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Post-operative PainNCT01465945

Study of Unsutured Versus Sutured Closure of Rectal Defects After Rectal Lesion Excisions Using Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery

A study testing Defect Unsutured and Defect Sutured in people with Post-operative Pain and Complications, run by Dr. Carl J Brown at 3 sites in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive technique used to remove rectal tumours. After the tumour has been removed from the rectum, the surgeon has a choice to close the defect or leave the defect open and naturally close. Currently, both options are accepted as standard care. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Post-operative Pain, Complications
What is being tested?
Defect Unsutured and Defect Sutured
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
50 participants
Where
3 sitesCanada
Study dates
Mar 2012to Oct 2013
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • The patients must be over 18 years old with a rectal lesion < 12cm from the anal verge (as measured by rigid sigmoidoscopy) and less than half the circumference of the rectal lumen. The patient must provide informed consent for TEM and inclusion in the trial.

Who cannot join

  • The surgeon decides to convert to laparotomy or conventional TAE for any reason during tumor excision.
  • The surgeon judges that the rectal defect is not appropriate for suturing (e.g. too large) or to be left unsutured (e.g. entry into peritoneal cavity)
  • The patient is currently treated for chronic pain prior to surgery, has a known bleeding diathesis (e.g. warfarin treatment, hemophilia, etc) or is immunosuppressed (e.g. Prednisone, HIV,etc)

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

Canada3 sites
  • The Ottawa Hospital

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6

  • Saint Paul's Hospital

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6

  • Vancouver General Hospital

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, V8Z 6R5

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Open Versus Suture Closure in Patients With Rectal Lesions Excised Using Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) is a minimally invasive technique used to remove rectal tumours. After the tumour has been removed from the rectum, the surgeon has a choice to close the defect or leave the defect open and naturally close. Currently, both options are accepted as standard care.

Leaving the defect open to close naturally has some possible advantages, including shortened operation time and similar rates of postoperative complications. However, there is some concern that not surgically closing the defect may lead to more postoperative pain and delay in recovery.

The study will be a double blind randomized controlled trial and determine whether patients who have rectal wall defect sutured closed have less post-operative pain compared to patients whose defect is left open.

Read the detailed description

Summary

Background Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) is an advanced minimally invasive endoluminal technique used to remove rectal tumours. In the open transanal excision era, there is evidence that outcomes in unsutured rectal defects are similar to those in patients whose defect is closed. However, the evidence for this approach is minimal and technical differences in TEM (e.g. rectal insufflation) may mean that leaving defects unsutured is not a safe approach. Further, there is anecdotal evidence that unsutured defects lead to more postoperative pain and delay recovery.

Objective The purpose of this study is to determine if postoperative pain (primary) and early postoperative complications (secondary) are worse in patients undergoing TEM and do not have the defect closed when compare to similar patients who have endoluminal suture closure of the defect.

Methods This is a multicentre, double blind randomized controlled trial of suture closure versus no closure in patients treated by TEM for rectal lesions. The study will include patients 18 years and older with rectal lesions within 12cm of the anal verge treated with TEM. The primary outcome is postoperative pain as measured by validated visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include analgesic use and early (<30 day) complications. Based on anticipated VAS scores, a sample size of 38 patients will be enrolled (power 0.80, α=0.05). Statistical analysis will be performed using student's T test for continuous data and Fischer's exact test for dichotomous variables.

Impact Currently, only 3 centres in Canada have experience with TEM: Vancouver, Winnipeg and Ottawa. This study represents the first trial of a Canadian TEM Collaborative and will determine if there is an advantage to suture closure of the rectal defect in TEM surgery. This is important, as suture technique is challenging and if there are important advantages to this approach, there would be a mandate to perfect suturing technique before employing the TEM approach to rectal tumours. Conversely, if there is an advantage to leaving the defect unsutured, this may reduce operative time and facilitate better use of OR time. Further, it will inform all TEM surgeons of the best approach to the rectal defect and optimize patient care. Finally, this study will serve as a starting point for further trials by the Canadian TEM Collaborative that will expand to include new sites and become a world leader in TEM clinical trials.

Being tested
Defect Unsutured, Defect Sutured
Keywords
TEM for rectal lesions, Sutured defect, Unsutured defect
Medical subject headings
Pain, Postoperative

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Defect UnsuturedProcedure or surgery

    The defect is not sutured after the rectal tumor is removed by TEM.

  • Defect SuturedProcedure or surgery

    Defect is sutured after the rectal tumor has been removed by TEM.

Study groups in NCT01465945
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Rectal Defect SuturedOtherThe subject will have his/her defect sutured after the rectal tumors have been removed.
Receives: Procedure: Defect Sutured
Rectal Defect UnsuturedOtherThe defect will be left open and let naturally close after the rectal tumor has been removed by TEM.
Receives: Procedure: Defect Unsutured

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Postoperative Pain

    As an ancillary measure, all patients will be prescribed 30 tablets of either Tylenol#3 or Tramacet as as their primary postoperative analgesic.

    Measured: 1day after surgery

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Complications

    includes bleeding( defined as hemoglobin drop of 20g/L from preoperative and either transfusion, readmission to hospital, or surgical or endoscopic intervention), infection (peritonitis or pelvic pain and either fever >37.9 degC or WBC > 11 X 10^9 c/L), and readmission to hospital for any reason.

    Measured: within 30 days of surgery

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Nov 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startMar 2012
  3. Primary completionOct 2013
  4. Study completionOct 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
50 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01465945
Sponsor's protocol ID
TEMPEST
Status last verified
Jul 2014
First submitted
31 Oct 2011
Last updated
22 Jul 2014
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • McCourt M, Armitage J, Monson JR. Rectal cancer. Surgeon. 2009 Jun;7(3):162-9. doi: 10.1016/s1479-666x(09)80040-1.

    PubMed 19580180
  • Buess G, Hutterer F, Theiss J, Bobel M, Isselhard W, Pichlmaier H. [A system for a transanal endoscopic rectum operation]. Chirurg. 1984 Oct;55(10):677-80. No abstract available. German.

    PubMed 6510078
  • Allaix ME, Arezzo A, Caldart M, Festa F, Morino M. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for rectal neoplasms: experience of 300 consecutive cases. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009 Nov;52(11):1831-6. doi: 10.1007/DCR.0b013e3181b14d2d.

    PubMed 19966628
  • Ramirez JM, Aguilella V, Arribas D, Martinez M. Transanal full-thickness excision of rectal tumours: should the defect be sutured? a randomized controlled trial. Colorectal Dis. 2002 Jan;4(1):51-55. doi: 10.1046/j.1463-1318.2002.00293.x.

    PubMed 12780656
  • Gallagher EJ, Bijur PE, Latimer C, Silver W. Reliability and validity of a visual analog scale for acute abdominal pain in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2002 Jul;20(4):287-90. doi: 10.1053/ajem.2002.33778.

    PubMed 12098173
  • Festen S, van Hoogstraten MJ, van Geloven AA, Gerhards MF. Treatment of grade III and IV haemorrhoidal disease with PPH or THD. A randomized trial on postoperative complications and short-term results. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2009 Dec;24(12):1401-5. doi: 10.1007/s00384-009-0803-2.

    PubMed 19798507
  • Todd KH, Funk KG, Funk JP, Bonacci R. Clinical significance of reported changes in pain severity. Ann Emerg Med. 1996 Apr;27(4):485-9. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(96)70238-x.

    PubMed 8604867
  • Kelly AM. The minimum clinically significant difference in visual analogue scale pain score does not differ with severity of pain. Emerg Med J. 2001 May;18(3):205-7. doi: 10.1136/emj.18.3.205.

    PubMed 11354213
  • Burch J, Epstein D, Baba-Akbari A, Weatherly H, Fox D, Golder S, Jayne D, Drummond M, Woolacott N. Stapled haemorrhoidectomy (haemorrhoidopexy) for the treatment of haemorrhoids: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess. 2008 Apr;12(8):iii-iv, ix-x, 1-193. doi: 10.3310/hta12080.

    PubMed 18373905

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Defect Unsutured and Defect Sutured in people with Post-operative Pain and Complications, run by Dr. Carl J Brown at 3 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jul 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Postoperative Pain (time frame: 1day after surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01465945, which also lists 9 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Jul 2014.

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