Comparison of the Efficacy of Oral Oxycodone and Oral Codeine in the Treatment of Post-Craniotomy Pain—A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial

Background: Post-craniotomy pain has been reported to be moderate to severe. Management of post-craniotomy pain is often inadequate, yet limited by the side effects of opioids. We aim to find out the efficacy of oral oxycodone as compared to oral codeine for the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in our institution. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of oral oxycodone versus oral codeine. 40 patients were randomized to the control group of codeine (n = 20) or the experimental group receiving oxycodone (n = 20) in addition to regular oral paracetamol for both groups of patients. Results: There was no difference in the visual analogue scale scores at 24 hours (2.78 versus 1.85, p = 0.11) or side effects in the oxycodone group compared with the codeine group. Conclusions: Oral oxycodone had similar efficacy as oral codeine in the management of post-craniotomy pain.

Naoxueshu Oral Liquid Accelerates Post-Craniotomy Hematoma Absorption in Patients:An Open-Label,Multicenter,and Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To investigate whether Naoxueshu Oral Liquid(NXS) could promote hematoma absorption in post-craniotomy hematoma(PCH) patients. Methods: This is an open-label, multicenter, and randomized controlled trial conducted at 9 hospitals in China. Patients aged 18–80 years with post-craniotomy supratentorial hematoma volume ranging from 10 to 30 mL or post-craniotomy infratentorial hematoma volume less than 10 mL, or intraventricular hemorrhage following cranial surgery were enrolled. They were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to the NXS(10 m L thrice daily for 15 days) or control groups using a randomization code table. Standard medical care was administered in both groups. The primary outcome was the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. The secondary outcomes included the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7, the absolute reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 7 and 15, and the change in neurological function from day 1 to day 7 and 15. The safety was closely monitored throughout the study. Moreover, subgroup analysis was performed based on age, gender, history of diabetes, and etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH). Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned between March 30, 2018 and April 15, 2020. One patient was lost to follow-up in the control group. Finally, there were 119 patients(60 in the NXS group and 59 in the control group) included in the analysis. In the full analysis set(FAS) analysis, the NXS group had a greater percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15 than the control group [median(Q1, Q3): 85%(71%, 97%) vs. 76%(53%, 93%), P<0.05]. The secondary outcomes showed no statistical significance between two groups, either in FAS or per-protocol set(P>0.05). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported during the study. In the FAS analysis, the NXS group exhibited a higher percentage reduction in hematoma volume on day 15 in the following subgroups: male patients, patients younger than 65 years, patients without diabetes, or those with initial cranial surgery due to ICH(all P<0.05). Conclusions: The administration of NXS demonstrated the potential to promote the percentage reduction in hematoma volume from day 1 to day 15. This intervention was found to be safe and feasible. The response to NXS may be influenced by patient characteristics.

Population pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in Chinese elderly patients and its application for dose individualisation

In the present study, we aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetics(PPK) model of vancomycin(VCM) and propose the individualised dosage regimen for Chinese elderly patients. The data were collected prospectively from Chinese elderly patients receiving VCM therapy. Steady-state trough concentrations of VCM were determined using an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay. Patients’ sex, age, body weight, concomitant medications, infection type, and laboratory findings were recorded. The PPK model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects model software. Moreover, we used Monte Carlo simulations to develop an initial dosage regimen targeting various VCM through concentration ranges based on the final model. We found that VCM clearance(CL) was significantly influenced by post-craniotomy meningitis(PCM) and glomerular filtration rate in elderly patients. Additionally, a new dosage regimen was proposed to individualise VCM regimen for PCM and non-PCM elderly patients. A PPK model was established to estimate the individual VCM CL for elderly patients, which could be applied for individualising doses in the target population.