Not Yet RecruitingPhase 4

Hemodynamic and Cardiac Effects of Dexmedetomidine Versus Fentanyl by Intravenous Infusion as Adjuncts to General Anesthesia in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Cancer Surgeries.

70 participantsStarted 2025-11-01

Plain-language summary

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Background : Major abdominal cancer surgery is among the most invasive procedures, often associated with extensive tissue damage, severe postoperative pain, and delayed recovery. Inadequate pain management can result in adverse physiological responses such as tachycardia, hypertension, prolonged immobility, and extended hospital stay. Moreover, poorly controlled pain may impair immune function and contribute to neuroendocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal, and cardiopulmonary complications. Therefore, effective analgesia is essential to improve patient outcomes and recovery. Multimodal analgesia has emerged as the gold standard for managing postoperative pain in major abdominal surgery. It integrates regional techniques (such as epidural or intrathecal analgesia), peripheral nerve blocks (e.g., transversus abdominis plane block), systemic opioids, and non-opioid agents including NSAIDs and acetaminophen. This approach minimizes surgical stress, maintains hemodynamic stability, and facilitates early ambulation and discharge. Opioids, particularly fentanyl, are widely used as intrathecal adjuvants due to their rapid onset and favorable analgesic profile. However, selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists such as clonidine and dexmedetomidine are gaining attention for their sedative, analgesic, sympatholytic, and hemodynamic-stabilizing effects. Administered intrathecally, epidurally, or intravenously, they can enhance analgesia while reducing anesthetic requirements without causing profound sedation. Conventional monitoring with heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure may overlook subtle variations in cardiac output. Electrical cardiometry (ICON®) provides continuous, non-invasive, beat-to-beat measurement of cardiac parameters and has been validated across different patient groups. Accordingly, the present study aims to compare intravenous dexmedetomidine and fentanyl as adjuvants to general anesthesia, focusing on their effects on hemodynamics and cardiac function in major abdominal cancer surgery using electrical cardiometry.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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: * ASA physical status I- III, NYHA class I- II * Patients subjected to elective major abdominal cancer surgeries. * The enrolled age will be ≥ 18 years. Exclusion Criteria: * Unfit for surgery * Patient refusal * Body mass index\>40 kg/m2 * ASA physical status IV-V, NYHA class III-IV. * Chronic opioid consumption * Contraindications to neuraxial block (coagulopathy, infection, or hematological disorders). * Pregnant women * Hypersensitivity to any of the used drugs

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

cardiac output (CO)

Timeframe: 24 hour postoperative

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07214714

SponsorAssiut University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-11-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Abdominal Cancer Surgeries trials