Optimizing Pain Treatment in Children On Mechanical Ventilation (NCT06994442) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 3
Optimizing Pain Treatment in Children On Mechanical Ventilation
United States644 participantsStarted 2025-12-29
Plain-language summary
In this clinical trial, investigators want to learn more about using non-opioid pain medications for children with acute respiratory failure. Right now, doctors give these children opioids to help with pain while they are on the ventilator, but investigators don't know if this is the best way to manage their pain. Even with strong doses of opioids, more than 90% of these children still feel pain. Other pain medicines, like acetaminophen (also called Tylenol) and ketorolac (also called Toradol), are available but aren't commonly used because we don't know if they help. The goal of this clinical trial is to test if acetaminophen and/or ketorolac can improve pain control and reduce the need for stronger pain medications (opioids) in these children.
To learn more about this, participants will be randomly placed in one of four study treatment groups. This means that a computer will decide by chance which group each participant is in, not the doctors running the study. Each group will receive a combination of intravenous acetaminophen, ketorolac or a harmless substance called a placebo. In this clinical trial, placebos help investigators see if the actual medications (acetaminophen and ketorolac) work better than something that doesn't contain medicine. By comparing participants who get the real medicine with those who get the placebo, investigators can find out if these medications effectively decrease pain.
Who can participate
Age range
2 Months – 17 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. At least 2 months of age to 17 years 6 months; AND
. Acute Respiratory Failure requiring endotracheal intubation; AND
. Opioid infusion planned or started; AND
. Expected duration of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation \> 48 hours
Exclusion criteria
. History of allergic-type reaction to either acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications; OR
. Active peptic ulcer disease, recent gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation, or history of peptic ulcer disease or gastrointestinal bleeding; OR
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Acute Pain Episodes
Timeframe: First 5 days of mechanical ventilation or until extubation, whichever comes first
Trial details
NCT IDNCT06994442
SponsorWeill Medical College of Cornell University
. Expected need for continuous neuromuscular blockade for more than 24 hours following intubation; OR
. Requirement for tight temperature control (defined as the requirement for continuous administration of antipyretic medications to prevent secondary injuries associated with fever); OR
. Platelet count \< 100,000/microliter; OR
. Known liver disease (defined as pre-existing diagnosis of hepatic insufficiency, or a serum ALT \> 5 times upper limit of normal or serum total bilirubin \> 2 times the upper limit of normal, as defined by hospital laboratory standards); OR
. Known kidney disease (defined as pre-existing diagnosis of renal insufficiency, or an estimated creatinine clearance \< 30 mL/min/m2 obtained within the previous 24-hours prior to eligibility, or high risk of renal failure due to volume depletion); OR
. Current treatment with extracorporeal therapies (e.g., ECMO, CVVH, plasma exchange); OR