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TerminatedNCT03962725Updated Jun 4, 2026Results posted

Avoiding Neuromuscular Blockers to Reduce Complications

A Phase 4 interventional study of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents and Anesthetic Adjuncts in Respiratory Failure, Respiratory Infection and Aspiration Pneumonia, sponsored by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Terminated at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-04.

Sponsored by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Study terminated due to lack of enrollment.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
3
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this study to evaluate whether eliminating the use of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) for maintenance of general anesthesia reduces postoperative pulmonary complications in higher risk patients.

Read the detailed description

Pragmatic prospective randomized controlled assessor-blinded effect-size finding trial involving approximately 100 patients total at two academic tertiary care hospitals: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Patients will be randomized into one of two study groups: standard care group which uses Rocuronium (NMBA) as an adjunct for maintenance of general anesthesia and non-relaxant arm that avoids the use of NMBA and instead uses additional inhalational anesthetics, opioids, propofol, dexmedetomidine, or ketamine for maintenance of general anesthesia. Assessment of postoperative pulmonary complications and in-hospital mortality would be achieved by close review of the patient's medical records during the hospital stay, for a maximum of 28 days.

02

Conditions studied

  • Respiratory Failure
  • Respiratory Infection
  • Aspiration Pneumonia
  • Pneumonitis
  • Atelectasis
  • Bronchospasm

Keywords

  • Neuromuscular Blocker Avoidance
  • Post Operative Pulmonary Complications
  • General Anesthesia Maintenance
  • Inhaled Anesthetics
03

In context

Respiratory Insufficiency

1,369 studies on the registry are indexed under Respiratory Insufficiency; 264 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 3 is below the median of 60 across 860 interventional studies indexed under Respiratory Insufficiency.

Browse Respiratory Insufficiency studies →

Lead sponsor

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 568 studies on the registry; 80 are open to participants now.

Of its 76 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 62 (82%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Undergoing non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia with an endotracheal tube
  • those at higher risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (internally validated risk prediction score of >=20)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Emergency surgery
  • Ambulatory (outpatient) surgery
  • Scheduled for elective postoperative ventilation
  • Planned return to operating room within 7 days of index procedure
  • Exposure to general anesthesia within 7 days prior to planned procedure
  • Requirement mechanical ventilation at baseline (not including stable use of CPAP/BiPAP)
  • Pregnant patients: as detected by patient self-reporting or diagnosed by preoperative pregnancy testing according to institutional policies at BIDMC and MGH
  • Allergy to either non-depolarizing muscle relaxants or sugammadex
  • Clinician refusal
  • Prisoner
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
3 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Control Group (C)

    Endotracheal intubation would be facilitated by either Rocuronium (0.6-1mg kg-1) or Succinylcholine (1-1.5mg kg-1) and further dosing of Rocuronium would be left at the discretion of the anesthesia team members. Choice and technique of induction and maintenance of anesthesia, use of vasopressors, perioperative antibiotics, analgesics/adjunct regional techniques, prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting, fluid and blood component therapy would be left at the discretion of the anesthesia team. Neuromuscular blockade would be reversed with either Sugammadex or Neostigmine (based on institutional availability) and trachea would be extubated once patient meets criteria per attending anesthesiologist.

    Drug: Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

  • Experimental
    No Relaxant Group (NR)

    Endotracheal intubation would be facilitated by Succinylcholine (1-1.5mg/kg) or Remifentanil (1-2mcg kg-1) if Succinylcholine use is contraindicated. No non-depolarizing NMBA would be administered to the patients randomized to the NR group. Choice and technique of induction and maintenance of anesthesia, use of vasopressors, perioperative antibiotics, analgesics/adjunct regional techniques, prophylaxis for postoperative nausea and vomiting, fluid and blood component therapy would be left at the discretion of the anesthesia team. Use of deeper plane of inhaled anesthetics or adjuncts (opioids, propofol, dexmedetomidine or ketamine) either as boluses or infusion would be recommended in case of sustained high peak airway pressures (\>35mm Hg), high intra-abdominal pressure, involuntary patient/diaphragmatic movement hindering surgical exposure and dissection. Choice and dose of adjunct/s to optimize operating conditions would be left to the discretion of the anesthesia team.

    Drug: Anesthetic Adjuncts

Interventions

  • Use of non depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents for maintenance of general anesthesia.

    Also known as: Rocuronium

  • DrugAnesthetic Adjuncts

    Use of deeper plane of inhaled anesthetics or adjuncts (opioids, propofol, dexmedetomidine or ketamine for maintenance of general anesthesia.

    Also known as: opioids, propofol, dexmedetomidine or ketamine

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Who Either Had Postoperative Pulmonary Complications or Died in Hospital Within 28 Days of Index Procedure.

    Composite of respiratory failure, suspected respiratory infection, aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis, atelectasis, bronchospasm, reintubation and all cause in-hospital mortality

    Time frame: 28 Days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Vasopressor Use Between Groups

    Vasopressor equivalent dose

    Time frame: During the surgery

  2. Duration of Intraoperative Hypotension

    Minutes of mean arterial pressure \<55mmHg

    Time frame: During the surgery

  3. Surgeon's Assessment of Surgical Field

    Was the operative condition optimal for the surgeon graded qualitatively using a numerical rating scale of 1-4. A score of 1 indicates excellent operating conditions whereas 4 indicates conditions unacceptable to the surgeon.

    Time frame: During the surgery

Other outcomes

  1. 30-Day Readmission Rates

    Number of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge from hospital following index procedure.

    Time frame: 30 days

  2. Time to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Discharge Readiness

    Time is takes for patients to be ready for discharge from PACU post operatively.

    Time frame: Day after surgery

  3. Cost of Anesthetic Medication

    Cost of anesthetics used during surgical procedures in the study.

    Time frame: During the surgery

  4. Rate of Unplanned ICU Admission or Return to Operating Room

    How often patients had either unanticipated ICU admissions or return to the operating room within 24 hours of the initial operation.

    Time frame: 24 hours

  5. Hospital Length of Stay

    How much total time patients spent in the hospital after the operation.

    Time frame: Upto 30 days

07

Results

Posted Jun 4, 2026

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Started12
Completed12
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants Who Either Had Postoperative Pulmonary Complications or Died in Hospital Within 28 Days of Index Procedure.

Composite of respiratory failure, suspected respiratory infection, aspiration pneumonia or pneumonitis, atelectasis, bronchospasm, reintubation and all cause in-hospital mortality

Time frame:
28 Days
Reported as:
Number · Number of participants with outcome
Number of Participants Who Either Had Postoperative Pulmonary Complications or Died in Hospital Within 28 Days of Index Procedure.
Number of participants with outcomeControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Number of Participants Who Either Had Postoperative Pulmonary Complications or Died in Hospital Within 28 Days of Index Procedure.00
SecondaryVasopressor Use Between Groups

Vasopressor equivalent dose

Time frame:
During the surgery
Reported as:
Number · norepinephrine equivalents (mg)
Vasopressor Use Between Groups
norepinephrine equivalents (mg)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Vasopressor Use Between Groups0.020.21
SecondaryDuration of Intraoperative Hypotension

Minutes of mean arterial pressure \<55mmHg

Time frame:
During the surgery
Reported as:
Number · Minutes
Duration of Intraoperative Hypotension
MinutesControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Duration of Intraoperative Hypotension0.5
SecondarySurgeon's Assessment of Surgical Field

Was the operative condition optimal for the surgeon graded qualitatively using a numerical rating scale of 1-4. A score of 1 indicates excellent operating conditions whereas 4 indicates conditions unacceptable to the surgeon.

Time frame:
During the surgery
Reported as:
Mean · Score point value
Surgeon's Assessment of Surgical Field
Score point valueControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Surgeon's Assessment of Surgical Field1 (1 to 1)1 (1 to 1)
Other pre-specified30-Day Readmission Rates

Number of patients readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge from hospital following index procedure.

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Number · Number of participants withh readimissio
30-Day Readmission Rates
Number of participants withh readimissioControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
30-Day Readmission Rates00
Other pre-specifiedTime to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Discharge Readiness

Time is takes for patients to be ready for discharge from PACU post operatively.

Time frame:
Day after surgery
Reported as:
Number · Minutes
Time to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Discharge Readiness
MinutesControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Time to Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Discharge Readiness11775.5
Other pre-specifiedCost of Anesthetic Medication

Cost of anesthetics used during surgical procedures in the study.

Time frame:
During the surgery

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

Other pre-specifiedRate of Unplanned ICU Admission or Return to Operating Room

How often patients had either unanticipated ICU admissions or return to the operating room within 24 hours of the initial operation.

Time frame:
24 hours
Reported as:
Number · Number of patients with outcome
Rate of Unplanned ICU Admission or Return to Operating Room
Number of patients with outcomeControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Rate of Unplanned ICU Admission or Return to Operating Room00
Other pre-specifiedHospital Length of Stay

How much total time patients spent in the hospital after the operation.

Time frame:
Upto 30 days
Reported as:
Mean · days
Hospital Length of Stay
daysControl Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)
Hospital Length of Stay7 (7 to 7)3 (2 to 3)

Adverse events

Collected over From surgery start through 48 hours after surgery end.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Control Group (C)0/1 (0%)0/1 (0%)0/1 (0%)
No Relaxant Group (NR)0/2 (0%)0/2 (0%)0/2 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)Total
Mean58 (58 to 58)68 (68 to 68)61 (58 to 68)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)Total
Female011
Male112
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)Total
American Indian or Alaska Native000
Asian000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American011
White112
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported000
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)Total
Hispanic or Latino000
Not Hispanic or Latino123
Unknown or Not Reported000
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Control Group (C)No Relaxant Group (NR)Total
United States123
08

Study locations

2 sites
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Aug 2019 to primary completion in Dec 2022, 40 months.

Results were first posted in Jun 2026, 3 years 5 months after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
May 21, 2019
First posted
May 24, 2019
StartActual
Aug 7, 2019
Primary completionActual
Dec 19, 2022
CompletionActual
Dec 19, 2022
Results first posted
Jun 4, 2026
Last update
Jun 4, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 4, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03962725
Responsible party
Maximilian S Schaefer (Assistant Professor of Anaesthesia, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 24, 2019
Start date
Aug 7, 2019
Primary completion
Dec 19, 2022
Completion
Dec 19, 2022
Results posted
Jun 4, 2026
Last update
Jun 4, 2026

Study contacts

Maximilian S Schaefer, MD
principal investigator · Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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