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Recruiting NCT06671002

Comparing Analgesic Regimen Effectiveness and Safety for Surgery for Kids Trial

Phase IV Interventional Surgery Pain, Post Operative

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: NSAID, Opioid, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Surgery, Pain, Post Operative. Basic parameters: 12 years — 20 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
United States
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

Comparing Analgesic Regimen Effectiveness and Safety for Surgery for Kids (CARES for Kids) Trial

Overview

This trial is being completed to compare two commonly used options to treat pain after discharge from surgery. Participants that undergo tonsil removal, gallbladder removal, and knee scope will be eligible to enroll. Eligible participants will be randomized to prescription of 1 of 2 groups of medications (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) plus acetaminophen or low dose opioids with the NSAIDs plus acetaminophen. The key question the study seeks to answer is which option will have the best outcomes and with the fewest side effects?

Interventions

  • Drug NSAID
    Once randomized to this group the surgical team will elect to prescribe 1 of the following treatment options for post-discharge pain: * Ibuprofen 10 milligrams(mg)/kilogram (kg) (maximum 600mg) by mouth every 6 hours around the clock for 2 days, then as needed for pain thereafter (40 doses) * Celecoxib 6mg/kg (maximum 400mg) by mouth once then 3 mg/kg (maximum 200mg) every 12 hours around the clock for 2 days, then as needed for pain thereafter (40 doses)
  • Drug Opioid
    Once randomized to this group the surgical team will elect to prescribe for 1 of the following treatment options to be given post procedure for post-discharge pain: * Oxycodone 0.1 mg/kg (maximum 5 mg) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain, number 10 doses. * Hydromorphone 0.04 mg/kg (maximum mg) by mouth 4 to 6 hours as needed, number 10 doses
  • Drug Acetaminophen
    Participants will receive 15mg/kg up to 1000mg by mouth every 6 hours around the clock for the first 2 days after discharge from surgery then as needed thereafter (40 doses)
  • Drug Ibuprofen
    Ibuprofen 10mg/kg (maximum 600 mg) by mouth every 6 hours around the clock for 2 days after discharge from surgery then as needed thereafter (40 doses)

Primary outcome measures

  • Effectiveness outcome - Pain intensity based on Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) pain intensity score at the surgical site over 14 days post-surgery [Time frame: 14 days post-surgery, and up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Safety outcome - number and severity of any adverse medication-related symptoms over 14 days post-surgery [Time frame: 14 days post-surgery, and 1 month after surgery]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
  • Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Sleep Disturbance v1.0 short form 4a [Time frame: Baseline and 1 month after surgery]
  • Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) [Time frame: Day 7 up to 12 months after surgery]
  • PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference scale (Short form-8a) [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Short Form 15 [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Quality of Recovery (QoR) 15 [Time frame: Day 3, 1 week, and 2 weeks after surgery]
  • Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Brief Screening Instrument for Adolescent Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drug Use [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • National Survey on Drug Use and Health Questions on Opioid Misuse [Time frame: Baseline up to 12 months after surgery]
  • New prolonged opioid use [Time frame: Up to 12 months after surgery]
  • Acute pain based on The Michigan Body Map [Time frame: Up to 12 months after surgery]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • No significant analgesic medication use before surgery as defined in the protocol. For this study, we define significant analgesic medication use before surgery as prescriptions reported by the child or caregiver for 6 days or more of opioid medications in the past 90 days (aligning with American Pediatric Guidelines that were published in September 2024 after the project was funded), excepting surgical team prescriptions within the week of surgery.
  • Undergo one the following: tonsil removal (with or without adenoid removal), gallbladder removal (laparoscopic), and knee scope (arthroscopy).

Exclusion criteria

  • Anticipated other surgery within 12 months
  • Anticipated life expectancy of <12 months
  • Those that have legal guardians (due to special permission to enroll in trials)
  • Participants with complex chronic conditions per the Pediatric Medical Complexity Algorithm (e.g., trisomy 21)
  • Patients with contraindications to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) drugs in the NSAID arm, opioid drugs in the opioid arm, or acetaminophen will be excluded.
  • Liver disease
  • Acute psychiatric instability (defined as current uncontrolled severe depression, severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or suicidal ideation), substance use disorder not in remission or treatment, and history of diversion of controlled substances (opioids)

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

United States · 4 centers
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) — Los Angeles
  • Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford — Palo Alto
  • University of Michigan — Ann Arbor
  • Nationwide Children's (NCH) — Columbus

Publications

  • Lee JS, Bicket MC, Mansfield SA, Rabbitts JA, Van Horn A, Perrone EE, Chua KP, Voepel-Lewis T, Waljee J, Brummett C, Hutmacher C, Li Y, Kelley-Quon LI; CARES for Kids Investigators. US multicentre randomised controlled trial protocol: Comparing Analgesic Regimen Effectiveness and Safety after surgery trial for Kids (CARES for Kids). BMJ Open. 2026 May 28;16(5):e118728. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-11 PMID 42208996

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06671002 · HUM00252793 · BPS-2023C1-32147

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗