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TransThoracic Ultrasound for Descending Aortic Aneurysms (THORUS)

3 de agosto de 2026 actualizado por: Imperial College London

Feasibility, Accuracy and Reproducibility of Ultrasound in Aneurysms of the Descending Thoracic Aorta

The goal of this observational study is to assess the applicability of non-invasive ultrasound in aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta.

The main question it aims to answer is:

What is the feasibility of Ultrasound to visualise the Descending Thoracic Aorta, and can this imaging modality accurately measure the maximum size of aneurysms and residual sacs with acceptable reproducibility?

Participants are having their diagnosis confirmed or excluded by conventional imaging techniques (CT scans). Participants receive exactly the same standard of care regardless of their participation. The study offers an additional ultrasound scan, and the results will be compared with previous imaging.

Descripción general del estudio

Descripción detallada

Aneurysms of the aortic artery are a significant public health issue. The number of newly diagnosed aneurysms of the thoracic aorta is on the rise, and aneurysm rupture is a catastrophic event associated with high mortality rates. The most proximal sections of the aorta (ascending and the aortic arch) are routinely scanned by echocardiography practitioners. The abdominal aorta is also easily visualised on transabdominal ultrasound, and there is a screening programme in the UK that is highly cost-effective and reduced the aneurysm-related number of deaths. However, the portion of the aorta in the chest (descending thoracic aorta) is not routinely assessed by ultrasound practitioners.

The diagnosis of descending thoracic aneurysms relies mostly on imaging techniques that use ionising radiation. In addition, these techniques are expensive and may not be widely available in some regions. In contrast, ultrasound is a non-invasive technique that allows visualisation of most parts of the body. Ultrasound machine suppliers have invested in better systems and transducers over the years and visualisation of the descending thoracic aorta may now be possible.

The main aims of this study are to assess the feasibility (Part 1), accuracy (Part 2) and reproducibility (Part 3) ultrasound in the diagnosis and monitoring of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Participants will be recruited from the vascular lab and outpatient clinics, and diameters of the descending thoracic aorta will be measured with non-invasive ultrasound. Data obtained from study measurements will be compared with computed tomography scans that patients had as part of their standard of care.

If the feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of Ultrasound are clearly demonstrated, routine ultrasound scans of the descending thoracic aorta may be suggested.

Tipo de estudio

De observación

Inscripción (Estimado)

60

Contactos y Ubicaciones

Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.

Estudio Contacto

  • Nombre: Carlos Pinho, PhD Student
  • Número de teléfono: +44 20 3312 3374
  • Correo electrónico: cv1026@ic.ac.uk

Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio

  • Nombre: Cheuk Fund Wong
  • Número de teléfono: +44 20 7594 9832
  • Correo electrónico: rgit@imperial.ac.uk

Ubicaciones de estudio

    • London
      • London, London, Reino Unido, W2 1NY
        • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - St Mary's Hospital
        • Contacto:
          • Carlos Pinho, PhD Student
          • Número de teléfono: +44 20 3312 3374
          • Correo electrónico: cv1026@ic.ac.uk
        • Contacto:
          • Cheuk Fund Wong
          • Número de teléfono: +44 20 7594 9832
          • Correo electrónico: rgit@imperial.ac.uk
        • Investigador principal:
          • Carlos Pinho, PhD Student

Criterios de participación

Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.

Criterio de elegibilidad

Edades elegibles para estudiar

  • Adulto
  • Adulto Mayor

Acepta Voluntarios Saludables

Sí

Método de muestreo

Muestra no probabilística

Población de estudio

All Participants will receive a single Ultrasound scan as part of this study. All Patients had at least one CT scan of the thoracic aorta prior to the study as part of their standard of care. No additional radiation or invasive imaging techniques will be used in the Thorus study. The data obtained from the CT will be analysed by an independent reviewer and compared with Ultrasound measurements. Participants will be recruited prospectively from a single NHS Trust in London - Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Descripción

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with diagnosed AAA or other vascular condition attending the vascular scanning department for routine ultrasound and confirmed healthy DTA (Control group).
  • Patients with known DTAA (including Type B dissection) or patients who had TEVAR previously (Case group).
  • Patients who have had CT as part of their standard of care.
  • Patients able to tolerate the scan (Lying in supine position).
  • Adults aged 18 or over.
  • Willing to provide consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient under 18 years of age.
  • Previous thoracic surgery or body deformity (severe kyphosis, scoliosis, pleural effusion or chest wall trauma).
  • Patients without previous imaging of the thoracic aorta.
  • Life expectancy <2 years.
  • Pregnant Women.
  • Patients unwilling to provide consent or unable to comply with study requirements.
  • Patients too frail to travel to routine outpatient appointments.
  • Inability to attend the appointment due to time constraints or other commitments.
  • Although rare, ultrasound contraindications as described in the scanning protocol are also exclusion criteria.

Plan de estudios

Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.

¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?

Detalles de diseño

Cohortes e Intervenciones

Grupo / Cohorte
CONTROLS
Patients with healthy DTA (30 patients)
CASES
Patients with DTAA or TEVAR (30 patients)

¿Qué mide el estudio?

Medidas de resultado primarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Part 1 - Feasibility - Proportion of participants with successful ultrasound measurement of the diameter of the descending thoracic aorta
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Number and percentage of participants in whom the descending thoracic aortic diameter can be obtained by transthoracic ultrasound. The units of Measure are total number and percentages.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 1 - Feasibility - Length of the descending thoracic aorta by Ultrasound
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Total length of the descending thoracic aorta from the aortic isthmus to the coeliac axis. The unit of Measure is Centimetres (cms).
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 1 - Feasibility - Ultrasound Quality Score
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.

Number of ultrasound windows that allow visualisation of the descending thoracic aorta (0 to 3 windows) and allocation of a quality score.

The Unit of Measure is a score created for this study (0-Windows: No views; 1 window: Poor; 2 windows: Moderate; 3 windows: Good). Higher scores mean better image quality.

Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 2 - Accuracy - Comparision between Transthoracic Ultrasound and CT
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Calculate mean differences and limits of agreement between TUS and CT. Achieve high sensitivity and specificity.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 3 - Reproducibility - Intraclass correlation coefficient
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Calculate inter- and intra-operator variability by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The study aims to achieve good or excellent reliability.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.

Medidas de resultado secundarias

Medida de resultado
Medida Descripción
Periodo de tiempo
Part 1 - Feasibility - Factors limiting visualisation of the Descending Thoracic Aorta
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Number and percentages of participants in whom limiting factors such as body habitus or rib shadowing are reported after the ultrasound test. The units of measure are the number of participants with raised BMI (kg/m^2) and acoustic shadowing due to bone density.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 1 - Feasibility - Duration of Ultrasound Examination
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Total time needed to complete the ultrasound scan of the descending thoracic aorta. The unit of measure is minutes.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Part 1 - Feasibility - Patient Feedback Questionnaire
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.
Scores are obtained from the patient feedback questionnaire that was created specifically for this study and consists of 5 questions relating to comfort, tolerability and overall experience of the ultrasound scan. The unit of measure is a score ranging from 1-Strongly Disagree to 5-Strongly Agree. Higher scores mean better patient satisfaction.
Day 1 - At the single ultrasound study visit.

Colaboradores e Investigadores

Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.

Investigadores

  • Silla de estudio: Professor Colin Bicknell, Imperial College London

Fechas de registro del estudio

Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados ​​por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.

Fechas importantes del estudio

Inicio del estudio (Estimado)

7 de septiembre de 2026

Finalización primaria (Estimado)

5 de abril de 2027

Finalización del estudio (Estimado)

3 de abril de 2028

Fechas de registro del estudio

Enviado por primera vez

28 de julio de 2026

Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

3 de agosto de 2026

Publicado por primera vez (Actual)

7 de agosto de 2026

Actualizaciones de registros de estudio

Última actualización publicada (Actual)

7 de agosto de 2026

Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad

3 de agosto de 2026

Última verificación

1 de agosto de 2026

Más información

Términos relacionados con este estudio

Otros números de identificación del estudio

  • 199470
  • IRAS Project ID: 365629 (Otro identificador: NHS Health Research Authority)

Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)

¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?

NO

Descripción del plan IPD

Sharing IPD is not required to answer the research question.

Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio

Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.

No

Esta información se obtuvo directamente del sitio web clinicaltrials.gov sin cambios. Si tiene alguna solicitud para cambiar, eliminar o actualizar los detalles de su estudio, comuníquese con register@clinicaltrials.gov. Tan pronto como se implemente un cambio en clinicaltrials.gov, también se actualizará automáticamente en nuestro sitio web. .

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