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Delayed Gastric EmptyingNCT07451392

Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation to Reduce Delayed Gastric Emptying After PPPD

A study testing Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation in people with Delayed Gastric Emptying and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, run by Assiut University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Official record
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Trial summary

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a standard surgical treatment for tumors of the pancreatic head and surrounding areas. However, it is frequently associated with delayed gastric emptying (DGE), a complication that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and prolonged hospital stays. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
70 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Apr 2026to May 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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

  • Adult patients (≥18 years) scheduled for elective PPPD due to tumors of the pancreatic head, distal bile duct, or ampulla of Vater.
  • Patients with no prior history of gastric surgery or severe gastroparesis.
  • Patients with no contraindications to balloon dilatation or intraoperative endoscopic procedures

Who cannot join

  • Patients with prior gastric surgery, pyloric stenosis, or history of severe gastroparesis.
  • Patients with severe comorbidities that may preclude safe surgery (ASA class IV or higher).
  • Patients who require emergency surgery or have unresectable disease.
  • Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding or severe malnutrition

About this study

Official title: Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation to Decrease Post PPPD Delayed Gastric Emptying. Does It Help? RCT Study

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a standard surgical treatment for tumors of the pancreatic head and surrounding areas. However, it is frequently associated with delayed gastric emptying (DGE), a complication that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and prolonged hospital stays. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate if a simple intraoperative maneuver (pneumatic balloon dilatation of the pylorus) can reduce the incidence of early postoperative vomiting and DGE.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving pyloric dilatation during surgery, or the control group, receiving standard surgery without dilatation. Researchers will monitor postoperative symptoms, gastric emptying function, and overall recovery to determine if this maneuver effectively improves patient outcomes.

Read the detailed description

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a standard surgical approach for treating tumors of the pancreatic head, duodenum, and distal cholangiocarcinomas. While it offers favorable functional and nutritional outcomes compared to the classic Whipple procedure, it is frequently complicated by delayed gastric emptying (DGE), with reported incidence rates as high as 25-50%. DGE leads to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and early satiety, significantly increasing morbidity and prolonging hospital stays.

The pathophysiology of DGE is multifactorial, but pylorospasm, which results from intraoperative denervation, local ischemia, and postoperative edema, is believed to be a major contributor. Intraoperative maneuvers aimed at reducing pyloric tone, such as mechanical dilatation, have been proposed to facilitate gastric outflow without sacrificing the physiological benefits of preserving the pylorus.

This prospective, randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate whether intraoperative pneumatic balloon dilatation of the pylorus can reduce the incidence and severity of early postoperative DGE. The study will be conducted at Assiut University Hospital and Al-Rajhi Hospital. Seventy adult patients scheduled for elective PPPD will be randomized into two groups:

Intervention Group: Following the resection and prior to reconstruction, a sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus and inflated to 18-20mm for 1-2 minutes to achieve mechanical stretching.

Control Group: Patients will undergo the standard PPPD procedure without any additional pyloric manipulation.

The primary outcome measure is the incidence of DGE (ISGPS Grade B or C) and early postoperative vomiting within the first seven days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include the time to first flatus, resumption of oral diet, duration of nasogastric tube placement, and overall length of hospital stay.

Being tested
Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation
Keywords
Delayed Gastric Emptying, Pylorus-Preserving Pancreatoduodenectomy, PPPD, Pyloric Balloon Dilatation, Early Postoperative Vomiting, Pylorospasm
Medical subject headings
Gastroparesis, Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

What participants receive

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

  • Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon DilatationProcedure or surgery

    A sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus under direct vision. The balloon will be inflated to a predetermined diameter (typically 18-20mm) for 1-2 minutes, repeated once if necessary, to achieve gentle mechanical stretching of the pylorus. The procedure will be performed after completion of the pancreatoduodenectomy and before gastrointestinal reconstruction.

Study groups in NCT07451392
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pyloric DilatationExperimentalA sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus under direct vision. The balloon will be inflated to a predetermined diameter (typically 18-20mm) for 1-2 minutes, repeated once if necessary, to achieve gentle mechanical stretching of the pylorus. The procedure will be performed after completion of the pancreatoduodenectomy and before gastrointestinal reconstruction.
Receives: Procedure: Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation
No Pyloric DilatationNo interventionNo additional intervention will be performed at the pylorus. The standard PPPD procedure will be completed without balloon dilatation or any other pyloric manipulation.

What is being measured

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

  1. Incidence of Delayed Gastric Emptying (DGE)

    The occurrence of delayed gastric emptying will be evaluated and defined according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) criteria (specifically grades B or C), which are based on the severity and duration of nasogastric tube use and the patient's inability to tolerate oral intake.

    Measured: Up to 7 days postoperatively

Timeline

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

  1. First posted5 Mar 2026
  2. Study startApr 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)

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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
70 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07451392
Sponsor's protocol ID
Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
28 Feb 2026
Last updated
5 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation in people with Delayed Gastric Emptying and Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, run by Assiut University.

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 3 inclusion and 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

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?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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?

Incidence of Delayed Gastric Emptying (DGE) (time frame: Up to 7 days postoperatively). 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 5 Mar 2026.

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