Continuous nefopam infusion after pancreatoduodenectomy

Continous Infusion of Nefopam for Patients Undergoing Pancreatoduodenectomy: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial

PHASE4 · Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy · NCT07423650

This trial will test whether a continuous infusion of nefopam can lower opioid use and reduce pain for people having a pancreatoduodenectomy.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment93 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
SponsorIuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy (other)
Locations1 site (Cluj-Napoca, Cluj)
Trial IDNCT07423650 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Patients undergoing elective pancreatoduodenectomy will receive one of three perioperative analgesic strategies—continuous nefopam infusion (120 mg/day), continuous lidocaine infusion, or epidural analgesia—as part of a multimodal pain management protocol. Researchers will track opioid consumption, patient-reported pain scores at predefined time points, and recovery quality using the QoR-15 questionnaire. Outcomes will be compared between groups to see which approach provides better pain control and reduces opioid requirements. The trial is conducted at a single tertiary gastrointestinal surgery center in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults scheduled for elective pancreatoduodenectomy who can consent and do not have chronic opioid use, communication-impairing neurological or psychiatric disorders, or allergies to the study medications.

Not a fit: Patients with chronic opioid consumption, known hyperalgesia or allergies to the study drugs, those requiring emergency surgery, early reintervention within 48 hours, or with pancreaticogastrostomy are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce postoperative opioid use and improve pain control and recovery quality after pancreatoduodenectomy.

How similar studies have performed: Perioperative nefopam and lidocaine infusions and epidural analgesia have shown opioid-sparing and pain-reducing effects in other surgical populations, although direct head-to-head data specifically in pancreatoduodenectomy are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients scheduled for elective pancreatoduodenectomy surgery
2. Agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Refusal to participate
2. Emergency surgery
3. Patients with neurological disorders or other muscular or psychiatric disorders that impede communication
4. Known allergic reactions to the used medication
5. Known hyperalgesia
6. Chronic opioid consumption
7. Patients that require reintervention in the first 48h postoperatively
8. Patients with pancreaticogastrostomy

Where this trial is running

Cluj-Napoca, Cluj

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Pancreatoduodenectomy, Pain Management, Opioid Analgesia, Multimodal Analgesia, Nefopam, Opioids, Multimodal analgesia

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.