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Irritable Bowel SyndromeNCT04043208

Treatment of Functional Abdominal Distension

A study testing Biofeedback in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dyspepsia, run by Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute at 1 site in Spain.

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

Background. Abdominal distention is produced by an abnormal somatic postural tone. We developed an original biofeedback technique based on electromyography-guided control of abdominothoracic muscular activity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dyspepsia
What is being tested?
Biofeedback
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
32 participants
Where
1 siteSpain
Study dates
25 Jul 2019to 17 Jan 2022
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 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • episodes of visible abdominal distension triggered by meal ingestion
  • patients are able to identify the offending foodstuff

Who cannot join

  • organic cause detected by clinical work-up
  • constipation
  • abdominal distension not confirmed by the 7-day clinical questionnaires of after the probe meal in the pre-intervention evaluation

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site
  • University Hospital Vall d'Hebron

    Barcelona, 08035

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Tratamiento de la Distension Abdominal Funcional

Background. Abdominal distention is produced by an abnormal somatic postural tone. We developed an original biofeedback technique based on electromyography-guided control of abdominothoracic muscular activity. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial we demonstrated the superiority of biofeedback over placebo for the treatment of abdominal distention. However, the technique is technically complex and unpractical.

Aim. To prove the efficacy of a simplified biofeedback technique for the treatment of abdominal distension.

Read more

Selection criteria. Visible abdominal distension after meal ingestion; patients are able to identify the offending meal.

Intervention. Patients will be randomized into biofeedback in placebo groups.Three sessions of either biofeedback or placebo intervention will be performed 30 min after ingestion of the offending meal during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period.

Biofeedback: patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing a visual display of the abdominal and thoracic perimeter; specifically, they will be instructed to reduce the abdominal perimeter (girth); patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Placebo: abdominal and thoracic perimeter will be recorded but not shown to the patient and a pill of placebo containing 0.5 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Primary Outcome Measure:

Effect of the probe meal on the activity of thoraco-abdominal muscles (intercostals, external oblique, internal oblique, upper rectus, lower rectus) measured by electromyography before and after the probe meal. The response to the probe meal will be measured before and after treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

  • Effect of the probe meal on sensation of abdominal distension measured by 0-6 scales after the probe meal.
  • Changes in girth produced by the probe meal measured using a non-stretch belt placed over the umbilicus before and after the probe meal.
  • Sensation of abdominal distension measured by 0-6 scales after each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) over a 7-day clinical evaluation period before and during the 4th week of the intervention.
Being tested
Biofeedback, Placebo
Medical subject headings
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dyspepsia

What participants receive

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

  • BiofeedbackBehavioural

    Three sessions of biofeedback will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Biofeedback sessions will be performed 30 min after ingestion of the offending meal: patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing a visual display of the abdominal and thoracic perimeter; specifically, they will be instructed to reduce the abdominal perimeter (girth). Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    Three sessions will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Each session will be performed 30 min after ingestion of the offending meal: abdominal and thoracic perimeter will be recorded but not shown to the patient; patients will take a pill of placebo containing 0.5 g glucose and no specific instructions will be provided. Patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Study groups in NCT04043208
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
BiofeedbackExperimentalNot described
Receives: Behavioral: Biofeedback
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorNot described
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Effect of the probe meal on thoraco-abdominal activity of the muscular walls.

    Activity of thoraco-abdominal muscles (intercostals, external oblique, internal oblique, upper rectus, lower rectus) will be measured by electromyography before and after the probe meal. The response to the meal will be measured before and after treatment.

    Measured: 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Effect of the probe meal on sensation of abdominal distension

    Sensation score measured by 0-6 scales after the probe meal.The response to the meal will be measured before and after treatment.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  2. Changes in girth produced by the probe meal

    Abdominal girth will be measured using a non-stretch belt that is placed over the umbilicus before and after the probe meal.The response to the meal will be measured before and after treatment.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  3. Sensation of abdominal distension

    Sensation score measured by 0-6 scales after each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) over a 7-day clinical evaluation period before and during the 4th week of the intervention.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  4. Follow-up after biofeedback

    Sensation of abdominal distension measured by 0-6 scales after each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) over a 7-day clinical evaluation period at 1, 3 and 6 months after biofeedback treatment.

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted2 Aug 2019
  2. Study start25 Jul 2019
  3. Primary completion19 Jan 2021
  4. Study completion17 Jan 2022

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
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
32 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04043208
Sponsor's protocol ID
PR(AG)377/2018
Status last verified
Feb 2022
First submitted
31 Jul 2019
Last updated
22 Feb 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Barba E, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Correction of Abdominal Distention by Biofeedback-Guided Control of Abdominothoracic Muscular Activity in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Dec;15(12):1922-1929. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.052. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

    PubMed 28705783
  • Barba E, Livovsky DM, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Thoracoabdominal Wall Motion-Guided Biofeedback Treatment of Abdominal Distention: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Gastroenterology. 2024 Aug;167(3):538-546.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.005. Epub 2024 Mar 11.

    PubMed 38467383

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Biofeedback in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Dyspepsia, run by Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute at 1 site in Spain.

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 2 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 Feb 2022. 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 Spain. 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.

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?

Effect of the probe meal on thoraco-abdominal activity of the muscular walls. (time frame: 4 weeks). 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 NCT04043208, which also lists 2 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 Feb 2022.

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