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Alvimopan as a Rescue Treatment of Postoperative Ileus

A Prospective Randomized Control Trial of The Effectiveness of Alvimopan as a Rescue Treatment of Postoperative Ileus Following Colorectal Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04405037
Enrollment
65
Registered
2020-05-28
Start date
2020-08-01
Completion date
2024-04-02
Last updated
2025-08-20

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

Conditions

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction, Ileus

Brief summary

This study aims to evaluate the cost effectiveness of Alvimopan as rescue therapy in patients undergoing colorectal or small bowel resection who develop POI, and its safety and effectiveness in reducing LOS and POI duration. This will be a prospective randomized control trial with a total of 58 patients, 29 in each group. Patients who undergo laparoscopic or open colorectal resection, small bowel resection, or ileostomy reversal with small bowel resection that subsequently develop postoperative ileus will be eligible for enrollment. If they meet inclusion/exclusion criteria, they will be randomized at the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus to receive Alvimopan as rescue therapy or to receive conservative standard care. Patients randomized to the study group will be given a maximum of 3 doses of Alvimopan 12mg orally, 12 hours apart. Alvimopan will be given from the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus to the time of return of bowel function or the maximum 3 doses. Subsequent Alvimopan doses will be given if there is no return of bowel function or if symptoms of distension and/or nausea persist despite some return of bowel function.

Detailed description

This study aims to evaluate the cost effectiveness of Alvimopan as rescue therapy in patients undergoing colorectal or small bowel resection who develop POI, and its safety and effectiveness in reducing LOS and POI duration. Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that the use of alvimopan as rescue therapy in patients undergoing colorectal and small bowel resection surgery who develop POI can shorten their duration of POI and hospital length of stay. Objectives: To perform a prospective RCT to evaluate the effect of alvimopan as rescue therapy compared to standard of care in reducing the duration of post-operative ileus and post-operative LOS after colorectal and small bowel resection surgery. Protocol: This will be a prospective randomized control trial with a total of 58 patients, 29 in each group. Patients who undergo laparoscopic or open colorectal resection, small bowel resection, or ileostomy reversal with small bowel resection that subsequently develop postoperative ileus will be eligible for enrollment. If they meet inclusion/exclusion criteria, they will be randomized at the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus to receive Alvimopan as rescue therapy or to receive conservative standard care. At the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus and after enrollment and randomization, all patients will be returned to NPO status. Nasogastric tubes (NGT) may be placed for gastric decompression at the discretion of the surgical team if clinically indicated. In the event that an NGT is placed, medications will be given orally or via the NGT, which will be clamped for 30 minutes after administration. Patients will continue on standard ERAS pathways with the exception of reduction of diet. Antiemetics will be given as clinically indicated; however, no prokinetic or promotility agents will be given as scheduled dosages. Patients randomized to the study group will be given a maximum of 3 doses of Alvimopan 12mg orally, 12 hours apart. Alvimopan will be given from the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus to the time of return of bowel function or the maximum 3 doses. Subsequent Alvimopan doses will be given if there is no return of bowel function or if symptoms of distension and/or nausea persist despite some return of bowel function. All patients will follow a standard ERAS pathway after surgery, with early feeding and ambulation, along with opioid minimizing measures as is our standard postoperative protocol. The patient and surgical team will be able to know which arm of the study the patient is in based on documentation in the medical record of the administration of Alvimopan. Standard discharge criteria will be applied to all patients, including: Passage of stool, Ability to tolerate solid food and to drink comfortably, Adequate oral analgesia, Patient's willingness to be discharged.

Interventions

DRUGAlvimopan

Alvimopan will be given to patients who are diagnosed with postoperative ileus after surgery

Sponsors

Scott Steele
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* 1\. Subjects who have benign or malignant colonic or rectal disease that have undergone laparoscopic or open colorectal resection, small bowel resection or ileostomy reversal with small bowel resection and subsequently developed postoperative ileus, defined as: a. Patients with symptoms of bloating with or without nausea and vomiting, with absence of passage of flatus or stool who require either i. Return to NPO status after initial diet attempts ii. Undergo placement of a nasogastric tube b. Patients with absence of passage of flatus or stool who are either i. More than 5 days after open surgery without recovery of GI function ii. More than 3 days after laparoscopic surgery or ileostomy closure without recovery of GI function 2\. Subjects who are 18 years of age and older 3\. Subjects of either gender 4\. Subjects who are willing and able to adhere to protocol requirements, agree to participate in the study program and provide written and informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* 1\. Subjects who received Alvimopan preoperatively. 2\. Subjects that have taken therapeutic doses of opioids for more than 7 days immediately prior to surgery. 3\. Subjects with severe hepatic impairment. 4\. Subjects with end-stage renal disease. 5\. Subjects who are pregnant. 6\. Subjects who have undergone imaging suggesting a small bowel obstruction. 7\. Subjects with a medical condition that may interfere with the use of the study medication Alvimopan. 8\. Subjects who have a condition or general disability or infirmity that in the opinion of the investigator precludes further participation in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hospital Length of Stayup to 30 daysNumber of days from postoperative ileus diagnosis until discharge from hospital

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to Return of Bowel Functionup to 30 daysNumber of days between Ileus diagnosis and time of passing flatus, stool and tolerating diet
Number of Participants With Re-operationwithin 30 days of surgeryNumber of participants with re-operations within 30 days of surgery
Number of Participants With Re-admissionsup to 30 daysNumber of participatnts with re-admissions within 30 days of surgery

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Alvimopan Group
Patients randomized to the study group will be given a maximum of 3 doses of Alvimopan 12mg orally, 12 hours apart. Alvimopan will be given from the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus to the time of return of bowel function or the maximum 3 doses. Subsequent Alvimopan doses will be given if there is no return of bowel function or if symptoms of distension and/or nausea persist despite some return of bowel function. All patients will follow a standard ERAS pathway after surgery, with early feeding and ambulation, along with opioid minimizing measures as is our standard postoperative protocol. Alvimopan: Alvimopan will be given to patients who are diagnosed with postoperative ileus after surgery
31
Control Group
Control patients will follow a standard ERAS pathway after surgery, including NPO status, IV fluid rehydration, and nasogastric decompression, early feeding and ambulation, along with opioid minimizing measures as is our standard postoperative protocol.
32
Total63

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyScreen Failure- Received Alvimopan Preoperatively10
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicControl GroupTotalAlvimopan Group
Age, Continuous63 years61 years56 years
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
32 participants63 participants31 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
12 Participants22 Participants10 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
20 Participants41 Participants21 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 310 / 32
other
Total, other adverse events
10 / 3113 / 32
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 310 / 32

Outcome results

Primary

Hospital Length of Stay

Number of days from postoperative ileus diagnosis until discharge from hospital

Time frame: up to 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Alvimopan GroupHospital Length of Stay5 days
Control GroupHospital Length of Stay6 days
Secondary

Number of Participants With Re-admissions

Number of participatnts with re-admissions within 30 days of surgery

Time frame: up to 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Alvimopan GroupNumber of Participants With Re-admissions7 Participants
Control GroupNumber of Participants With Re-admissions5 Participants
Secondary

Number of Participants With Re-operation

Number of participants with re-operations within 30 days of surgery

Time frame: within 30 days of surgery

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Alvimopan GroupNumber of Participants With Re-operation3 Participants
Control GroupNumber of Participants With Re-operation0 Participants
Secondary

Time to Return of Bowel Function

Number of days between Ileus diagnosis and time of passing flatus, stool and tolerating diet

Time frame: up to 30 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Alvimopan GroupTime to Return of Bowel Function1 days
Control GroupTime to Return of Bowel Function2 days

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026