid multimodal analgesic regimens between research and clinical settings, can potentially diminish the demonstrated opioid-sparing effects of trial interventions when such are implemented in a clinical context.

Minimal important difference in opioid consumption based on adverse event reduction-A study protocol

BACKGROUND

The patient-relevant minimal important difference for opioid consumption remains undetermined, despite its frequent use as primary outcome in trials on postoperative pain management. A minimal important difference is necessary to evaluate whether significant trial results are clinically relevant. Further, it can be used as effect size to ensure that trials are powered to find clinically relevant effects. By exploring the dose-response relationship between postoperative opioid consumption and opioid-related adverse effects, we aim to approximate the minimal important difference in opioid consumption anchored to opioid-related adverse effects.

METHODS

This is a post-hoc analysis of aggregated data from two clinical trials (PANSAID NCT02571361 and DEX2TKA NCT03506789) and one observational cohort study (Pain Map NCT02340052) on pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty. The primary outcome is the Hodges-Lehmann median difference in opioid consumption between patients with no opioid-related adverse effects and patients experiencing the mildest degree of one or more opioid-related adverse effects (i.e., mild nausea, sedation and/or dizziness or vomiting). Secondary outcomes include the Hodges-Lehmann median difference in opioid consumption that corresponds to one point on a cumulated opioid-related adverse event 0-10 scale. Further, we will explore the proportion of patients that experience opioid-related adverse effects for consecutive opioid dose intervals of 2 mg iv morphine equivalents. Quantile regression will be used to assess any significant interactions with patient baseline characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will hopefully bring us one step closer to determining relevant opioid reductions and thereby improve our understanding of intervention effects and planning of future trials.

Subarachnoid haemorrhage in a patient with undiagnosed aortic coarctation

A man in his mid-30s was admitted with a thunderclap headache. He was conscious and hypertensive. A decade earlier, severe hypertension had been diagnosed and extensively investigated without revealing an underlying cause. Brain imaging showed subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by a ruptured pericallosal aneurysm. Endovascular occlusion was attempted, but as the sheath could not pass the aortic arch, it was converted to surgical aneurismal clipping. Intraoperative blood pressure measurement revealed a peak-to-peak gradient of 100 mm Hg across the aortic arch and an ankle/brachial index of 0.46 (normal range 0.9-1.2). Aortic coarctation was suspected, and angiographic imaging and echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis. Subacute direct stenting was performed, which normalised the peak-to-peak gradient and ankle/brachial index. To minimise the risk of severe complications, early diagnosis of aortic coarctation is important and can be facilitated by ankle/brachial index and echocardiography in the suprasternal view.

Treatments of new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is common in hospitalised patients with critical illness and associated with worse outcomes. Several interventions are available in the management of NOAF, but the overall effectiveness and safety of these interventions compared with placebo or no treatment are unknown.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomised clinical trials (RCT) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, the Cochrane Collaboration, and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation statements. We searched RCTs assessing any pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment compared with placebo or no treatment in critically ill hospitalised patients with NOAF. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, adverse events, and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

We included 16 trials (n = 1891) evaluating seven interventions. All trials were adjudicated 'some concerns' or 'high risk' of bias. The evidence is very uncertain for mortality (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.03-8.30), adverse events (RR 1.28, 95% CI 0.85-1.92), and treatment efficacy i.e. rhythm control (RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.20-1.97; TSA-adjusted CI 0.56-4.53) between pharmacological treatment and placebo/no treatment (very low certainty evidence). There were no data for health-related quality of life or most of our secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The existing data are insufficient to firmly conclude on effects of any intervention against NOAF on any outcome in hospitalised patients with critical illness. Randomised trials of the most frequently used interventions against NOAF are warranted in these patients.

Adherence to participant flow diagrams in trials on postoperative pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty: a methodological review

BACKGROUND

The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement aims to improve transparent reporting of randomised clinical trials. It comprises a participant flow diagram with the reporting of essential numbers for enrolment, allocation and analyses. We aimed to quantify the use of participant flow diagrams in randomised clinical trials on postoperative pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL up till January 2020. The primary outcome was the proportion of trials with adequate reporting of participant flow diagrams, defined as reporting of number of participants screened for eligibility, randomised and included in the primary analysis. Secondary outcomes were recruitment (randomised:screened) and retention (analysed:randomised) rates, reporting of a statistical strategy, reasons for exclusion from the primary analysis and handling of missing outcome data. Trends over time were assessed with statistical process control.

RESULTS

Of the 570 included trials, we found adequate reporting in 240 (42%). Reporting with participant flow diagram increased significantly over time. Median recruitment was 73% (IQR 44-91%), and retention was 97% (IQR 93-100%). These rates did not change over time. Trials with adequate reporting of participant flow were more likely to report a statistical strategy (41% vs 8%), reasons for post-randomisation exclusions (100% vs 55%) and handling of missing outcome data (14% vs 6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to participant flow diagrams for RCTs has increased significantly over time. Still, there is room for improvement of adequate reporting of flow diagrams, to increase transparency of trials details.

Minimal clinically important differences in randomised clinical trials on pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Sample size determination is essential for reliable hypothesis testing in clinical trials and should rely on adequate sample size calculations with alpha, beta, variance, and an effect size being the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). This facilitates interpretation of the clinical relevance of statistically significant results. No gold standard for MCIDs exists in postoperative pain research.

METHODS

We searched Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, and Embase for English language articles on randomised trials investigating analgesic interventions after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Primary outcomes were the reported MCIDs for pain score and cumulated rescue opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included reported sample size calculations and propensity to report statistical significance without reaching MCID. Trend analyses were conducted using statistical process control.

RESULTS

We included 570 trials. Median MCID for 0-24 h opioid consumption was 10 mg i.v. morphine equivalents for absolute reductions (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.8-14.5) and relative 40% (IQR: 30-50%). Median MCIDs for pain scores were absolute 15 mm at rest (IQR: 10-20) and 18 mm during movement (IQR: 10-20) on a 0-100 mm VAS and relative 30% (IQR: 20-30%). No trends were demonstrated for MCIDs. Adequate sample size calculations were reported in 34% of trials. In 46% of trials with statistically significant primary outcomes, the differences did not reach the predetermined MCID.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide clinician-perceived MCID estimates for rescue opioid consumption and pain scores that can be used for sample size calculations until reliable evidence-based patient-rated MCIDs emerge. Nearly half of the trials with significant findings did not reach the predetermined MCID.

A systematic review of trial registry entries for randomized clinical trials investigating COVID-19 medical prevention and treatment

AIM

To identify investigated interventions for COVID-19 prevention or treatment via trial registry entries on planned or ongoing randomised clinical trials. To assess these registry entries for recruitment status, planned trial size, blinding and reporting of mortality.

METHODS

We identified trial registry entries systematically via the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and 33 trial registries up to June 23, 2020. We included relevant trial registry entries for randomized clinical trials investigating medical preventive, adjunct or supportive therapies and therapeutics for treatment of COVID-19. Studies with non-random and single-arm design were excluded. Trial registry entries were screened by two authors independently and data were systematically extracted.

RESULTS

We included 1303 trial registry entries from 71 countries investigating 381 different single interventions. Blinding was planned in 47% of trials. Sample size was >200 participants in 40% of trials and a total of 611,364 participants were planned for inclusion. Mortality was listed as an outcome in 57% of trials. Recruitment was ongoing in 54% of trials and completed in 8%. Thirty-five percent were multicenter trials. The five most frequent investigational categories were immune modulating drugs (266 trials (20%)), unconventional medicine (167 trials (13%)), antimalarial drugs (118 trials (9%)), antiviral drugs (100 trials (8%)) and respiratory adjuncts (78 trials (6%)). The five most frequently tested uni-modal interventions were: chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (113 trials with 199,841 participants); convalescent plasma (64 trials with 11,840 participants); stem cells (51 trials with 3,370 participants); tocilizumab (19 trials with 4,139 participants) and favipiravir (19 trials with 3,210 participants).

CONCLUSION

An extraordinary number of randomized clinical trials investigating COVID-19 management have been initiated with a multitude of medical preventive, adjunctive and treatment modalities. Blinding will be used in only 47% of trials, which may have influence on future reported treatment effects. Fifty-seven percent of all trials will assess mortality as an outcome facilitating future meta-analyses.

Differences in patient characteristics and external validity of randomized clinical trials on pain management following total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review

Background

The external validity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is critical for the relevance of trial results in a clinical setting. We aimed to assess the external validity of RCTs investigating postoperative pain treatment after total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA) by comparing patient characteristics in these trials with a clinical cohort. Further, we assessed the use of exclusion criteria of the included RCTs.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant RCTs up to June 2019. Data on patient characteristics from this research population were compared with an unselected clinical cohort from the Danish Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Registries in the period 2005–2019. Trends in patient characteristics and the use of exclusion criteria were assessed with control charts.

Results

In total, 550 RCTs with 48 962 participants were included in the research cohort. The clinical cohort included 101 439 THA patients and 90 505 TKA patients. Patient characteristics (age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and sex distribution) in the research cohort resembled those of the clinical cohort. Age, BMI and ASA scores did not change over time in the research cohort. In the clinical cohort, age increased among both THA and TKA patients, and BMI and ASA scores increased among TKA patients. Most commonly used exclusion criteria in the RCTs were high ASA score (62%), older age (45%), obesity (32%) and chronic opioid use (41%). Exclusion of chronic opioid users and individuals with obesity increased over time.

Conclusion

Patient characteristics in research trials investigating postoperative pain management after THA and TKA currently resemble those of a clinical cohort. However, individuals in the clinical cohort are getting older, and TKA patients more obese with increasing ASA scores. Concomitantly, RCTs increase the tendency to exclude patients with older age, obesity, chronic pain and/or opioid use. This trending discrepancy can hinder the generalizability of future research results, and therefore increased focus on pragmatic trials resembling real-world conditions are needed.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019125691

A systematic review of pain outcomes reported by randomised trials of hip and knee arthroplasty

It is difficult to pool results from randomised clinical trials that report different outcomes. We want to develop a core set of pain-related outcomes after total hip or knee arthroplasty, the first stage of which is to systematically review published outcomes. We searched PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL for relevant trials to January 2020. We identified 165 outcomes from 565 trials with 50,668 participants, which we categorised into six domains: pain; analgesic consumption; quality of care; adverse events; mobility; and patient-reported outcome measures. The outcome in each domain reported by most trials was: visual analogue score for pain, 401 (71%); morphine consumption, 212 (38%); length of hospital stay, 166 (29%); nausea or vomiting, 425 (75%); range of motion, 173 (31%); and patient satisfaction score, 181 (32%). A primary outcome was reported in 281 (50%) trials: 101 (18%) trials reported consumption of rescue analgesics and 95 (17%) trials reported pain. We plan to publish a consensus on outcomes that should be reported in postoperative pain trials after hip or knee arthroplasty.

Gonorrhoea in Greenland, incidence and previous preventive measures: a review to improve future strategies

Gonorrhoea continues to be a significant health challenge in Greenland. The aim of this study was to describe the development of gonorrhoea in Greenland through time including incidence rates and previous measures taken to address the challenge. A systematic literature search in PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane Library was conducted. Furthermore, local archives were searched in the Health Clinic in Nuuk for relevant literature. From the 1940s the incidence of gonorrhoea increased steadily with a steep incline around 1970, possibly as a consequence of changes in living conditions and urbanisation. Significant declines in the incidence were seen the late 1970s and again in the late 1980s, most likely in the wake of an outbreak of ulcus molle/chancroid in the 1970s and as a result of focused education in venereology for Greenlandic nurses in the late 1980s combined with the stop-AIDS campaign. Since the early 1990s the incidence of gonorrhoea in Greenland has not risen to previously high levels. However, the incidence remains high and with a gradually increasing trend. Prevention intervention strategies such as peer-to-peer sexual education, storytelling and involvement of parent/guardian in sexual education of the youth could be appropriate approaches to improve sexual health in Greenland.

Postoperative pain treatment after total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this systematic review was to document efficacy, safety and quality of evidence of analgesic interventions after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

This PRISMA-compliant and PROSPERO-registered review includes all-language randomized controlled trials of medication-based analgesic interventions after TKA. Bias was evaluated according to Cochrane methodology. Outcomes were opioid consumption (primary), pain scores at rest and during mobilization, adverse events, and length of stay. Interventions investigated in three or more trials were meta-analysed. Outcomes were evaluated using forest plots, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE), L'Abbe Plots and trial sequential analysis.

RESULTS

The included 113 trials, investigating 37 different analgesic interventions, were characterized by unclear/high risk of bias, low assay sensitivity and considerable differences in pain assessment tools, basic analgesic regimens, and reporting of adverse events. In meta-analyses single and continuous femoral nerve block (FNB), intrathecal morphine, local infiltration analgesia, intraarticular injection of local anaesthetics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and gabapentinoids demonstrated significant analgesic effects. The 24-hour morphine-sparing effects ranged from 4.2 mg (CI: 1.3, 7.2; intraarticular local anaesthetics), to 16.6 mg (CI: 11.2, 22; single FNB). Pain relieving effects at rest at 6 hours ranged from 4 mm (CI: -10, 2; gabapentinoids), to 19 mm (CI: 8, 31; single FNB), and at 24 hours from 3 mm (CI: -2, 8; gabapentinoids), to 16 mm (CI: 8, 23; continuous FNB). GRADE-rated quality of evidence was generally low.

CONCLUSION

A low quality of evidence, small sample sizes and heterogeneity of trial designs prohibit designation of an optimal procedure-specific analgesic regimen after TKA.