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Comparing oral and intravenous paracetamol plasma levels when given as pre-medication for peri-operative analgesia
ISRCTN ISRCTN11248599
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier
Public title Comparing oral and intravenous paracetamol plasma levels when given as pre-medication for peri-operative analgesia
Scientific title
Acronym Paracetamol
Serial number at source 06/Q2002/25
Study hypothesis The hypothesis is that in the peri-operative setting gastric emptying is delayed and that the absorption of oral paracetamol preparation is therefore unreliable. It might be more appropriate to use the intravenous route and if so will become apparent during the study.

The aim of this research study is to compare plasma levels of the intravenous and oral paracetamol preparations when used as pre-emptive analgesia. We wish to establish whether the intravenous preparation, the oral preparation or both achieve therapeutic plasma levels intra-operatively. Use of paracetamol as a pre-emptive analgesia is well established in previous studies, which have shown that pre-emptive analgesia reduces post-operative pain more than when analgesia is used solely post-operatively and others have shown that peri-operative use of paracetamol also reduces opioid use.

Therefore, is intravenous paracetamol more effective than the oral preparation when given as a pre-medication?
Ethics approval Not provided at time of registration.
Study design Randomised controlled trial
Countries of recruitment United Kingdom
Disease/condition/study domain Peri-operative analgesia
Participants - inclusion criteria 1. Assessment of fitness as indicated by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades I and II
2. Age group 16 to 75 years
3. All patients listed for elective surgery by Mr P Robinson on a Thursday for Ear, Nose & Throat surgery
Participants - exclusion criteria 1. Patients refusing to participate in study
2. Patient unable to take an oral preparation
3. Cases shorter than one hour
4. Patients already taking a paracetamol containing drug combination, or have taken in the last 12 hours
5. Patients with a history of paracetamol allergy, hypersensitivity or previous reaction/serious adverse reaction
6. Children under the age of 16
7. Patients unable to understand or give consent to participation in the study; incapable adults, psychiatric/medical disorder able to modify patient compliance
8. Pregnant or breastfeeding
9. History of complete non-responsiveness to acetaminophen
10. Pancreatic disease in the previous 12 months
11. Impaired liver/kidney function
12. Patients that might pose an infection risk to staff due to blood products
Anticipated start date 01/08/2006
Anticipated end date 01/08/2007
Status of trial Completed
Patient information material Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Target number of participants 104 (52 in each group)
Interventions Group A: Intravenous injection equivalent to one gram paracetamol given by the researchers immediately prior to induction of anaesthesia in theatre.
Group B: One gram oral paracetamol prescribed on the ward and given by the nursing staff or researchers one to two hours before induction of anaesthesia.
Primary outcome measure(s) Therapeutic plasma level of paracetamol (when the plasma level is 10 - 20 mg/l [the test will be at 30 minutes post induction of anaesthesia])
Secondary outcome measure(s) Non-therapeutic plasma level of paracetamol
Sources of funding North Bristol NHS Trust (UK)
Trial website
Publications
Contact name Dr  Kathryn  Holder
  Address Consultant Anaesthetist
c/o Anaesthetic Department
Southmead Hospital
  City/town Bristol
  Zip/Postcode BS10 5NB
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0) 117 950 5050 ext 5114
  Email Kathryn.Holder@nbt.nhs.uk
Sponsor North Bristol NHS Trust (UK)
  Address Nicola Coe
c/o Research & Development
Southmead Hospital
Westbury-on-Trym
  City/town Bristol
  Zip/Postcode BS10 5NB
  Country United Kingdom
  Tel +44 (0) 117 959 5386/6192
  Email Nicola.Coe@nbt.nhs.uk
  Sponsor website: http://www.nbt.nhs.uk/
Date applied 19/06/2006
Last edited 09/02/2010
Date ISRCTN assigned 28/11/2006
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