Grant: Project Grant

For over fifty years, opioids have been a standard part of pain management during surgery for patients under general anesthesia, but the results have been mixed at best. After major surgery, up to 40% of patients suffer from suboptimal recovery and moderate to severe pain, affecting their ability to return to daily activities, which is an important goal for both patients and their families. There are few preventive measures available, but some drugs that minimize opioid use during surgery could significantly improve patient important outcomes after surgery. Over the past 20 years, more than 20 different opioid alternative strategies have been developed and used, but there is not sufficient evidence to determine their impact on important patient outcomes. Our previous research also suggests that some strategies may not benefit patients and can even be harmful. Therefore, we want to test two promising drugs, dexmedetomidine and lidocaine, which could potentially improve recovery and pain after surgery. We have planned a large study across 16 Canadian hospitals to inform practice. Before conducting this study, we will run a smaller, preliminary study in eight Canadian hospitals. This trial will help us see if we can successfully conduct a larger study across Canada. In our pilot study, we will evaluate how feasible it is to recruit study participants, deliver the intervention, assess the impact of the intervention, and ensure sex diverse representativeness among our study participants. We will work closely with people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and relevant organizations to make sure our study is relevant and impactful. Ultimately, our larger study will help improve care by focusing on patient-important outcomes and may also reduce unnecessary opioid use during a time of a worldwide opioid epidemic.