Acute AppendicitisWASHITBESTNCT02714023
Water And Saline Head-to-head In The Blinded Evaluation Study Trial
A study testing Normal Saline and Sterile Water in people with Acute Appendicitis and Abscess, run by University of Missouri-Columbia at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Patients who are diagnosed with acute appendicitis consented and then randomized into two arms of the trial. In one arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with normal saline, or salt water. In the other arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with sterile water. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Acute Appendicitis, Abscess
- What is being tested?
- Normal Saline and Sterile Water
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 241 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 10 Oct 2012to 29 Nov 2017
- 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 6 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- All patients, age 6 and older, who present for an emergent or interval appendectomy to any one of the participating surgeons, meet the inclusion criteria for the study. Assent from all minors (under age 18) was obtained.
Who cannot join
- Pregnant patients, patients with mental handicap, Veterans, patients under 6 years old
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Patients who are diagnosed with acute appendicitis consented and then randomized into two arms of the trial. In one arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with normal saline, or salt water. In the other arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with sterile water. Sometimes patients receive no irrigation if none is determined to be needed at the time of operation by the surgeon. We then followed patients after surgery for 30 days. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of sterile water as irrigation fluid during surgery in patients who have acute appendicitis will decrease the chance of a post-operative abscess or infection.
Read the detailed description
All patients, aged 6 and above, who present for an emergent or interval appendectomy to any one of the participating surgeons will potentially be enrolled in the study. Prior to surgery, the patient or the patient's guardian if a minor, will be informed of the study and consent (assent of minors will be obtained) will be requested. If consent is obtained, the patient's name and medical record number will then be sent to the inpatient pharmacy. They will be randomly assigned using a master list to either water or saline arm. The pharmacy will then send the correct solution to the operating room in the form of 3 one Liter bags. This will be ordered prior to going to the operating room. Next, a laparoscopic or open appendectomy will be performed according to the current standard of care. The surgeon will also be free to convert a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure if deemed appropriate by his or her clinical judgment. The type of irrigant used during the case, however, will be blinded to the surgeon. The surgeon will use as much irrigation solution as they deem necessary based on an intra-operative decision. This will likely not have any affect on the study, as there is no standard amount of irrigation that is needed during appendectomies, and we do not wish to change the current practices of our surgeons. Additionally, the study question of if sterile water will decrease infectious rates will not be affected either. The science of this study will remain the same whether 10 mL or 3000 mL of irrigation solution is utilized. The surgeon may use more irrigation if deemed necessary to adequately wash the abdomen and remove all particulate matter and blood clots. At the end of the case, the surgeon will record the amount of irrigant used along with surgery date, duration of symptoms, surgery start and finish time, preoperative antibiotics, height and weight. The patient will be followed in the study for 30 days after surgery. There is usually a follow up office visit one to two weeks after the procedure. A chart review after the case will capture the length of stay, post-operative antibiotic, pathology report results, and complications consisting such as prolonged ileus (>2 days), bowel obstruction, prolonged fever (> 2 days), post-operative abscess, irrigation volume, and wound infection.
- Conditions
- Acute Appendicitis, Abscess
- Being tested
- Normal Saline, Sterile Water
- Medical subject headings
- Appendicitis, Abscess
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Normal SalineProcedure or surgery
Intra-operative irrigation with normal saline
Sterile WaterProcedure or surgery
Intra-operative irrigation with sterile water
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Saline | Active comparator | Patients were randomized to receive normal saline as an irrigation solution during appendectomy. Receives: Procedure: Normal Saline |
| Sterile Water | Active comparator | Patients were randomized to receive sterile water as an irrigation solution during appendectomy. Receives: Procedure: Sterile Water |
| No irrigation used | No intervention | Patients who do not receive any irrigation at time of operation. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Post-operative deep space organ infection as defined by the Surgical Infection Society
Infection after surgery within the peritoneal space
Measured: 30 days
Secondary outcomes (3)
Temperature greater than 38.5 degree Celsius
Chart review for evidence of prolonged fever >38.5 for >2 days
Measured: 30 days
Greater than 2 days to return of bowel function as evident by either flatus or bowel movement
Chart review for evidence of prolonged ileus for >2days
Measured: 30 days
Length of Hospital Stay
Medical record will be reviewed for hospital length of stay following surgery
Measured: 30 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Study start10 Oct 2012
- Primary completion10 Sep 2015
- Study completion29 Nov 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (17)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Acute AppendicitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of Missouri-ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 241 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Arthur Rawlings, MD, Principal investigator, University of Missouri-Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02714023
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1201672
- Acronym
- WASHITBEST
- Status last verified
- Oct 2018
- First submitted
- 8 Mar 2016
- Last updated
- 15 Oct 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Moore CB, Smith RS, Herbertson R, Toevs C. Does use of intraoperative irrigation with open or laparoscopic appendectomy reduce post-operative intra-abdominal abscess? Am Surg. 2011 Jan;77(1):78-80.
PubMed 21396311Hughes MJ, Harrison E, Paterson-Brown S. Post-operative antibiotics after appendectomy and post-operative abscess development: a retrospective analysis. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2013 Feb;14(1):56-61. doi: 10.1089/sur.2011.100. Epub 2013 Feb 21.
PubMed 23427791Bonanni F, Reed J 3rd, Hartzell G, Trostle D, Boorse R, Gittleman M, Cole A. Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 1994 Sep;179(3):273-8.
PubMed 8069421Paik PS, Towson JA, Anthone GJ, Ortega AE, Simons AJ, Beart RW Jr. Intra-abdominal abscesses following laparoscopic and open appendectomies. J Gastrointest Surg. 1997 Mar-Apr;1(2):188-92; discussion 192-3. doi: 10.1016/s1091-255x(97)80108-4.
PubMed 9834347Krisher SL, Browne A, Dibbins A, Tkacz N, Curci M. Intra-abdominal abscess after laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. Arch Surg. 2001 Apr;136(4):438-41. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.136.4.438.
PubMed 11296116Shuler FW, Newman CN, Angood PB, Tucker JG, Lucas GW. Nonoperative management for intra-abdominal abscesses. Am Surg. 1996 Mar;62(3):218-22.
PubMed 8607582Solomkin JS, Mazuski JE, Bradley JS, Rodvold KA, Goldstein EJ, Baron EJ, O'Neill PJ, Chow AW, Dellinger EP, Eachempati SR, Gorbach S, Hilfiker M, May AK, Nathens AB, Sawyer RG, Bartlett JG. Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2010 Feb;11(1):79-109. doi: 10.1089/sur.2009.9930.
PubMed 20163262Ingraham AM, Cohen ME, Bilimoria KY, Pritts TA, Ko CY, Esposito TJ. Comparison of outcomes after laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for acute appendicitis at 222 ACS NSQIP hospitals. Surgery. 2010 Oct;148(4):625-35; discussion 635-7. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2010.07.025. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
PubMed 20797745Tzovaras G, Baloyiannis I, Kouritas V, Symeonidis D, Spyridakis M, Poultsidi A, Tepetes K, Zacharoulis D. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in men: a prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc. 2010 Dec;24(12):2987-92. doi: 10.1007/s00464-010-1160-5. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
PubMed 20552369Guller U, Hervey S, Purves H, Muhlbaier LH, Peterson ED, Eubanks S, Pietrobon R. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: outcomes comparison based on a large administrative database. Ann Surg. 2004 Jan;239(1):43-52. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000103071.35986.c1.
PubMed 14685099Ward NT, Ramamoorthy SL, Chang DC, Parsons JK. Laparoscopic appendectomy is safer than open appendectomy in an elderly population. JSLS. 2014 Jul-Sep;18(3):e2014.00322. doi: 10.4293/JSLS.2014.00322.
PubMed 25392668Andersen BR, Kallehave FL, Andersen HK. Antibiotics versus placebo for prevention of postoperative infection after appendicectomy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20;2005(3):CD001439. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001439.pub2.
PubMed 16034862van Rossem CC, Schreinemacher MH, Treskes K, van Hogezand RM, van Geloven AA. Duration of antibiotic treatment after appendicectomy for acute complicated appendicitis. Br J Surg. 2014 May;101(6):715-9. doi: 10.1002/bjs.9481. Epub 2014 Mar 26.
PubMed 24668341Cheng Y, Zhou S, Zhou R, Lu J, Wu S, Xiong X, Ye H, Lin Y, Wu T, Cheng N. Abdominal drainage to prevent intra-peritoneal abscess after open appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 7;(2):CD010168. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010168.pub2.
PubMed 25914903Parcells JP, Mileski JP, Gnagy FT, Haragan AF, Mileski WJ. Using antimicrobial solution for irrigation in appendicitis to lower surgical site infection rates. Am J Surg. 2009 Dec;198(6):875-80. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.09.002.
PubMed 19969145
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Oct 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Water And Saline Head-to-head In The Blinded Evaluation Study Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02714023
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- WASHITBEST / 1201672
- Conditions
- Acute Appendicitis, Abscess
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 241 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Missouri-ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Oct 2012 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Sep 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Nov 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Mar 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Patients who are diagnosed with acute appendicitis consented and then randomized into two arms of the trial. In one arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with normal saline, or salt water. In the other arm, patients receive irrigation of the abdomen during surgery with sterile water. Sometimes patients receive no irrigation if none is determined to be needed at the time of operation by the surgeon. We then followed patients after surgery for 30 days. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of sterile water as irrigation fluid during surgery in patients who have acute appendicitis will decrease the chance of a post-operative abscess or infection.
Detailed description
All patients, aged 6 and above, who present for an emergent or interval appendectomy to any one of the participating surgeons will potentially be enrolled in the study. Prior to surgery, the patient or the patient's guardian if a minor, will be informed of the study and consent (assent of minors will be obtained) will be requested. If consent is obtained, the patient's name and medical record number will then be sent to the inpatient pharmacy. They will be randomly assigned using a master list to either water or saline arm. The pharmacy will then send the correct solution to the operating room in the form of 3 one Liter bags. This will be ordered prior to going to the operating room. Next, a laparoscopic or open appendectomy will be performed according to the current standard of care. The surgeon will also be free to convert a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure if deemed appropriate by his or her clinical judgment. The type of irrigant used during the case, however, will be blinded to the surgeon. The surgeon will use as much irrigation solution as they deem necessary based on an intra-operative decision. This will likely not have any affect on the study, as there is no standard amount of irrigation that is needed during appendectomies, and we do not wish to change the current practices of our surgeons. Additionally, the study question of if sterile water will decrease infectious rates will not be affected either. The science of this study will remain the same whether 10 mL or 3000 mL of irrigation solution is utilized. The surgeon may use more irrigation if deemed necessary to adequately wash the abdomen and remove all particulate matter and blood clots. At the end of the case, the surgeon will record the amount of irrigant used along with surgery date, duration of symptoms, surgery start and finish time, preoperative antibiotics, height and weight. The patient will be followed in the study for 30 days after surgery. There is usually a follow up office visit one to two weeks after the procedure. A chart review after the case will capture the length of stay, post-operative antibiotic, pathology report results, and complications consisting such as prolonged ileus (>2 days), bowel obstruction, prolonged fever (> 2 days), post-operative abscess, irrigation volume, and wound infection.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Saline | Active comparator | Procedure: Normal SalinePatients were randomized to receive normal saline as an irrigation solution during appendectomy. |
| Sterile Water | Active comparator | Procedure: Sterile WaterPatients were randomized to receive sterile water as an irrigation solution during appendectomy. |
| No irrigation used | No intervention | –Patients who do not receive any irrigation at time of operation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- All patients, age 6 and older, who present for an emergent or interval appendectomy to any one of the participating surgeons, meet the inclusion criteria for the study. Assent from all minors (under age 18) was obtained.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Pregnant patients, patients with mental handicap, Veterans, patients under 6 years old
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Normal SalineIntra-operative irrigation with normal saline | Procedure or surgery | Normal Saline |
| Sterile WaterIntra-operative irrigation with sterile water | Procedure or surgery | Sterile Water |
Primary outcome
Post-operative deep space organ infection as defined by the Surgical Infection Society
Time frame: 30 days
Infection after surgery within the peritoneal space
3 secondary outcomes
Temperature greater than 38.5 degree Celsius
Time frame: 30 days
Greater than 2 days to return of bowel function as evident by either flatus or bowel movement
Time frame: 30 days
Length of Hospital Stay
Time frame: 30 days
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Oct 2018.
- Background: PubMed 21396311Moore CB, Smith RS, Herbertson R, Toevs C. Does use of intraoperative irrigation with open or laparoscopic appendectomy reduce post-operative intra-abdominal abscess? Am Surg. 2011 Jan;77(1):78-80.
- Background: PubMed 23427791Hughes MJ, Harrison E, Paterson-Brown S. Post-operative antibiotics after appendectomy and post-operative abscess development: a retrospective analysis. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2013 Feb;14(1):56-61. doi: 10.1089/sur.2011.100. Epub 2013 Feb 21.
- Background: PubMed 8069421Bonanni F, Reed J 3rd, Hartzell G, Trostle D, Boorse R, Gittleman M, Cole A. Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy. J Am Coll Surg. 1994 Sep;179(3):273-8.
- Background: PubMed 9834347Paik PS, Towson JA, Anthone GJ, Ortega AE, Simons AJ, Beart RW Jr. Intra-abdominal abscesses following laparoscopic and open appendectomies. J Gastrointest Surg. 1997 Mar-Apr;1(2):188-92; discussion 192-3. doi: 10.1016/s1091-255x(97)80108-4.
- Background: PubMed 11296116Krisher SL, Browne A, Dibbins A, Tkacz N, Curci M. Intra-abdominal abscess after laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. Arch Surg. 2001 Apr;136(4):438-41. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.136.4.438.
- Background: PubMed 8607582Shuler FW, Newman CN, Angood PB, Tucker JG, Lucas GW. Nonoperative management for intra-abdominal abscesses. Am Surg. 1996 Mar;62(3):218-22.
- Background: PubMed 20163262Solomkin JS, Mazuski JE, Bradley JS, Rodvold KA, Goldstein EJ, Baron EJ, O'Neill PJ, Chow AW, Dellinger EP, Eachempati SR, Gorbach S, Hilfiker M, May AK, Nathens AB, Sawyer RG, Bartlett JG. Diagnosis and management of complicated intra-abdominal infection in adults and children: guidelines by the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2010 Feb;11(1):79-109. doi: 10.1089/sur.2009.9930.
- Background: PubMed 20797745Ingraham AM, Cohen ME, Bilimoria KY, Pritts TA, Ko CY, Esposito TJ. Comparison of outcomes after laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for acute appendicitis at 222 ACS NSQIP hospitals. Surgery. 2010 Oct;148(4):625-35; discussion 635-7. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2010.07.025. Epub 2010 Aug 24.
- Background: PubMed 20552369Tzovaras G, Baloyiannis I, Kouritas V, Symeonidis D, Spyridakis M, Poultsidi A, Tepetes K, Zacharoulis D. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in men: a prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc. 2010 Dec;24(12):2987-92. doi: 10.1007/s00464-010-1160-5. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
- Background: PubMed 14685099Guller U, Hervey S, Purves H, Muhlbaier LH, Peterson ED, Eubanks S, Pietrobon R. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: outcomes comparison based on a large administrative database. Ann Surg. 2004 Jan;239(1):43-52. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000103071.35986.c1.
- Background: PubMed 25392668Ward NT, Ramamoorthy SL, Chang DC, Parsons JK. Laparoscopic appendectomy is safer than open appendectomy in an elderly population. JSLS. 2014 Jul-Sep;18(3):e2014.00322. doi: 10.4293/JSLS.2014.00322.
- Background: PubMed 16034862Andersen BR, Kallehave FL, Andersen HK. Antibiotics versus placebo for prevention of postoperative infection after appendicectomy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20;2005(3):CD001439. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001439.pub2.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Arthur Rawlings, MD principal investigator
University of Missouri-Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Normal Saline and Sterile Water in people with Acute Appendicitis and Abscess, run by University of Missouri-Columbia at 1 site in United States.
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 1 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 15 Oct 2018. 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 United States. 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?
Post-operative deep space organ infection as defined by the Surgical Infection Society (time frame: 30 days). 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 NCT02714023, which also lists 17 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 15 Oct 2018.