Pyridostigmine Efficacy and Safety for Treatment of Ileus After Colorectal Surgery (PESTI)

January 6, 2026 updated by: Stefan Holubar MD MS FACS, FASCRS

Pyridostigmine Efficacy and Safety for Treatment of Ileus After Colorectal Surgery (PESTI Trial)

A double blind, placebo controlled, randomized control trial studying the safety and efficacy of pyridostigmine as a rescue therapy for postoperative ileus. Patients who undergo elective colorectal resection with or without creation of an ostomy, and subsequently develop postoperative ileus will be eligible for enrollment. Patients will be randomized to receive either pyridostigmine or placebo in addition to the current elements of standard of care. Patients will also complete the pyridostigmine bromide side effects scale (PBSES) upon enrollment and following each administration of either intervention or placebo to monitor treatment safety and evaluate for the development of side effects.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Recruiting
        • Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adult (age 18 and over) patients with benign or malignant colonic or rectal disease who have undergone elective laparoscopic, robotic, or open colorectal resections with or without ostomy construction at our center, and subsequently developed POI, defined as symptoms of bloating with or without nausea and vomiting, with absence of passage of flatus or stool for at least 48 hours postoperatively and require return to NPO status after initial diet attempts with or without placement of an NGT.
  2. Radiographic confirmation of POI diagnosis either via abdominal radiography (KUB), computed tomography abdomen/pelvis (CT A/P), or both
  3. ECOG Performance status < 4

  4. Laboratory evidence of normal organ function, defined as:

    1. Hemoglobin ≥ 7.0 g/dL
    2. WBC ≤ 20,000/mcL and ≥ 4,000/mcL
    3. Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mcL or ≤ 100,000,000/mcL
    4. AST (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 times the institutional upper limit of normal
    5. ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times the institutional upper limit of normal
    6. Total bilirubin within the upper limit of institutional normal range
    7. Serum Creatinine within the upper limit of institutional normal range

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Radiographic evidence of bowel obstruction
  2. Documented intraabdominal septic complications (IASC, such as abdominopelvic abscess, peritonitis, anastomotic leak) at any time prior to or after enrollment
  3. Isolated small bowel or ostomy surgery without colon or rectal resection
  4. ASA score 5
  5. Pregnant or breastfeeding females as PYR is classified by the FDA as a pregnancy risk category C medication with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects and demonstrated secretion into breastmilk with an unknown but potential risk for adverse effects in the nursing infants
  6. Current use of any other investigational agents including: neostigmine or other acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, alvimopan, metoclopramide, erythromycin, methylnaltrexone, naloxegol, cisapride, and laxatives or cathartics (i.e. milk of magnesia, polyethylene glycol)
  7. History of allergic reactions attributed to PYR or other acetylcholine esterase inhibitors
  8. Patients with any of the following uncontrolled, concurrent illnesses: active or latent MG, bronco-constrictive disease (asthma/reactive airway disease), chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF), unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia including bradycardia, renal failure, hepatic failure, gastroparesis, short bowel syndrome (small bowel < 200cm), preexisting short or large bowel dysmotility or pseudo-obstruction, chronic constipation/laxative use, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Pyridostigmine
Patients randomized to this group will be given 60mg of pyridostigmine bromide orally, every 12 hours. Pyridostigmine will be administered from the time of diagnosis of postoperative ileus until the return of bowel function, or for a maximum of 48 hours.
Drug: Pyridostigmine Bromide
Oral 60mg pyridostigmine bromide
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Patients randomized to this group will be given starch orally, every 12 hours for a maximum of 48 hours.
Other: Placebo
Oral starch placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time until return of bowel function
Time Frame: Time from administration of pyridostigmine bromide or placebo until first passage of flatus for up to 30 days
Following the administration of either pyridostigmine bromide or placebo, the time (in minutes) until return of bowel function will be recorded. Return of bowel function is defined as the first passage of flatus.
Time from administration of pyridostigmine bromide or placebo until first passage of flatus for up to 30 days
Incidence of pyridostigmine bromide associated side effects
Time Frame: Participants will complete the survey at enrollment and then again at 30 minutes following each administration of either pyridostigmine bromide or placebo.
Side effects of pyridostigmine bromide will be assessed using the Pyridostigmine Bromide Side Effects Scale (PBSES) survey tool. Participants will complete this survey at specific time points to evaluate and monitor for the development of established side effects associated with pyridostigmine bromide administration.
Participants will complete the survey at enrollment and then again at 30 minutes following each administration of either pyridostigmine bromide or placebo.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to passage of stool after postoperative ileus diagnosis
Time Frame: Time from the point of postoperative ileus diagnosis until the first passage of stool for up to 30 days
The amount of time (in minutes) from the participant being diagnosed with postoperative ileus confirmed with imaging findings until the first passage of stool.
Time from the point of postoperative ileus diagnosis until the first passage of stool for up to 30 days
Time to tolerance of solid food after postoperative ileus
Time Frame: Time from the point of postoperative ileus diagnosis until first meal in which solid food is tolerated for up to 30 days
The amount of time (in minutes) from the participant being diagnosed with postoperative ileus confirmed with imaging findings until the first tolerance of solid food.
Time from the point of postoperative ileus diagnosis until first meal in which solid food is tolerated for up to 30 days
Number of participants with complications
Time Frame: 30-day period following surgery
The number of participants with any type of complication or adverse event occurring within the first 30-days following surgery.
30-day period following surgery
Number of participants requiring re-operation
Time Frame: 30-day period following initial surgery
The number of participants who require a re-operation for any reason during the first 30-days following the initial operation.
30-day period following initial surgery
Number of participants requiring re-admission
Time Frame: 30-day period following surgery
The number of participants requiring re-admission to the hospital for any reason during the first 30-days following surgery.
30-day period following surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Stefan Holubar MD MS FACS, FASCRS

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Stefan D Holubar, The Cleveland Clinic

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 3, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 9, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 12, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 19, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 6, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 21-915

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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