Understanding what treatments may facilitate perioperative care of Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is of great importance to the U.S. health care system. Patients with PTSD are characterized by elevated central nervous system catecholamine concentrations and exaggerated and prolonged adrenergic responses to stress stimuli. At present, there are no data on the effects of perioperative beta blocker therapy in patients with PTSD, despite the rising significance of PTSD in Veteran populations. This prospective, double-blind study proposes to randomize 150 Veterans with PTSD scheduled for orthopedic, thoracic or vascular surgery at the San Francisco VA Medical Center to either a 14-day course of propranolol or placebo. This study will then follow these Veterans for a one-year period to evaluate the effects of the intervention on Veterans' surgical outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that patients with PTSD randomized to the propranolol group will demonstrate a reduced incidence of perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
59
Propranolol will be taken for a total of 14 days. On the morning of the surgery, prior to entry into the operating room, patients will receive the first dose of the study drug (the PDR recommended starting dose of Propranolol XL- Extended Release). Patients will take one 60 mg pill on the morning of surgery. On post operative day #1, patients will take one pill of receive propranolol XL 80 mg (once daily by mouth). On post operative days #2-#9, patients will take one pill of propranolol XL 120 mg (once daily by mouth). On post operative days #10-11, patients will take one pill of propranolol XL 80 mg (once daily by mouth). On post operative days #12-13, patients will take one pill of propranolol XL 60 mg (once daily by mouth). This will complete the course of propranolol.
The placebo pill will be taken for a total of 14 days. On the morning of the surgery, prior to entry into the operating room, patients will receive the first placebo pill to be taken once daily by mouth. On post operative days #1-13, patients will take one placebo pill (once daily by mouth). This will complete the course of the placebo.
San Francisco VA Medical Center
San Francisco, California, United States
ICU Length of Stay
Measured using patient medical records
Time frame: Truncated at 30 days after admission to ICU
Hospital Length of Stay
Measured using patient medical records
Time frame: Truncated at 30 days after admission to ICU
Postoperative Delirium
Measured using Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-CAM-ICU)
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 1 week
Postoperative Renal Dysfunction
Measured using Serum Creatinine laboratory values
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 1 week
Perioperative Complications
Measured using patient medical records
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 1 week
Pain Intensity
Pain intensity was measured using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The range of the NRS is 0 and 10, where zero represents no pain at all and 10 represents the worst pain ever possible.
Time frame: 12 months
Pain Unpleasantness
Measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). The range of the NRS is 0 and 10, where zero represents no pain at all and 10 represents the worst pain ever possible.
Time frame: 12 months
Perioperative Opioids Use
Measured using patient medical records.
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Required Mechanical Ventilation
Measured using patient medical records
Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of 1 week
Change in Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) PTSD Symptoms Severity Score
The Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) Scale includes a PTSD Symptoms Severity Score ranging from 0 to 51, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.
Time frame: Baseline and 12 months
Change in Mental Component Summary (MCS) Scores From the Short Form-36 Questionnaire (SF-36)
The Mental Component Summary (MCS) score is derived from the Short Form-36 Questionnaire (SF-36), a validated measure of health-related quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better mental health and lower scores indicating worse mental health.
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Change in Physical Component Summary (PCS) Scores From the Short Form-36 Questionnaire (SF-36)
The Physical Component Summary (PCS) score is derived from the Short Form-36 Questionnaire (SF-36), a validated measure of health-related quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better physical health and lower scores indicating worse physical health.
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Score
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a validated self-reported questionnaire assessing sleep quality. Total scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality and lower scores indicating better sleep quality
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Score
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a validated self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Total scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms (worse outcome) and lower scores indicating fewer or minimal symptoms (better outcome).
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Postoperative Neurocognitive Dysfunction Score
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used screening tool for cognitive function. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function and lower scores indicating greater cognitive impairment.
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
30-day, 3-month, and 1-year Mortality
Measured using patient medical records
Time frame: Participants will be followed from preoperative baseline to 1 year postoperative
Postoperative Complications
Measured using patient medical records - Composite outcome measure that included, delirium, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, new atrial fibrilation, infection, or congestive heart failure between the surgery and 1-yr.
Time frame: Participants will be followed to 1 year postoperative
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.