ERAS in Choledochal Cyst & Biliary Atresia
Early Oral Feeding Versus Conventional Feeding After Surgery for Biliary Atresia and Choledochal Cyst: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to compare two feeding approaches after surgery for biliary atresia and choledochal cyst in children.
Traditionally, children are kept without oral feeding for more than 48 hours after these operations until bowel activity returns. However, newer Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs suggest that starting feeding earlier may help children recover faster.
In this study, children undergoing surgery for biliary atresia or choledochal cyst will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will start oral liquids within 24 hours after surgery and gradually progress to normal feeding as tolerated (early feeding group). The other group will receive conventional care, where feeding is started after more than 48 hours once bowel activity has returned.
Researchers will compare both groups for postoperative complications such as wound infection and anastomotic leakage, as well as the duration of hospital stay. Additional observations will include vomiting, abdominal distension, need for reinsertion of a nasogastric tube, requirement for repeat surgery, and time taken to resume normal feeding.
Participation in the study will not affect the standard surgical treatment provided. All children will receive routine perioperative care and will be monitored closely throughout their hospital stay and follow-up visits. The findings of this study may help determine whether early oral feeding is a safe and effective strategy to improve recovery and reduce hospitalization after pediatric hepatobiliary surgery.
Studie Overzicht
Toestand
Toestand
Conditie
Conditie
Interventie / Behandeling
Interventie / Behandeling
Gedetailleerde beschrijving
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways are evidence-based, multidisciplinary perioperative care protocols designed to reduce surgical stress, maintain physiological function, accelerate recovery, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. Early enteral nutrition is a key component of ERAS programs and has been associated with improved gastrointestinal recovery, reduced postoperative morbidity, and shorter hospital stay across multiple surgical specialties.
The role of early oral feeding following pediatric hepatobiliary surgery remains insufficiently studied, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Biliary atresia and choledochal cysts are among the most common pediatric hepatobiliary disorders requiring major reconstructive surgery. Postoperative feeding practices vary considerably, and many centers continue to delay oral intake until bowel sounds return or passage of stool occurs. However, delayed feeding may prolong recovery, increase dependence on intravenous fluids, and extend hospitalization.
This prospective randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Child Health Sciences and The Children's Hospital Lahore. The study aims to compare early oral feeding with conventional postoperative feeding in children undergoing surgery for biliary atresia and choledochal cyst.
A total of 46 eligible patients will be enrolled and randomized equally into two groups. Children aged up to 14 years undergoing elective surgery for Type I or Type IV choledochal cyst and infants up to 3 months of age undergoing surgery for biliary atresia will be considered for inclusion. Patients with preoperative malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, emergency procedures, external cyst drainage, or those not undergoing portoenterostomy after operative cholangiography will be excluded.
All enrolled participants will receive standardized perioperative care. In the intervention group, oral clear liquids will be initiated within 24 hours after surgery and advanced progressively to semisolid and full feeds according to tolerance. In the control group, oral feeding will commence after more than 48 hours postoperatively, following clinical evidence of return of bowel function, including passage of stool or flatus.
Patients will be monitored for postoperative complications including anastomotic leakage, surgical site infection, vomiting, abdominal distension, need for nasogastric tube reinsertion, and requirement for reoperation. Discharge criteria will be standardized for both groups and include stable vital signs, adequate oral intake, satisfactory bowel function, and surgeon approval.
The primary outcomes will be postoperative hospital stay, anastomotic leakage, and surgical site infection. Secondary outcomes will include time to initiation of feeds, time to full feeding, gastrointestinal tolerance, nasogastric tube reinsertion, postoperative complications, and need for repeat surgical intervention.
Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 26. Continuous variables will be reported as mean, median, and standard deviation, while categorical variables will be presented as frequencies and percentages. Comparisons between groups will be performed using independent sample t-tests or Chi-square tests as appropriate, with statistical significance defined as a p-value ≤0.05.
This study seeks to generate local evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of early postoperative feeding following pediatric hepatobiliary surgery. The findings may support implementation of ERAS principles in pediatric surgical practice and contribute to improved recovery, reduced hospitalization, and more efficient utilization of healthcare resources.
Studietype
Studietype
Inschrijving (Geschat)
Inschrijving
Fase
Fase
- Niet toepasbaar
Contacten en locaties
Studiecontact
Studiecontact
- Naam: Sundas Zahra, MBBS
- Telefoonnummer: +923400686300
- E-mail: sundaszahra1080@gmail.com
Studie Contact Back-up
- Naam: Muhammad Zubair Shoukat, MBBS, FCPS Pediatric Surgery
- Telefoonnummer: 03126446646
- E-mail: zubairshaukat@outlook.com
Studie Locaties
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Punjab Province
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Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54300
- Werving
- University of Child Health Sciences, The Children's Hospital, Lahore
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Deelname Criteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie
- Kind
Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers
Beschrijving
Inclusion Criteria:
- All children diagnosed with choledochal cyst type I and IV on MRCP or CT scan, undergoing elective Roux-En-Y hepaticojejunostomy
- All children with provisional diagnosis of biliary atresia undergoing Roux-En-Y portoenterostomy
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with suspected biliary atresia not undergoing portoenterostomy after Per-op cholangiogram either due to ruling out of disease or advanced disease deemed candidates for liver transplant
- patients with history of Emergency surgery or external drainage of choledochal cyst
- Hemodynamically unstable patients after surgery
- Previous history of GI surgery
Studie plan
Hoe is de studie opgezet?
Ontwerpdetails
- Primair doel: Behandeling
- Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
- Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
- Masker: Verdrievoudigen
Aantal wapens
Wapens en interventies
Deelnemersgroep / ArmDeelnemersgroep / Arm |
Interventie / BehandelingInterventie / Behandeling |
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Experimenteel: ERAS Feeding Protocol in Choledochal Cyst
The patients with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for choledochal cyst will be started oral liquids within 24 hours of surgery, NG Tube will be removed before starting oral feeds
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In ERAS feeding protocol or early oral feeding protocol, patients will be allowed oral liquids within 24 hours of surgery irrespective of confirmation of bowel functions.
Andere namen:
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Actieve vergelijker: Conventional Feeding Protocol in Choledochal Cyst
The post operative patients of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for choledochal cyst will be allowed oral liquids after confirmation of resumption of bowel function (Positive bowel sounds, passage of stool or flatus, clear NG aspirate)
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In conventional feeding protocol, feeds will be resumed after surgery on confirmation of bowel functions with auscultation for bowel sounds or passage of stool or flatus, usually after 48 hours
Andere namen:
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Experimenteel: ERAS in Biliary Atresia
Post-op patients of Roux-en-Y portoenterostomy for biliary atresia will be allowed oral liquids within 24 hours of surgery and NG tube will be removed.
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In ERAS feeding protocol or early oral feeding protocol, patients will be allowed oral liquids within 24 hours of surgery irrespective of confirmation of bowel functions.
Andere namen:
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Actieve vergelijker: Conventional feeding protocol in Biliary Atresia
Post-op patients of portoenterostomy for biliary atresia will be allowed oral feeds only after confirmation of bowel functions (positive bowel sounds, passage of stool or flatus, clearing of NG aspirate)
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In conventional feeding protocol, feeds will be resumed after surgery on confirmation of bowel functions with auscultation for bowel sounds or passage of stool or flatus, usually after 48 hours
Andere namen:
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Wat meet het onderzoek?
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
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Wound Infection
Tijdsspanne: Within 04 weeks of surgery
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Condition characterized with presence of redness, swelling, warmth, pain or purulent discharge from surgical site classified according to CDC SSI grading.
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Within 04 weeks of surgery
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Anastomotic Leak
Tijdsspanne: Within hospital stay or on readmission within 1 month
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When surgical anastomosis fails and there is leakage proven with signs of peritonitis on clinical examination, pneumoperitoneum on radiographs
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Within hospital stay or on readmission within 1 month
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Length of Hospital Stay
Tijdsspanne: From the date of surgery until the date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 30 days
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Duration of stay measured in days
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From the date of surgery until the date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 30 days
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Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
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Vomiting
Tijdsspanne: From start of feeding till 30 days post-operatively
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episodes of vomiting after surgery
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From start of feeding till 30 days post-operatively
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Abdominal Distension
Tijdsspanne: from initiation of oral feeds till 30 days post-operatively
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Development of signs of abdominal distension on clinical examination leading to decision of holding feeds
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from initiation of oral feeds till 30 days post-operatively
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Need for Re-operation
Tijdsspanne: From start of oral feeds till 04 weeks post-op
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Any sugical intervention required for post operative complications like wound infection or anastomotic leak or other previously unspecified reasons
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From start of oral feeds till 04 weeks post-op
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Medewerkers en onderzoekers
Sponsor
Sponsor
Medewerkers
Medewerkers
Onderzoekers
Onderzoekers
- Hoofdonderzoeker: Sundas Zahra, MBBS, University of Child Health sciences & The Children's Hospital, Lahore
Studie record data
Bestudeer belangrijke data
Studie start (Werkelijk)
Studie start
Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)
Primaire voltooiing
Studie voltooiing (Geschat)
Studie voltooiing
Studieregistratiedata
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Eerst geplaatst
Updates van studierecords
Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Laatste update geplaatst
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatst geverifieerd
Laatst geverifieerd
Meer informatie
Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie
Trefwoorden
Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden
- Neoplasmata
- Ziekten van het spijsverteringsstelsel
- Ziekten van de galwegen
- Aangeboren afwijkingen
- Cysten
- Galwegaandoeningen
- Afwijkingen van het spijsverteringsstelsel
- Aangeboren, erfelijke en neonatale ziekten en afwijkingen
- Biliaire atresie
- Choledochale cyste
- Chirurgische procedures, operatief
- Perioperatieve zorg
- Verbeterde herstel na de operatie
Andere studie-ID-nummers
Andere studie-ID-nummers
- 1139/CH-UCHS
Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)
Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?
Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct
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