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Timing of Necrosectomy After Endoscopic Drainage of Walled-off Pancreatic Necrosis (WON)

Direct Endoscopic Necrosectomy Versus Endoscopic Step-up Approach After Endoscopic Drainage of Walled-off Pancreatic Necrosis (WON)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05252897
Enrollment
108
Registered
2022-02-23
Start date
2022-02-01
Completion date
2026-06-30
Last updated
2022-03-09

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

Conditions

Pancreatic Necrosis

Keywords

walled off pancreatic necrosis, endoscopic drainage, direct endoscopic necrosectomy, endoscopic step up approach

Brief summary

Walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON) is associated with a mortality of 20-30%. The current evidence supports a minimally invasive drainage approach to infected WON. The current suggested approach in international guidelines is the endoscopic step-up approach. However, recent evidence from large national cohorts support the use of direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) at the time of stent placement, resulting in earlier resolution of WON and less number of necrosectomies. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of the DEN versus the step-up approach for necrosectomy after endoscopic drainage of WON.

Detailed description

INTRODUCTION Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases requiring emergency admissions to the hospital. 10-20% of these patients develop pancreatic necrosis and subsequent walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON) and is associated with a mortality of 20-30%. Grade 1A evidence exists to support an initial minimally invasive drainage approach to infected WON. However, the optimal approach and timing of necrosectomy remains unaddressed. The current suggested approach in international guidelines is the endoscopic step-up approach. However, recent evidence from large national cohorts support the use of direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) at the time of stent placement, resulting in earlier resolution of WON and less number of necrosectomies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of the DEN versus the step-up approach for necrosectomy after endoscopic drainage of WON. HYPOTHESIS The hypothesis is that DEN at the time of LAMS placement improves clinical outcomes after endoscopic drainage of WON as compared to the endoscopic step-up approach. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS This is a multicentre international randomized controlled trial. Patients with suspected or confirmed infected or symptomatic WON on computed tomography (CT) and who are deemed feasible for endoscopic drainage will be included in the study. Endoscopic drainage with lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) will be performed. Patients will be randomised to either the endoscopic step-up approach or direct endoscopic necrosectomy (DEN) approach. The primary endpoint is a composite of major complications or death within 6 months after randomisation. Secondary endpoints include time to resolution of WON, pancreatic functions, biliary strictures, need for necrosectomy, total number of interventions, length of hospital and ICU stay, recurrence of WON and unplanned readmissions related to WON. A reduction in cumulative primary endpoint with the DEN approach by 22.4% (32.2% to 9.8%) in comparison to endoscopic step-up approach was assumed. With a 2-sided significance level of 5% and power of 80%, taking into account a 5% drop-out rate, a total of 108 patients was required to demonstrate this effect. Study collaboration has been established with four other international centres. A estimation of 3 years is required to complete study recruitment.

Interventions

PROCEDUREEndoscopic necrosectomy with step up approach

Endoscopic necrosectomy will be performed with a forward-viewing gastroscope into the WON cavity. Debridement of necrotic tissue will be performed with irrigation and/or mechanical removal with endoscopic instruments. For this arm, step up approach will be adopted.

PROCEDUREEndoscopic necrosectomy with direct approach

Endoscopic necrosectomy will be performed with a forward-viewing gastroscope into the WON cavity. Debridement of necrotic tissue will be performed with irrigation and/or mechanical removal with endoscopic instruments. For this arm, the direct approach will be adopted.

Sponsors

Chinese University of Hong Kong
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

randomised controlled 2 arm trial

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Adult (≥18 years of age) patients 2. Diagnosis of walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON) based on imaging criteria based on the revised Atlanta classification5 3. Documented history of acute pancreatitis 4. Suspected or confirmed infected WON and/or symptomatic WON causing (i) persistent pancreatic-type pain, and/or ii) gastric outlet or biliary obstruction, and/or (iii) ongoing systemic illness, anorexia, and weight loss, and/or (iv) rapidly enlarging WONs, and/or (v) infected WON\* 5. WON identified at contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and deemed amenable for EUS-guided drainage 6. WON with a solid component \>30% and/ or percentage of necrosis \>= 30%

Exclusion criteria

1. Previous invasive interventions for necrotising pancreatitis 2. An acute flare up of chronic pancreatitis 3. Recurrent acute pancreatitis 4. Indicated for emergency laparotomy (i.e. abdominal compartment syndrome, perforation of a visceral organ, bleeding and bowel ischaemia) 5. Contraindications to endoscopic drainage: previous total gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery, prior surgery for pancreas-related diseases 6. WON not adherent to the GI wall or not accessible for endoscopic drainage 7. Coagulopathy (INR \>1.5), and/or thrombocytopenia (platelets \<50,000/mm3) 8. Pregnancy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
A composite of major complications or death within 6 months after randomisation6 monthsMajor complications include new onset multi-organ failure, multiple organ failure, persistent organ failure, bleeding requiring intervention, perforation of visceral organ requiring intervention, gas embolism

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to resolution of WOPN6 monthsLAMS insertion to LAMS removal
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency6 monthsExocrine pancreatic insufficiency defined as Oral pancreatic-enzyme supplementation required to treat clinical symptoms of steatorrhea 6 months after randomization; this requirement was not present before onset of acute pancreatitis
Biliary strictures6 monthsPresence of biliary strictures on cholangiogram/ CT/ MRI
Total no. of interventions6 monthsThe total number of interventions including necrosectomy or other surgical/ radiological interventions
Length of hospital6 monthsThe total length of hospital stay
The individual components of the primary endpoint6 monthsThe individual components include new onset multi-organ failure, multiple organ failure, persistent organ failure, bleeding requiring intervention, perforation of visceral organ requiring intervention, gas embolism
Unplanned readmissions related to WOPN6 monthsThe no. of unplanned readmissions related to WOPN
Endocrine pancreatic insufficiency6 monthsInsulin or oral antidiabetic drugs required 6 months after randomization; this requirement was not present before onset of acute pancreatitis
The no. of necrosectomies6 monthsThe number of necrosectomies required
Total ICU stay6 monthsNo. of days for ICU stay
Recurrence of WOPN6 monthsThe recurrence of WOPN detected on imaging (CT/ USG/ MRI/ EUS)

Countries

Australia, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand

Contacts

Primary ContactShannon Chan
shannonchan@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk852-35052627
Backup ContactAnthony Teoh
anthonyteoh@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk852-35052627

Outcome results

None listed

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