NCT00850850

Physostigmine After General Anesthesia

The Use of Physostigmine in Elderly Patients in the Postoperative Recovery-phase After General Anesthesia

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Bispebjerg Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Recovery after general anaesthesia is often prolonged in the elderly. This group is particularly exposed to post-operative confusion. This has negative personal consequences as well as consequences for the postoperative care for these patients. The hypothesis is that physostigmine will decrease the amount of time in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU ), the postoperative amount of pain and shivering and finally post-operative confusion.

Detailed description

The researchers wish to investigate the use of physostigmine in the elderly patients (age \> 60 yrs, ASA I-III) in the postoperative recovery-phase after general anesthesia. Apart from the beneficial effects for the patient, the lessened amount of time in the PACU will release caregiving resources and thereby increase the efficacy of the PACU.

Conditions

• Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
• Anesthesia Recovery Period

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	physostigmine	1 mg of physostigmine time 0 min. If the condition persisted after 15 min. the same amount of active drug would be administered once again.
DRUG	Isotonic sodium chloride solution	Patients who have difficulties in awakening from the general anaesthesia and do not suffer from excess nausea or vomiting will be randomised to receive 1 ml of isotonic sodium chloride solution (placebo) time 0 min. If the condition persisted after 15 min. the same amount of non-active drug would be administered once again.

Timeline

• Start date: 2009-12-01
• Primary completion: 2011-03-01
• Completion: 2011-05-01
• First posted: 2009-02-25
• Last updated: 2010-05-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark