Ketamine Versus Fentanyl for Surgical Abortions

Completed · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Abortion in First Trimester, Pain, Procedural, Opioid Use

In brief

Ketamine is commonly used for procedural sedation and analgesia. It is widely used for trauma cases in the emergency department and is considered a superior agent in the outpatient setting due to its lack of respiratory and cardiovascular depression. In chronic opioid users, ketamine decreases acute pain and reduces postoperative opioid consumption. Few studies have examined the use of ketamine for surgical abortions. Previous studies found significant rates of emergence phenomena; however, this can be prevented if a benzodiazepine is given at the same time. Ketamine deserves further study to determine whether it is an acceptable alternative to a standard opioid-based regimen for surgical abortion. Our primary objective is to compare patient satisfaction after surgical abortion among patients receiving IV ketamine versus IV fentanyl for procedural sedation. Our secondary objectives include postoperative pain, additional pain medication used, and postoperative opioid use after the procedure. Our hypothesis is that ketamine will provide similar patient satisfaction and reduce postoperative opioid use. This will be a randomized controlled noninferiority clinical trial of 84 women receiving either IV ketamine with IV midazolam or IV fentanyl with IV midazolam for outpatient one day surgical abortions up to 13, 6/7 weeks gestation. Both groups will receive a standardized paracervical block and additional pain medication as needed. Our study has the potential to introduce IV ketamine as a satisfactory medication for outpatient surgical abortions. Ketamine may decrease the need for IV fentanyl, reduce postoperative opioid use, and may prove to be a superior analgesic for chronic opioid users.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04871425

Run by

University of Washington

People needed

110

Starts

2021-04-27

Expected to finish

2021-10-14

Last updated by the study team

2022-03-24

Who can join

Age: 14 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Aged 14 years or older
• Voluntarily requesting surgical pregnancy termination
• Intrauterine pregnancy up to 13 weeks 6 days by transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound performed on day of procedure
• Eligible for suction curettage
• English or Spanish speaking
• Able and willing to give informed consent and agree to terms of the study

You may not qualify if…

• Age less than 14 years
• Reaspiration procedure or failed medication abortion
• Early pregnancy loss
• Alcohol use disorder or acute alcohol intoxication
• Currently incarcerated
• Gestational age 14 weeks or more
• Requesting a specific pain regimen
• Premedication with misoprostol
• Contraindications or allergies to ketamine or fentanyl

Where it is running

• Cedar River Clinic — Renton, Washington, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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