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Randomized EsophyX Versus Sham / Placebo Controlled TIF Trial: The RESPECT Study

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) Using EsophyX With Sham Procedure for the Treatment of PPI Dependent GERD Compared With Sham and Placebo Controls

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01136980
Acronym
RESPECT
Enrollment
129
Registered
2010-06-04
Start date
2011-04-30
Completion date
2018-03-31
Last updated
2021-12-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Hiatal Hernia

Keywords

GERD, Esophagitis, Fundoplication, Anti-reflux surgery, PPI dependent

Brief summary

The objective of the study is to evaluate the relative merits, safety and effectiveness of the EsophyX transoral device in performing an advanced TIF procedure in patients with troublesome symptoms as defined by the Montreal consensus definition while on PPIs compared with sham and placebo controls.

Detailed description

Primary Effectiveness Endpoint: A clinically significant reduction in GERD symptoms, specifically Troublesome regurgitation with or without heartburn assessed by the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ). Troublesome symptoms are those which occur a minimum of 2 days a week and are at least moderate in severity. Secondary Effectiveness Endpoint: The normalization of esophageal acid exposure at 6 months and a clinically significant reduction in PPI usage at 12 months.

Interventions

DEVICETIF Transoral Fundoplication

A novel surgical technique that creates a gastric fundoplication and restores competency of the gastroesophageal valve now exists for patients who have limited anatomic defects (small hiatal hernia). This technique is performed transorally using the EsophyX device (EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. Redmond, WA, USA) recreates a gastric fundoplication at the gastroesophageal junction by creating a flap valve at the intersection of the stomach and the esophagus by deploying polypropylene SerosaFuse fasteners (EndoGastric Solutions)

OTHERSham placebo procedure

The Sham Procedure (control) will consist of an upper GI endoscopy that will be conducted under general anesthesia in an operating room. The surgical team will follow the same steps before, during, and after the sham procedure similar to the TIF procedure, except they will never insert the EsophyX device into the patient. The endoscope will be manipulated for 30-45 min as if the device were around it to simulate the effect of many rotations and manipulations on the esophagus.

Sponsors

EndoGastric Solutions
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-80 years * Dependent upon daily PPIs for \> 6 months * Troublesome symptoms, specifically heartburn or regurgitation, while on 40 mg of omeprazole or equivalent. Troublesome heartburn or regurgitation symptoms are those which occur a minimum of 2-3 days a week and are at least moderate in severity. * Abnormal ambulatory pH study off PPI therapy for 7 days. * Normal or near normal esophageal motility (by manometry) * Hiatal hernia axial height is no larger than 2 cm and the transverse dimension should not exceed 2.5 cm * Patient willing to cooperate with post-operative dietary recommendations and assessment tests * Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* BMI \> 35 * Hiatal hernia \> 2 cm * Esophagitis Los Angeles grade C or D * Esophageal ulcer * Esophageal stricture * Esophageal motility disorder * Pregnancy or plans for pregnancy in the next 12 months (in females) * Immunosuppression * ASA \> 2 * Portal hypertension and/or varices * History of previous resective gastric or esophageal surgery, cervical spine fusion, Zenker's diverticulum, esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum, achalasia, scleroderma or dermatomyositis, eosinophilic esophagitis, or cirrhosis * Active gastro-duodenal ulcer disease * Gastric outlet obstruction or stenosis * Severe gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying confirmed by solid-phase gastric emptying study if patient complains of postprandial satiety during assessment * Coagulation disorders * Interprocedural determination of anatomical presentation which in the opinion of the surgeon does not allow safe device introduction.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With a Clinically Significant Reduction in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms (Specifically Troublesome Regurgitation With or Without Heartburn as Assessed by the RDQ Per the Montreal Consensus Definition,6 month follow upPrimary efficacy Hypothesis 1: At 6-month follow-up, the proportion of Transesophageal Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)2+Placebo pts who are free of troublesome symptoms will be statistically significantly larger than those randomized to the Sham+PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) treatment group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Normalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester Score6 months post procedureDeMeester Score is a composite score taking into consideration reflux episodes, percentage of time pH is \< 4 and others. DMS was first reported in 1974 by Johnson and DeMeester. It is a composite score that measures acid exposure during prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring. The parameters that constitute the score are: 1. total number of episodes of reflux, - reflux is undesirable, therefore lower numbers are better, higher numbers are worse. Ideally there would be zero reflux episodes. 2. % total time esophageal pH \< 4, upright position and supine position, respectively - pH \< 4 is undesirable, therefor lower percentages are better 3. number of episodes longer than 5 minutes, - lower is better 4. maximal reflux duration, (reflux is undesirable - lower is better 5. total percentage of time with pH below 4 - below 4 is undesirable - lower is better The composite score can be obtained by adding the scores calculated for each of the six components.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Sham Placebo Procedure
Sham Procedure: SHAM/PPI's An upper GI Endoscopy is performed with a standard endoscope, during 30-45 minutes. The patient is under general anesthesia. EGD explores the esophagus, the stomach, and the GEJ. Sham placebo procedure: The Sham Procedure (control) will consist of an upper GI endoscopy that will be conducted under general anesthesia in an operating room. The surgical team will follow the same steps before, during, and after the sham procedure similar to the TIF procedure, except they will never insert the EsophyX device into the patient. The endoscope will be manipulated for 30-45 min as if the device were around it to simulate the effect of many rotations and manipulations on the esophagus.
42
TIF Transoral Fundoplication
Intervention: TIF 2.0/Placebo TIF Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: A fundoplication of 270 degrees and 3cm in length was created. The EsophyX device is introduced over a standard endoscope, through the mouth, into the stomach. TIF Transoral Fundoplication: A novel surgical technique that creates a gastric fundoplication and restores competency of the gastroesophageal valve now exists for patients who have limited anatomic defects (small hiatal hernia). This technique is performed transorally using the EsophyX device (EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. Redmond, WA, USA) recreates a gastric fundoplication at the gastroesophageal junction by creating a flap valve at the intersection of the stomach and the esophagus by deploying polypropylene SerosaFuse fasteners (EndoGastric Solutions)
87
Total129

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSham Placebo ProcedureTIF Transoral FundoplicationTotal
Age, Continuous55 years52 years53 years
Region of Enrollment
United States
42 participants87 participants129 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
26 Participants40 Participants66 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
16 Participants47 Participants63 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 420 / 87
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 424 / 87
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 423 / 87

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants With a Clinically Significant Reduction in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms (Specifically Troublesome Regurgitation With or Without Heartburn as Assessed by the RDQ Per the Montreal Consensus Definition,

Primary efficacy Hypothesis 1: At 6-month follow-up, the proportion of Transesophageal Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)2+Placebo pts who are free of troublesome symptoms will be statistically significantly larger than those randomized to the Sham+PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) treatment group.

Time frame: 6 month follow up

Population: Patients completing 6 month post-procedure follow-up

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Sham Placebo ProcedureNumber of Participants With a Clinically Significant Reduction in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms (Specifically Troublesome Regurgitation With or Without Heartburn as Assessed by the RDQ Per the Montreal Consensus Definition,17 Participants
TIF Transoral FundoplicationNumber of Participants With a Clinically Significant Reduction in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms (Specifically Troublesome Regurgitation With or Without Heartburn as Assessed by the RDQ Per the Montreal Consensus Definition,54 Participants
p-value: <0.028Chi-squared
Secondary

Normalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester Score

DeMeester Score is a composite score taking into consideration reflux episodes, percentage of time pH is \< 4 and others. DMS was first reported in 1974 by Johnson and DeMeester. It is a composite score that measures acid exposure during prolonged ambulatory pH monitoring. The parameters that constitute the score are: 1. total number of episodes of reflux, - reflux is undesirable, therefore lower numbers are better, higher numbers are worse. Ideally there would be zero reflux episodes. 2. % total time esophageal pH \< 4, upright position and supine position, respectively - pH \< 4 is undesirable, therefor lower percentages are better 3. number of episodes longer than 5 minutes, - lower is better 4. maximal reflux duration, (reflux is undesirable - lower is better 5. total percentage of time with pH below 4 - below 4 is undesirable - lower is better The composite score can be obtained by adding the scores calculated for each of the six components.

Time frame: 6 months post procedure

Population: Patients that completed 6 month follow-up. NOTE: greater than 14.72 is considered abnormal, 14.72-50 is regarded as mild GERD, 51-100 is regarded as moderate GERD, and greater than 100 is regarded as severe GERD.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)
Sham Placebo ProcedureNormalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester ScorePre-Procedure DeMeester Score30.9 Composite DeMeester Score
Sham Placebo ProcedureNormalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester Score6 month post-procedure DeMeester Score32.7 Composite DeMeester Score
TIF Transoral FundoplicationNormalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester ScorePre-Procedure DeMeester Score33.6 Composite DeMeester Score
TIF Transoral FundoplicationNormalization of Esophageal Acid Exposure - as Measured by DeMeester Score6 month post-procedure DeMeester Score23.9 Composite DeMeester Score

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 7, 2026