Rectal Prolapse With ODS. STARR vs LVR.

May 25, 2021 updated by: Simona Ascanelli, University Hospital of Ferrara

Surgical Treatment of Internal Rectal Prolapse Associated With Obstructed Defecation: Transanal Prolassectomy Versus Laparoscopic Ventral Rectopexy. Randomized Controlled Trial.

The objective of the study will be to evaluate the clinical and functional outcome of patients with obstructed defecation sndrome (ODS) associated to internal rectal prolapse, treated with transanal prolassectomy (STARR) surgery compared to those treated with laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR).

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial (single center, prospective, randomized controlled, parallel, and single-blind trial) is designed to compare the outcome of patients with ODS and rectal prolapse undergoing transanal prolapsectomy with mechanical stapler (STARR) versus laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR), with the aim of evaluating the most appropriate surgical choice.

The study will be conducted at the Surgical Unit 2 of the University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy. Patients suffering from rectal prolapse and ODS that will refer to the colorectal and pelvic floor clinic of the University Hospital Ferrara, and eligible for surgery, will be evaluated consecutively after expressing consent to participate in the study by signing an informed consent.

The duration of the study for each patient will be expected to be 48 months with follow-up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months postoperatively.

Eligible patients will receive information about participating in the trial by their surgeon. Consecutive eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups with a 1:1 equal allocation ratio.

Patients eligible for the study will be randomized on a 1:1 basis to undergo transanal prolassectomy (Group 1: STARR) or laparoscopic ventral rectopexy with mesh placement (Group 2: LVR).

An independent individual will perform randomization using a software randomization program. Randomization will be performed by a randomized list. The assignment sequence will be generated from a random numerical series generated through a computerized list. Randomization will be in blocks of 4. Group assignments will be unknown to those responsible for data collection and those who will be responsible for statistical analysis and clinical evaluation of patients.

The diagnosis of ODS will be attributed after clinical evaluation at the colorectal clinic and on the basis of the presence of one or more symptoms associated with this disorder, such as to reach a score of 14 and above according to the validated score of ODS of Altomare.

Assessment After recruitment and consent, all patients under study will be asked and collected demographic and clinical information with comorbidities (in particular diabetes, fibromyalgia, depressive disorders, neurological diseases, COPD), parity, previous pelvic surgery, type of surgery, time of hospitalization and any complications (according to Clavien-Dindo classification).

Data concerning the grade of rectoanal prolapse, according with Oxford Classification [20], and rectocele grading will be collected through outpatient proctological evaluation associated with proctoscopy, rectal manometry, and Rx defecography. Colonoscopy will be also performed in every patient to exclude colorectal cancer.

The severity of the ODS will be scored with the Altomare's ODS scoring system. Constipation and fecal incontinence will be measured by obtaining their scores through the administration of validated questionnaires such as the Wexner Constipation score, and the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score (CCFI).

Quality of life will be also evaluated by the patient assessment of constipation quality-of-life (PAC-Qol) questionnaire. The study of eventually associated pelvic distress will be assessed by administering validated questionnaires such as the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-score, short form) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFQI-score, short form).

The scores obtained, as well as the presence of symptoms (fecal incontinence, constipation, or ODS) will be calculated before and after surgery (at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months). All patients will be followed up on an outpatient basis at 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 ,24, 36, and 48 months after surgery. Rectal manometry and defecography will be performed after 12 months after surgery.

Surgical intervention All the procedures will be performed by a single surgeon (SA). The LVR technique used for this protocol is as previously described. Subjects randomized to this arm will receive a standard LVR. Briefly, the peritoneum is opened over the right side of the sacral promontory. The mesorectum is dissected and extended in an inverted J-form along the right side. The rectovaginal septum is opened to the pelvic floor. Biologic mesh (Permacol) is sutured to the ventral aspect of the rectum with non-readsorbable stitches. The proximal end of the mesh is fixed on the anterior longitudinal ligament at sacral promontory with nonabsorbable tacks. The incised peritoneum is then closed to over the mesh.

Subjects randomized to STARR arm will undergo a STARR procedure. Briefly, a circular anal dilator is introduced into the rectum. The purse-string anoscope is used to complete the anterior hemi-circumference purse-string suture, about 2-3 cm above the haemorrhoidal apex. A 33-mm circular stapler (Ethicon, ppH01) is opened, inserted until crossing the purse-string which is then tied with a knot. Then the stapler is closed and fired. The same hemi-circumference purse-string suture is performed in the posterior rectal wall. A second application of the stapler on the posterior wall is inserted, closed and fired.

The duration of the study will be 2 years. The study will be conducted in accordance with the principles of Helsinki Declaration, with approval of the medical ethics review board of S. Anna University Hospital. A written informed consent will be obtained from all enrolled patients.

The report will comply with the strengthening the reporting of randomized studies (CONSORT).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

      • Ferrara, Italy, 44124
        • Surgery 2 Surgical Department, Sant'Anna University Hospital Ferrara, Italy

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • female gender,
  • the presence of rectorectal or rectoanal intussusception as main cause of ODS, confirmed by defecography,
  • type of operation performed (STARR or LVR),
  • ODS score > 14 [17]
  • PACQoL >32 [18]
  • ODS symptoms for at least 12 months prior to enrollment
  • Failure of at least 6 months of medical therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • male gender,
  • severe fecal incontinence (CCS score>6, Maximum Resting Pressure at rectal manometry < 50 mmHg),
  • combined procedures
  • previous surgery on rectum or anus for cancer or rectal prolapse, inflammatory bowel disease, other type of surgery to relieve ODS
  • pregnancy,
  • anismus or dissinergic defecation
  • full-thickness prolapse
  • stress urinary incontinence associated
  • histerocele or cystocele associated (since we usually correct both defects in the same surgical procedure)
  • prior pelvic radiotherapy
  • slow transit constipation defined as ≤ 2 bowel movements per week,
  • any psychiatric diseases.

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group STARR
Patients undergoing transanal prolassectomy with mechanical stapler (STARR: Stapled Trans Anal Rectal Resection) randomly
Patients randomly assigned to surgical intervention of STARR (Stapled Trans Anal Rectal Resection)
Experimental: Group LVR
Patients undergoing Laparoscopic suspensory correction of rectal prolapse by ventral rectopexy with biological prosthesis (LVR) randomly
Patients randomly assigned to surgical intervention of LVR (Laparoscopic Ventral Rectopexy)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluation of different outcomes in relief from ODS after surgery in both groups
Time Frame: 4 years
In order to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy of STARR procedure compared to LVR, the percentage of changes in total ODS, PAC-QoL, PFDI, PFQI, Wexner Constipation, the Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence (CCFI) scores between baseline and 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months after surgery, were adopted as primary outcome.
4 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
short-term postoperative complications (within 30 days after surgery)
Time Frame: 4 years
short-term postoperative complications (within 30 days after surgery) in the two groups (according to Clavien-Dindo classification)
4 years
long-term postoperative complications
Time Frame: 4 years
Mesh-related complications, rectal stenosis
4 years
recurrence or persistence of rectal prolapse
Time Frame: 4 years
to evaluate recurrence or persistence of rectal prolapse (diagnosed clinically and by postoperative defecography) in both groups, and the need for subsequent corrective surgery
4 years
recurrence or persistence of ODS (Obstructed defecation syndrome)
Time Frame: 4 years
recurrence or persistence of ODS if ODS score > 10
4 years
patient satisfaction in terms of pain
Time Frame: 4 years
patient satisfaction measured by a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale: evaluation of pain in mm: from 0 to 4 mm: no pain; from 5 to 44 mm: little pain; from 45 to 74 mm: moderate pain; from 75 to 100 mm: severe pain
4 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Simona Ascanelli, Surgical Department University Hospital Ferrara Italy

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

January 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 11, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 13, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

May 19, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 28, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2021

Last Verified

May 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

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

No

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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