Randomized Clinical Trial Open Access
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 21, 2015; 21(19): 5995-6000
Published online May 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i19.5995
Efficacy and safety of a patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX) for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Seungho Lee, Joung-Ho Han, Hee Seung Lee, Ki Bae Kim, Namgyu Park, Seon Mee Park, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-711, South Korea
In-kwang Lee, Eun-Jong Cha, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju 361-711, South Korea
Young Duck Shin, Department of Anesthesiology, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju 361-711, South Korea
Author contributions: Lee S, Lee HS and Han JH conceptualized the study and acquired the data; Kim KB, Lee I, Cha EJ, Shin YD, Park N and Park SM assessed the results from the picture archiving and communication system images, and were involved in the final editing and writing of the manuscript.
Supported by Korea Healthcare Technology R and D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea (A100054).
Conflict-of-interest: All authors have no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.
Data sharing: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Joung-Ho Han, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 410 SungBong-Ro Heungdeok-Gu, Cheongju-Si ChungBuk 361-711, South Korea. joungho@cbnu.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-43-2696802 Fax: +82-43-2733252
Received: November 18, 2014
Peer-review started: November 18, 2014
First decision: December 26, 2014
Revised: January 15, 2015
Accepted: February 11, 2015
Article in press: February 11, 2015
Published online: May 21, 2015

Abstract

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of a patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX) for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

METHODS: A total of 105 patients were randomized to the EZ-FIX (n = 53) or non-EZ-FIX (n = 52) group in this prospective study. Midazolam and propofol, titrated to provide an adequate level of sedation during therapeutic ERCP, were administered by trained registered nurses under endoscopist supervision. Primary outcome measures were the total dose of propofol and sedative-related complications, including hypoxia and hypotension. Secondary outcome measures were recovery time and sedation satisfaction of the endoscopist, nurses, and patients.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the rate of hypoxia, but there was a statistical trend (EX-FIX group; n = 4, 7.55%, control group; n = 6, 11.53%, P = 0.06). The mean total dose of propofol was lower in the EZ-FIX group than in the non-EZ-FIX group (89.43 ± 49.8 mg vs 112.4 ± 53.8 mg, P = 0.025). In addition, the EZ-FIX group had a shorter mean recovery time (11.23 ± 4.61 mg vs 14.96 ± 5.12 mg, P < 0.001). Sedation satisfaction of the endoscopist and nurses was higher in the EX-FIX group than in the non-EZ-FIX group. Technical success rates of the procedure were 96.23% and 96.15%, respectively (P = 0.856). Procedure-related complications did not differ by group (11.32% vs 13.46%, respectively, P = 0.735).

CONCLUSION: Using EZ-FIX reduced the total dose of propofol and the recovery time, and increased the satisfaction of the endoscopist and nurses.

Key Words: EZ-FIX, Patient-positioning device, Propofol, Sedation, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Core tip: Although the incidence of sedation-related complications is low, it is closely associated with endoscopy-related morbidity and mortality. Many studies on the efficacy and safety of various sedative drugs have been conducted, but none used a patient-positioning device. We planned this study to improve the safety and efficacy of sedation during endoscopy by using a patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX).



INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an advanced upper endoscopic procedure, and is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary disorders[1]. However, ERCP is an invasive procedure of considerable duration and causes substantial discomfort to patients. Thus, a deeper level of sedation may be necessary to ensure the success and safety of the procedure. Deep sedation during ERCP with careful monitoring minimizes patient movement, allowing the endoscope to be manipulated precisely with little interruption. Although the incidence of sedation-related complications is low, it is closely associated with endoscopy related morbidity and mortality. EZ-FIX is a patient-positioning device that uses polyethylene particles and compressed air that is expected to contribute to sedation safety by fixing the position of the patient. Such fixation avoids the transient failure of maintenance of sedation that can occur during ERCP procedures. Studies on the efficacy and safety of various sedative drugs have been published, but none of these studies used a patient-positioning device. This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the EZ-FIX during ERCP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients and study design

This prospective, randomized trial included 105 patients who underwent therapeutic ERCP between April 2013 and March 2014, at the Chungbuk National University Hospital. The sample-size calculation was based on a preliminary study. Consecutive patients who provided informed consent and were to undergo ERCP were assigned randomly to the EZ-FIX group (n = 53) or the non-EZ-FIX group (n = 52). Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years of age, had an ASA classification of “V”, had a history of complications during sedative endoscopy, adverse reactions to propofol or midazolam injection, severe obstructive sleep apnea, pregnancy, or an allergy to eggs or soybeans.

Therapeutic ERCP was performed by one experienced endoscopist who had performed over 1000 therapeutic ERCP procedures during the previous 5 years (Han JH). Trained registered nurses, with experience of over 100 therapeutic ERCP procedures, administered all medications, monitored patients, and prepared medical records under the supervision of the physician performing the ERCP. They were assisted during ERCP by one gastroenterology fellow and two other nurses.

A patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX, Arlico Medical, South Korea) was used in this study. EZ-FIX is filled with tiny polystyrene particles and compressed air and is covered with polyurethane. First, the EZ-FIX is inflated after setting the device on the procedure table in a loose shape. The patient is then placed on the EZ-FIX in the desired posture. Air is removed from the EZ-FIX by vacuum to “copy” and fix the shape of the patient’s posture (Figure 1). Sedatives were then administered after placement of monitoring devices.

Figure 1
Figure 1 Preparation process for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography using EZ-FIX. EZ-FIX is filled with tiny polystyrene particles and compressed air. First, EZ-FIX was placed on the procedure table in a loose shape (A); Then, the patient was placed on the EZ-FIX, and the monitoring device was set up (B); All belts on the device were locked, including those for both hands (C); Inflation state of EZ-FIX after sedation (D); Deflation state of EZ-FIX. It fixes the shape of the patient’s posture (E).

The level of sedation was defined according to the ASA classifications: minimal, moderate, deep sedation, and general anesthesia[2]. Minimal sedation is a state in which the patient can respond normally to verbal stimulation. With moderate sedation, the patient can respond purposefully to verbal commands, either alone or accompanied by light tactile stimulation. Under deep sedation, the patient cannot be aroused easily, but responds purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. In this study, the target level of sedation was deep sedation, which is used for advanced endoscopic procedures, including ERCP and endoscopic submucosal dissection.

The initial intravenous bolus dose of midazolam was 0.05 mg/kg; a half dose was used in those over 70 years old and ASA III-IV patients. A 20-mg propofol bolus was also injected when a patient failed to achieve sedation 3 min after the first injection, and 20-mg doses of propofol were injected repeatedly at 1-min intervals until sedation was achieved. Additional midazolam 0.025 mg/kg was administered when the procedure time was predicted to be excessive or the demand for propofol was too frequent. All the subjects gave informed consent, and the study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Chungbuk National University (CBNUH201304018002) and is registered at the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS, KCT000137).

Outcome measures

Primary outcome measures were the total dose of propofol and sedative-related complications, including hypoxia and hypotension. Secondary outcome measures were recovery time and sedation satisfaction of the endoscopist, nurses, and patients. Procedure time was counted from the dosing of sedatives until withdrawal of the endoscope. Recovery time was defined from the completion of the procedure until the Aldrete score reached 10 points. The total doses of midazolam and propofol administered during the procedure were measured. The endoscopists and sedation nurses completed a questionnaire, using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS), which assessed patient cooperation and overall satisfaction with sedation and the procedure (ranging from 0 = poor, to 10 = excellent). Safety was monitored by measuring systolic and diastolic pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation before and after the procedure and at 10-min intervals during the procedure. Procedure-related complications recorded included bleeding, perforation, and pancreatitis.

Statistical analysis

Baseline data from the patients in the two groups were compared using a χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. The Student’s t-test was used for normally distributed continuous variables and a Mann-Whitney U-test for non-normally distributed continuous variables. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The SPSS software (ver. 13.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States) was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

In total, 105 patients were enrolled in this prospective study and were randomized to the EZ-FIX group (n = 53) or the non-EZ-FIX group (n = 52). The characteristics of both groups are shown in Table 1. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, body weight, duration of procedure, or ASA score.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the EZ-FIX and non-EZ-FIX groups n (%).
EZ-FIX(n = 53)Non-EZ-FIX(n = 52)P value
Age (yr)68.0 ± 15.467.0 ± 14.00.837
Gender (male: female)55:4556:440.914
Weight (kg)59.42 ± 10.3660.79 ± 10.750.507
Procedure time (min)24.66 ± 13.5827.15 ± 11.730.317
ASA classification0.458
1-242 (79.2)38 (73.1)
3-411 (20.8)14 (26.9)

Table 2 shows that the total dose of midazolam and the induction time were not significantly different between the groups (2.42 ± 1.88 mg vs 2.41 ± 1.91 mg, P = 0.976, and 3.37 ± 0.94 min vs 3.72 ± 1.02 min, P = 0.067, respectively). The mean total dose of propofol was lower in the EZ-FIX group than in the non-EZ-FIX group (89.43 ± 49.8 mg vs 112.4 ± 53.8 mg, P = 0.025). In addition, the EZ-FIX group had a shorter mean recovery time (11.23 ± 4.61 mg vs 14.96 ± 5.12 mg, P < 0.001; Figure 2). Based on the VAS, patient satisfaction scores did not differ significantly between the groups. However, the satisfaction scores of both the endoscopist and nurses were significantly higher in the EZ-FIX group than in the non-EZ-FIX group (8.11 ± 0.99 vs 6.54 ± 1.40, P < 0.001, and 7.81 ± 1.03 vs 6.02 ± 1.74, P < 0.001, respectively).

Table 2 Efficacy in the EZ-FIX and non-EZ-FIX groups.
EZ-FIX(n = 53)Non-EZ-FIX(n = 52)P value
Total dose of midazolam2.42 ± 1.882.41 ± 1.910.976
Total dose of propofol89.43 ± 49.8112.4 ± 53.80.025
Induction time, min3.37 ± 0.943.72 ± 1.020.067
Recovery time, min11.23 ± 4.6114.96 ± 5.12< 0.001
Pt. satisfaction score7.26 ± 2.257.29 ± 2.470.722
Dr. satisfaction score8.11 ± 0.996.54 ± 1.40< 0.001
Nr. satisfaction score7.81 ± 1.036.02 ± 1.74< 0.001
Figure 2
Figure 2 Comparisons of the efficacy profiles between the EZ-FIX and the non-EZ-FIX groups. A: Total dose of propofol administered; B: Recovery time of the patients.

Adverse events are shown in Table 3. There were four cases of hypoxemia in the EZ-FIX group and six cases in the non-EZ-FIX group (P = 0.06). Severe hypotension was not observed in either group and no patient required artificial ventilation such as mask bagging and intubation. Procedure-related complications were similar between the two groups (6 vs 7, P = 0.775).

Table 3 Safety index and complications during and after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography n (%).
EZ-FIX(n = 53)Non-EZ-FIX(n = 52)P value
Below 90% in SaO2 for ≥ 30 s4 (3.8)6 (5.7)0.060
↓ 20 mmHg in BP8 (7.6)9 (8.6)0.800
↓ 20% in PR3 (2.9)3 (2.9)1
Death---
Procedure-related complications0.735
Pancreatitis54
Bleeding12
Perforation-1
DISCUSSION

Since its introduction in 1968, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) has become a commonly performed endoscopic procedure[1]. The diagnostic and therapeutic utility of ERCP for a variety of disorders, including the management of biliary and pancreatic neoplasms, and the postoperative management of biliary perioperative complications, has been demonstrated[3-5]. However, ERCP is an uncomfortable and high-risk therapeutic procedure that cannot be performed without adequate sedation or general anesthesia. Patients must be administered agents to induce moderate-to-deep sedation to tolerate the ERCP procedure. The use of propofol for endoscopic sedation has increased markedly in recent years, mainly due to its favorable pharmacokinetic profile compared with “traditional” endoscopy sedation drugs, such as benzodiazepines and opioids[6-10]. When administered intravenously, propofol rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates aminobutyric acid to induce sedation, amnesia, and sleep. Sedative effects occur within, on average, 30-60 s after IV administration, and patients recover rapidly due to the short 1.3-1.4-min half-life[11]. However, propofol has no reversal agent; moreover, negative cardiac inotropy, including decreases in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, arterial pressure, and respiratory depression can occur[12,13]. Thus, it is recommended that propofol should be administered only by anesthesia specialists[14]. Although a large volume of data shows the safety of endoscopist-directed propofol[15-23], it is important to be aware of sedation-related complications due to the increase in the number of elderly patients with multiple underlying comorbidities and its nature as an advanced endoscopic technique that demands longer procedure times and deeper sedation. In clinical practice, it is common to combine propofol with additional drugs (benzodiazepine/opioid/ketamine), so-called “balanced propofol sedation” (BPS), which allows the propofol dose to be reduced and seems to be associated with less-frequent need for assisted ventilation, although this has not been demonstrated in head-to-head comparisons[23-27]. In an effort to reduce the incidence of sedation-related complications, we performed this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a patient-positioning device.

Respiratory depression is more frequent in ERCP because the procedure is performed in the prone position. Several devices can be used, such as cushions to maintain the airway by lifting the right shoulder, but these are not commercial products. Recently, a transformable patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX, Arlico Medical, South Korea) was designed to make the procedure more efficient. EZ-FIX contains polystyrene balls in a soft and non-slip polyurethane cover, which provides flexibility in the changing postures of patients. Inflation with air and deflation with a vacuum facilitate rapid changes in and fixation of the posture of the patient. Patients are more comfortable in the desired position and maintain a stable posture during the procedure. In addition, EZ-FIX exerts a body-temperature-protecting effect and assists in turning the patient over.

Our study demonstrated that using EZ-FIX reduced both the total dose of propofol and the recovery time. The advantages of propofol sedation are the rapid onset and short recovery time. However, it is difficult to predict the timing when patients who have long procedure times are released from sedation, and this sometimes leads to a dangerous situation. Therefore, propofol is frequently administered before a return to minimal sedation, which can lead to over-sedation. However, these intermittent propofol injections in advance are not necessary with EZ-FIX, due to the immobilization of patients. Thus, the propofol dose can be reduced and the recovery time shortened. The higher satisfaction of the endoscopist and nurses in the EZ-FIX group was thought to be due to inhibition of unpredictable movements of the patient. A significant reduction in the amount of propofol required for deep sedation could theoretically decrease the risk of sedation-related complications. However, in this study, the rate of neither hypotension nor hypoxemia differed significantly between the groups. EZ-FIX may lead to a lower incidence of sedative-related complications in a larger-scale study. The rate of procedure-related complications did not differ between the groups, possibly due more to the type of procedure performed and underlying diseases than sedation methods.

This study had several limitations in that the sample size was small, and patients with ASA V, severe sleep apnea, and pulmonary disease were excluded. A double-blind design was not possible in that the endoscopist and nurses could see the device, which might have caused bias in the satisfaction scores. Further studies in patients with various characteristics are needed to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of EZ-FIX.

In conclusion, the results of this study showed that use of the EZ-FIX provided increased satisfaction for the endoscopist and nurses, reduced the total dose of propofol, and decreased recovery time. Thus, we suggest that the EZ-FIX may be valuable in advanced endoscopic procedures, including ERCP.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the nursing staff (Mi Suk Kim, Hee Kyung Ryu, and Hae Sook Han) at the participating center for their support and assistance in this study.

COMMENTS
Background

Advanced endoscopic procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are long, and patients require deep consistent sedation. The use of propofol for endoscopic sedation has increased due to its useful pharmacokinetic profile. However, no reversal agent is available and cardiovascular and respiratory complications can result.

Research frontiers

Propofol has been combined with other drugs to decrease sedation-related complications; this also allows the propofol dose to be reduced. However, studies on relevant patient-positioning devices have not yet appeared.

Innovations and breakthroughs

This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a patient-positioning device (EZ-FIX) for ERCP. EZ-FIX increased the satisfaction levels of both the endoscopist and nurses, reduced the total dose of propofol required, and decreased recovery time. It is important to consider sedative drugs and external devices in combination to improve the efficacy and safety of sedation.

Applications

This study suggests that the EZ-FIX patient-positioning device could be valuable in advanced endoscopic procedures, such as ERCP, endoscopic submucosal dissection, and peroral endoscopic myotomy.

Terminology

EZ-FIX is a patient-positioning device (Arlico Medical, South Korea) that is filled with tiny polystyrene particles and compressed air and is covered with polyurethane.

Peer-review

This study affords useful information and suggests that a patient-positioning device could be valuable during ERCP. The authors show that this device (EZ-FIX) could reduced the total dose of propofol required, and decreased recovery time. EZ-FIX might be a valuable aid during advanced endoscopic procedures.

Footnotes

P- Reviewer: Biecker E, Huang CM S- Editor: Ma YJ L- Editor: Webster JR E- Editor: Liu XM

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