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ConstipationPhase 4NCT02136693

Psyllium Fiber Versus Placebo in Early Treatment After STARR for Obstructed Defecation: a Double-blind RCT

A Phase 4 study testing Psyllium fiber in people with Constipation and Incontinence, run by Francesco Gabrielli at 1 site in Italy.

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

This study aims to assess whether fiber intake, formerly recommended only before or instead of surgery, may play a role in improving postoperative progress and functional outcome after STARR for obstructed defecation, in terms of residual constipation, incontinence and defecation urgency. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Constipation, Incontinence
What is being tested?
Psyllium fiber
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
65 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
May 2010to Dec 2011
Phase
Phase 4
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

  • Written informed consent
  • Age over 18
  • Diagnosis of Obstructed Defecation Syndrome according to ODS and CCS Score
  • STARR performed when ODS score >10
  • STARR performed 48-72 hours before

Who cannot join

  • Puborectalis or sphincter dyssynergia, evaluated by defecography and / or anorectal manometry
  • Concomitant diseases (fissure, abscess, fistula, IBD, diverticular disease)
  • Prolapse of other pelvic floor organs
  • Proctological surgery before STARR
  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding
  • Ongoing treatment with oral anticoagulants or steroid therapy
  • Conditions that do not allow patients to understand the nature and the purpose of the study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • Istituti Clinici Zucchi

    Monza, MB, 20052

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Efficacia Della Fibra di Psyllium Versus Placebo Nella Gestione Dell'Alvo in Pazienti Sottoposti ad Intervento Chirurgico Per Ostruita Defecazione

This study aims to assess whether fiber intake, formerly recommended only before or instead of surgery, may play a role in improving postoperative progress and functional outcome after STARR for obstructed defecation, in terms of residual constipation, incontinence and defecation urgency.

Read the detailed description

After obtaining written informed consent and collecting baseline scores (T0), each patient was randomly assigned to one of the two groups and began taking sachets containing Psyllium fiber 3.5 g / day for Active group (A) and inert compound for Placebo group (P).

Sachet content was assigned by software randomization, written on a list and sealed in an envelope, which was opened only after the study was completed.

Post-operative instructions for both groups included only analgesic therapy (Ketorolac 10 to 30 mg b.m. if needed). Patients were also asked to stop any former laxative and to continue on a normal diet.

Each patient was re-evaluated at 7 ± 3 (T1), 60 ± 5 (T2) and 180 ± 15 (T3) days after surgery (Table 2).

A fluoroscopic colpocystodefecography (with patient sitting upright) was obtained before surgery and between 60-180 days postoperatively in order to assess comparability of the two groups and exclude negative organic outcomes that could affect functional results.

Medical events were investigated while checking each patient, with special regard to defecation urgency. From the data collected on concomitant medications, we extrapolated those related to laxative intake.

The treatment was considered accomplished in patients who had taken at least 70% of the product during each interval of follow-up.

Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS - PASW Statistics 18.0.0 (IBM ©, 2009).

For the general and defecographic characteristics, the data are expressed in the form of mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables and absolute frequency (frequency percentages) for categorical variables. The differences between the two groups were calculated by two-tailed t-test or chi-square when appropriate.

Scores for the assessment of clinical data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analysis of the differences in the two groups was performed using the two-tailed t-test. The analysis of not normally distributed variables was conducted using a non-parametric test (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney).

Analyses related to defecation urgency and use of laxatives were carried out using chi-square test and the data are expressed as absolute frequency (frequency percentage).

For all tests, a value of p <0.05 was considered significant.

Being tested
Psyllium fiber, Placebo
Keywords
obstructed defecation, STARR, constipation, incontinence, psyllium
Medical subject headings
Constipation

What participants receive

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

  • Psyllium fiberDrug

    3.5 g /day of pure Psyllium fiber for 180 days after STARR

  • PlaceboDrug

    Also called inert compound

    3.5 g /day of inert compound for 180 days after STARR

Study groups in NCT02136693
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PlaceboPlacebo comparator3.5 g /day of inert compound for 180 days after STARR
Receives: Drug: Placebo
Psyllium fiberExperimental3.5 g /day of pure Psyllium fiber for 180 days after STARR
Receives: Drug: Psyllium fiber

What is being measured

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

  1. residual constipation

    ODS score and CCS score

    Measured: 180 days after STARR

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Post-operative pain

    VAS

    Measured: 180 days after STARR

  2. revertence to laxative use

    frequency percentage of patients that reverted to laxative use after surgery

    Measured: 180 days after STARR

  3. change in fecal incontinence from baseline

    Wexner Incontinence score

    Measured: 180 days after STARR

  4. post-operative defecation urgency

    defecation urgency incidence

    Measured: 180 days after STARR

Timeline

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

  1. First posted13 May 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startMay 2010
  3. Primary completionDec 2011
  4. Study completionDec 2011

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 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider
Enrolment
65 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02136693
Sponsor's protocol ID
psyllium_STARR
Status last verified
May 2014
First submitted
5 May 2014
Last updated
13 May 2014
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Psyllium fiber in people with Constipation and Incontinence, run by Francesco Gabrielli at 1 site in Italy.

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 5 inclusion and 7 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 13 May 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

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?

residual constipation (time frame: 180 days after STARR). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 13 May 2014.

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