Dexmedetomidine-esketamine Combination and Chronic Postsurgical Pain After Spinal Surgery (NCT07525999) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingPhase 4
Dexmedetomidine-esketamine Combination and Chronic Postsurgical Pain After Spinal Surgery
China274 participantsStarted 2026-04
Plain-language summary
Spinal surgery is generally followed by severe postoperative pain, and poor pain control may cause adverse outcomes such as cardiovascular events, neurocognitive disorders, and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). In previous studies, perioperative use of dexmedetomidine or esketamine is each associated with improved analgesia after surgery. Recent studies suggest that combined use of dexmedetomidine and esketamine may produce synergetic effects in improving analgesia. This trial is designed to test the hypothesis that perioperative combined use of dexmedetomidine and esketamine may reduce CPSP in patients after spinal surgery.
Who can participate
Age range
40 Years – 80 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
. Aged \>= 40 years and \< 80 years;
. Scheduled to undergo elective posterior cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected operative duration \>= 2 hours;
. Requirement for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) postoperatively.
Exclusion criteria
. Severe uncontrolled hypertension preoperatively (baseline ward blood pressure: SBP \> 180 mmHg or DBP \> 110 mmHg);
. Severe bradycardia (heart rate \<= 50 bpm), sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular block of grade II or higher without pacemaker implantation, or a history of myocardial infarction within one year, severe heart failure (NYHA class \>= III), or rapid ventricular arrhythmia;
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
Incidence of chronic pain at 3 months after surgery
. Preoperative history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis, or intracranial hypertension;
. Preoperative history of hyperthyroidism or pheochromocytoma;
. Inability to communicate preoperatively due to coma, severe dementia, or language impairment;
. Severe cardiac insufficiency (preoperative LVEF \< 30% or NYHA class IV), severe hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh class C), severe renal dysfunction (preoperative dialysis), or ASA physical status \>= grade IV;
. Other conditions deemed inappropriate for study participation by the investigator or attending physician.