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A Prospective, Multi-Center Evaluation of the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler in Left-Sided Colorectal Anastomoses

A Prospective, Multi-Center Evaluation of the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler in Left-Sided Colorectal Anastomoses

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03326895
Acronym
EPMCS-CA
Enrollment
168
Registered
2017-10-31
Start date
2017-11-20
Completion date
2020-01-15
Last updated
2021-01-11

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

Conditions

Left-sided Colon Resection

Brief summary

This prospective clinical study will evaluate the intra-operative performance of the powered circular stapler used in left colectomy procedures in a post-market setting.

Detailed description

Surgical staplers have been utilized in colorectal procedures since the early 20th century, with intraluminal staplers used to create the anastomosis since 1979. Successful utilization of these devices, whether in open or laparoscopic procedures, requires extensive training and experience. Even with experience, device issues such as stapler misfire, incomplete firing, low surgeon satisfaction, etc., may occur. In a retrospective study of 349 colorectal resections, 67 (19%) procedures had some type of technical error. The most frequently reported issues from the analysis were positive leak tests, difficulty placing or removing the stapler, and inadequate donuts. Surgeons may also experience psychological or physical stress during procedures due to complications, workload, or other factors. Patients scheduled to undergo a left-sided colon resection, and who meet study entry criteria, may be enrolled. Investigators will perform each procedure using the powered circular stapler according to the instructions for use (IFU). There will be no blinding or planned-interim analysis. Procedures may be performed open or via minimally invasive surgery (MIS) according to institutional standard-of-care (SOC). Use of a hand port and robotic assistance are permissible providing the powered circular stapler is used to create the anastomosis. Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery is permissible under the protocol at the surgeon's discretion for the patient's safety. The final scheduled study visit will occur 28 days post-procedure (routinely scheduled follow-up with surgeon). Follow-up by phone is permissible when an on-site visit is not planned or is more than six weeks post-operative.

Interventions

DEVICELeft-sided colon resection

Left-sided colon resection with powered stapler

Sponsors

Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Scheduled for colectomy with left-sided anastomosis peformed with a circular stapler; 2. Willing to give consent and comply with all study-related evaluations; and 3. At least 18 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

1. Enrollment in a concurrent clinical study; 2. Pregnancy; 3. Physical or psychological condition which would impair study participation; 4. Emergency surgery; 5. ASA Class ≥ IV; 6. The subject is judged unsuitable for study participation by the Investigator; or 7. Unable or unwilling to provide follow-up information 8, Undergoing multiple intraoperative synchronous colon resections; 9\. Anastomosis not distal from splenic flexure of the colon 10. Anastomosis of the colon not attempted 11. Subjects with any intraoperative findings identified by the surgeon that would preclude attempting an anastomosis with a circular stapler.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of Participants With Stapler Performance IssuesIntraoperativeA stapler performance issue is defined as a failure of the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler to perform per its instructions for use. This includes but is not limited to difficulty placing or removing the stapler, stapler misfire/failure of the device to fully fire, staple line defects, incomplete or thin donuts, tissue damage, positive intraoperative leak test, detached components, unformed staples, or any other device failure.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
SURG-TLX QuestionnaireCollected postoperative for intraoperative stressThe Surgery Task Load index (SURG-TLX) questionnaire was completed by the participating surgeon following each procedure. The questionnaire was used to provide an assessment of surgical stress (surgeon) associated with the procedure (defined as the creation of the anastomosis). There are six specific components (mental, physical, temporal, task, situational, and distractions) that are used for evaluating the surgeon experience after each surgery is performed. Each component is scored on a 0 to 100 scale with lower scores representing a low response on that component and higher scores indicating a high response on that component. An overall score is also calculated as the average of the six components for each procedure.

Countries

Belgium, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom, United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

All subjects who underwent surgery and had an anastomosis attempted with the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered stapler were included in performance and safety analyses.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler
Use of the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler
168
Total168

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler
Age, Continuous59.9 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
13 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
152 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
149 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
79 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
89 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 168
other
Total, other adverse events
32 / 168
serious
Total, serious adverse events
13 / 168

Outcome results

Primary

Percentage of Participants With Stapler Performance Issues

A stapler performance issue is defined as a failure of the ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered Stapler to perform per its instructions for use. This includes but is not limited to difficulty placing or removing the stapler, stapler misfire/failure of the device to fully fire, staple line defects, incomplete or thin donuts, tissue damage, positive intraoperative leak test, detached components, unformed staples, or any other device failure.

Time frame: Intraoperative

Population: Number of subjects with at least performance issue.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerPercentage of Participants With Stapler Performance Issues11.9 Percentage of subjects
Secondary

SURG-TLX Questionnaire

The Surgery Task Load index (SURG-TLX) questionnaire was completed by the participating surgeon following each procedure. The questionnaire was used to provide an assessment of surgical stress (surgeon) associated with the procedure (defined as the creation of the anastomosis). There are six specific components (mental, physical, temporal, task, situational, and distractions) that are used for evaluating the surgeon experience after each surgery is performed. Each component is scored on a 0 to 100 scale with lower scores representing a low response on that component and higher scores indicating a high response on that component. An overall score is also calculated as the average of the six components for each procedure.

Time frame: Collected postoperative for intraoperative stress

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireSituational Stress (How anxious did you feel while performing the procedure?)38.6 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 27.3
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireDistractions (How distracting was the operating environment?)26.5 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 21
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireOverall Score38.0 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 21.6
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireMental Demands (How mentally fatiguing was the procedure?)44.9 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 27.8
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnairePhysical Demands (How physically fatiguing was the procedure?)37.9 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 26.5
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireTemporal Demands (How hurried or rushed was the pace of the procedure?)30.3 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 22.6
ECHELON CIRCULAR Powered StaplerSURG-TLX QuestionnaireTask Complexity (How complex was the procedure?)50.3 Scores on a ScaleStandard Deviation 28.6

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 11, 2026