Comparing Reduction With ESD- Versus APC-TORe (CREATORe)

March 17, 2026 updated by: Stephen Firkins

Comparing Outcomes of Classic Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe) Versus Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection-TORe: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two variations of the same procedure used to assist with weight loss in patients who have a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass who have experienced weight regain. The procedure being studied is called the Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe), and the trial will compare two different ways to complete the TORe procedure. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

  • Which variation of the TORe procedure results in more weight loss?
  • Which variation of the TORe is safer? Participants who are eligible and willing to undergo the TORe procedure to assist with weight loss will have the procedure completed either one of the two ways. All other care will be exactly the same between the two groups. Researchers will compare outcomes between the two procedure variations, looking at which one results in more weight loss, is more successful, and safer.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Weight regain after having a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is common. One of the primary reasons for weight regain after bypass is stretching out or "dilation" of the surgical connection created between what is left of the stomach and the small intestine (called the anastamosis). As the ability to suture with the help of a scope inserted through the mouth into the stomach instead of surgery, the transoral outlet reduction (TORe) was developed. The TORe involves suturing around the stretched out anastamosis, allowing it to be pulled tighter and shrink down, resulting in weight loss, and is an entirely endoscopic and reversible procedure. As the procedure advanced, "burning" of the stomach lining using a technique called argon plasma coagulation (APC), in addition to suturing, became the standard way to perform the TORe procedure. The APC helps the stomach tissue shrink even more and heal into place better, causing even more weight loss. This is now the classic way to perform the TORe (hereby called the "c-TORe"), and is now widely used to help patients who have regained weight after gastric bypass.

Multiple studies report the c-TORe results in an average of 8-9% total body weight loss. However more recently, another variation of the TORe was developed, which uses endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In the ESD-TORe (hereby called the E-TORe), the physician makes a small cut in the surface layer of the anastamosis in addition to APC and suturing. In the only study comparing c-TORe to E-TORe, E-TORe resulted in significantly more weight loss. However, there are several limitations to this study that require more investigation.

This clinical trial will compare the c-TORe and the E-TORe. Patients who are eligible and willing to undergo a TORe procedure will be assigned to get either the c-TORe or the E-TORe. They will undergo the procedure with a physician experienced in both types of the procedure. Participants will be followed for one year after the procedure to compare which procedure type results in more weight loss.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

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

  • United States
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Cleveland Clinic Foundation

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients with history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and weight regain
  • Dilated gastrojejunal anastamosis as diagnosed on endoscopy
  • Patients undergoing standard of care for treatment of obesity with endoscopic revisional procedure (a.k.a. TORe) who are enrolled in the GI Bariatric Endoscopy program and clinic at the study site

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior revision of gastric bypass
  • Active and uncontrolled gastro-esophageal reflux disease defined as ≥ grade C esophagitis
  • Active untreated Helicobacter pylori infection
  • Malignancy newly diagnosed by endoscopy
  • Upper gastro-intestinal conditions such as ulcers, polyps, gastric varices, strictures, congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia or other abnormalities that preclude completion of TORe
  • Presence of gastrogastric or gastroenteric fistula
  • Inability to undergo general anesthesia
  • Participating in another ongoing clinical trial of an investigational weight loss drug or device
  • Active pregnancy
  • Use of anticoagulation therapy or P2Y12 inhibitors which cannot be discontinued for the time frame surrounding the procedure
  • Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
  • Unwillingness to comply with standard post-TORe dietary guidelines and follow-up care
  • Any other anatomical, technical or otherwise factor that limits the ability of the endoscopist to perform either E-TORe or c-TORe
  • Any additional factor, which in the investigator's opinion, might jeopardize the subject's safety or compliance with the trial protocol

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: E-TORe
Participants in this arm received the E-TORe procedure
Procedure: E-TORe
The E-TORe utilizes ESD in addition to APC prior to endoscopic suturing. In this approach, a standardized solution of normal saline or hetastarch mixed with methylene blue and epinephrine is injected into the gastric rim of the GJA outlet. The mucosa is then carefully incised to expose the underlying muscular layer for a width of approximately 1cm around the GJA circumference. Following ESD, APC is then applied to the inner and outer mucosal margins of the ESD tract. Finally, endoscopic sutures are then placed in purse string fashion and cinched closed around a 6mm TTS balloon.
Other Names:
  • ESD-TORe, endoscopic submucosal dissection TORe
Active Comparator: c-TORe
Participants in this arm received the "classical" or c-TORe procedure
Procedure: c-TORe
The c-TORe will be completed utilizing APC prior to endoscopic suturing. In this approach, the gastric rim of the anastomosis is circumferentially ablated using APC (forced APC, flow of 0.8 L/min and power of 30-70 watts) extending an average of 1-2 cm from the outlet. Following ablation, endoscopic sutures are placed in a purse string fashion within the ablated area and the outlet cinched closed over a 6mm through-the scope (TTS) balloon.
Other Names:
  • classic TORe, APC-TORe, argon plasma coagulation TORe

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Weight change at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months from procedure date
Percent total body weight change 6 months following TORe procedure
6 months from procedure date
Weight change at 12 months
Time Frame: 12 months from procedure date
Percent total body weight change 12 months following TORe procedure
12 months from procedure date

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Technical success
Time Frame: Day of procedure
Rates of technical success of the procedure as determined by the experienced endoscopist performing the TORe procedure
Day of procedure
Procedure time
Time Frame: Day of procedure
Mean time to complete each procedure type
Day of procedure
Adverse event rate
Time Frame: One year from date of procedure
Rate of adverse events related to each procedure type
One year from date of procedure
5% total body weight loss
Time Frame: One year from date of procedure
Proportion of subjects who achieved at least 5% total body weight loss
One year from date of procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Stephen Firkins

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Stephen Firkins, MD, The Cleveland Clinic

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)

October 2, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 9, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 9, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

November 14, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 19, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 23-886

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

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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