Evaluating Opioid-Free and Opioid-Sparing Care Compared to Usual Opioid Treatment in Adults Undergoing Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating opioid-free and opioid-sparing care pathways compared to conventional opioid-based treatment in patients undergoing obesity surgery. The study aims to assess the short-, medium-, and long-term effects on cognitive and physical recovery after surgery, opioid usage up to 24 months post-discharge, clinical monitoring of pain responses during surgery, and patient experiences related to quality of life, self-efficacy, and economic outcomes. The study includes two intervention phases testing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The control group receives standard opioid-based anesthesia and postoperative pain management with drugs like Remifentanil and Oxycodone. Intervention groups receive opioid-free anesthesia using drugs such as Dexmedetomidine, Esketamine, Lidocaine, and Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation TENS. Phase 2 adds a person-centred care approach throughout perioperative and up to four weeks after discharge. Treatments are administered during the perioperative and postoperative periods with specific dosing and monitoring. Participants will be closely monitored for pain levels, opioid consumption, and quality of recovery from surgery up to 24 months. Assessments include postoperative pain scores, quality of life questionnaires, self-efficacy scales, hospital readmission rates, and mortality. Clinical monitoring during surgery uses nociception level measurements. Patient experiences and economic evaluations are also recorded. The total follow-up involves multiple timepoints from immediate postoperative to two years after surgery.

Effects of an Opioid Free/Sparing Care Pathway for Patients Undergoing Obesity Surgery