Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Ascites is a build-up of fluid between the two layers of the peritoneum. This is a membrane that lines the tummy (abdomen). Ascites is caused most commonly by liver cirrhosis and by cancer.
The Sequana Medical alfapump® system is designed to remove ascites from the peritoneal cavity as it forms and move the ascites to the bladder where it is eliminated by the patient through normal urination.
The alfapump® system is a battery-powered pump that is implanted subcutaneously and is connected to two catheters; one to collect ascites from the peritoneal cavity and one to deliver the ascites to the bladder. The pump battery is charged transcutaneously (through the skin) by the patient. The alfapump® system is implanted using minimally invasive surgery and the physician can monitor the amount of ascites removed and adjust the removal rate using a dedicated computer (the alfapump® programmer) provided with the alfapump® system.
According to current clinical guides, the treatment of choice for refractory ascites is repeated paracentesis to evacuate fluid, associated with the administration of albumin.
In a series of Clinical Studies, the alfapump® system was shown to be an alternative to paracentesis in patients with refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis.
This study will create an international registry of patients fitted with the alfapump® system. The main aim of the registry is to monitor the performance of the alfapump® system.
Who can participate?
All patients implanted with an alfapump® system
What does the study involve?
The TOPMOST is an international registry involving patients who are implanted with an alfapump® system according to its intended use and not participating in another clinical study in which the alfapump® is studied. Patients of both genders are eligible for this Registry. The Registry will include commercial implants of the alfapump® system implanted until 31 December 2023. It is expected this would be up to 400 patients.
Charts of all consecutive patients enrolled will be reviewed to obtain baseline data, safety and performance data on the alfapump® up to 24 month follow-up and standard of care lab results. At select sites, additional questionnaire and health status information including nutrition, diet, quality of life, physical activity and body measurements will be taken. Also data on concomitant medication, ECOG status, Frailty Score and further standard of care lab results will be collected.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no direct benefit for patients from participating in the Registry. Participation in this registry gives doctors and regulatory authorities the possibility to follow how the alfapump® system is working and whether there are any problems with the system.
This is not a treatment study and there are no additional interventions or visits planned at the hospital so no additional risks are expected for patients included in the registry.
Where is the study run from?
Sequana Medical NV, Zurich, Switzerland
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2018 to December 2025.
Who is funding the study?
Sequana Medical NV, Ghent, Belgium
Who is the main contact?
Mr Jeroen Capel,
jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Mr Jeroen Capel
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6047-9880
Contact details
Technoparkstrasse 1
Zurich
8005
Switzerland
+41 79 238 04 87
jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Mr Jeroen Capel
ORCID ID
Contact details
Technoparkstrasse 1
Zurich
8005
Switzerland
+41 79 238 04 87
jeroen.capel@sequanamedical.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
2018-AAR-012
Study information
Scientific title
inTernatiOnal alfaPuMp® cOhort STudy (TOPMOST)
Acronym
TOPMOST
Study hypothesis
The purpose of the study is to collect information on how the implanted ALFApump® system is working and how patients are doing before and after having received the ALFApump®. The information collected will tell how much fluid is being transported with the help of the pump, and if there is any need for extra paracentesis. The study will also collect information on what patients, as well as the physician, thinks about using the system.
Ethics approval
1. Approved 06/09/2018, Swiss Ethics Committees on research involving humans (Haus der Akademien, Laupenstrasse 7, CH-3008, Bern; info@swissethics.ch; +41 31 306 93 95), ref: 2018-01173
2. Approved 16/11/2018, Ethics Committee University of Leipzig (Karl-Sudhoff-Institut für Geschichte der Medizin und der Naturwissenschaften, Käthe-Kollwitz-Straße 82, 04109 Leipzig; +49-(0)341 / 97 154 90; ethik@medizin.uni-leipzig.de), ref: 291/18-ek
3. Approved 18/06/2019, Ethics Committee Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen (Erlangen-Nuremberg, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen+49 9131 85-22270; ethikkommission@fau.de), ref: 201_19Bc
4. The alfapump® system is commercially available in the European Economic Area (EEA), receiving CE marking for commercial activity under CE 616535 with Notified Body number 0086 (BSI).
Study design
Multi-centre open label observational cohort study.
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cohort study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Refractory ascites due to liver cirrhosis or malignant ascites
Intervention
All consecutive patients treated with the alfapump® during the enrollment period are eligible for participation.
Patients are followed for a period of up to 24 months post-implant or until 30 days post explant.
The alfapump® system is implanted using minimally invasive surgery lasting 45 minutes. The procedure is typically performed under general anaesthesia but can also be performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. The pump is implanted under the skin in the right half of the abdomen via an incision of 3-4 cm. The catheters are implanted via a small open incision. The System is fully implanted, allowing the patient normal mobility and activity.
The study is a registry and no experimental interventional procedures are planned.
Patients will be attending visits according to routine care.
Intervention type
Device
Phase
Phase IV
Drug names
Not applicable.
Primary outcome measure
Patient survival with a functional alfapump® system at 6 months.
(An alfapump® system is considered functional when: capable of communication, can be charged, there is an intact fluid pathway from peritoneal space to the bladder through the system, pump transported 80% of the target daily volume in the past 30 days)
Secondary outcome measures
1. Occurrence of (major) reportable events, adverse events, incidents and device deficiencies requiring a surgical intervention
2. Safety at 1-month post-implant for procedure-related incidents
3. Requirement for paracentesis
4. Clinical performance of the alfapump® system by monitoring ascites transport
5. Changes in occurrence of reportable events, all incidents as well as device deficiencies from up to 6 months pre-implant and post-implant.
6. Clinical impact of the alfapump® system by monitoring patient’s clinical status, clinical chemistry, haematology laboratory data, MELD-Na, and ECOG
7. Quality of life changes
8. Overall survival
Overall trial start date
16/10/2018
Overall trial end date
31/12/2025
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. All patients implanted with an alfapump® system as per intended use
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
All patients implanted with an alfapump will be approached to participate in the registry. Planned to include up to 400 patients.
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Younger than 18 years
2. Pregnancy
3. Inability to operate the Smart Charger to recharge the alfapump®
4. Participating in another study in which the alfapump® is studied
Recruitment start date
17/10/2018
Recruitment end date
31/12/2023
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Germany, Switzerland
Trial participating centre
Inselspital
Freiburgstrasse
Bern
3010
Switzerland
Trial participating centre
Universitätsklinikum Leipzig - Department für Innere Medizin Sektion Hepatologie
Liebigstraße 20
Leipzig
04103
Germany
Trial participating centre
Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Erlangen
Krankenhausstr. 12
Erlangen
91054
Germany
Sponsor information
Organisation
Sequana Medical NV
Sponsor details
Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 122 (AA Tower)
Ghent
9052
Belgium
+32 485 795 207
invoice@sequanamedical.com
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Sequana Medical NV
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The results of the TOPMOST study may be submitted for publication. The plan is to report on a yearly basis interim results and a final report once the last patient has completed participation in this registry. Further analysis and reports may be decided on.
IPD sharing statement:
All data generated or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication
Intention to publish date
01/07/2026
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list