Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation to Reduce Delayed Gastric Emptying After PPPD

February 28, 2026 updated by: Taha Hussein Taha Hussein Khalil, Assiut University

Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation to Decrease Post PPPD Delayed Gastric Emptying. Does It Help? RCT Study

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a standard surgical treatment for tumors of the pancreatic head and surrounding areas. However, it is frequently associated with delayed gastric emptying (DGE), a complication that can lead to nausea, vomiting, and prolonged hospital stays. This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate if a simple intraoperative maneuver (pneumatic balloon dilatation of the pylorus) can reduce the incidence of early postoperative vomiting and DGE.

Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, receiving pyloric dilatation during surgery, or the control group, receiving standard surgery without dilatation. Researchers will monitor postoperative symptoms, gastric emptying function, and overall recovery to determine if this maneuver effectively improves patient outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) is a standard surgical approach for treating tumors of the pancreatic head, duodenum, and distal cholangiocarcinomas. While it offers favorable functional and nutritional outcomes compared to the classic Whipple procedure, it is frequently complicated by delayed gastric emptying (DGE), with reported incidence rates as high as 25-50%. DGE leads to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and early satiety, significantly increasing morbidity and prolonging hospital stays.

The pathophysiology of DGE is multifactorial, but pylorospasm, which results from intraoperative denervation, local ischemia, and postoperative edema, is believed to be a major contributor. Intraoperative maneuvers aimed at reducing pyloric tone, such as mechanical dilatation, have been proposed to facilitate gastric outflow without sacrificing the physiological benefits of preserving the pylorus.

This prospective, randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate whether intraoperative pneumatic balloon dilatation of the pylorus can reduce the incidence and severity of early postoperative DGE. The study will be conducted at Assiut University Hospital and Al-Rajhi Hospital. Seventy adult patients scheduled for elective PPPD will be randomized into two groups:

Intervention Group: Following the resection and prior to reconstruction, a sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus and inflated to 18-20mm for 1-2 minutes to achieve mechanical stretching.

Control Group: Patients will undergo the standard PPPD procedure without any additional pyloric manipulation.

The primary outcome measure is the incidence of DGE (ISGPS Grade B or C) and early postoperative vomiting within the first seven days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include the time to first flatus, resumption of oral diet, duration of nasogastric tube placement, and overall length of hospital stay.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

70

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients (≥18 years) scheduled for elective PPPD due to tumors of the pancreatic head, distal bile duct, or ampulla of Vater.
  • Patients with no prior history of gastric surgery or severe gastroparesis.
  • Patients with no contraindications to balloon dilatation or intraoperative endoscopic procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with prior gastric surgery, pyloric stenosis, or history of severe gastroparesis.
  • Patients with severe comorbidities that may preclude safe surgery (ASA class IV or higher).
  • Patients who require emergency surgery or have unresectable disease.
  • Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding or severe malnutrition

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Pyloric Dilatation
A sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus under direct vision. The balloon will be inflated to a predetermined diameter (typically 18-20mm) for 1-2 minutes, repeated once if necessary, to achieve gentle mechanical stretching of the pylorus. The procedure will be performed after completion of the pancreatoduodenectomy and before gastrointestinal reconstruction.
Procedure: Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon Dilatation
A sterile, calibrated pneumatic balloon dilator will be positioned across the pylorus under direct vision. The balloon will be inflated to a predetermined diameter (typically 18-20mm) for 1-2 minutes, repeated once if necessary, to achieve gentle mechanical stretching of the pylorus. The procedure will be performed after completion of the pancreatoduodenectomy and before gastrointestinal reconstruction.
No Intervention: No Pyloric Dilatation
No additional intervention will be performed at the pylorus. The standard PPPD procedure will be completed without balloon dilatation or any other pyloric manipulation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Delayed Gastric Emptying (DGE)
Time Frame: Up to 7 days postoperatively
The occurrence of delayed gastric emptying will be evaluated and defined according to the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery (ISGPS) criteria (specifically grades B or C), which are based on the severity and duration of nasogastric tube use and the patient's inability to tolerate oral intake.
Up to 7 days postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Assiut University

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 (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 28, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Intraoperative Pyloric Balloon

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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