Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The pancreas is a large gland belonging to the digestive system. It produces digestive enzymes (enzymes that break down food) and hormones (for example insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar levels). Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in the early stages as symptoms don’t usually occur until the disease is at a more advanced stage. One of the main treatments for pancreatic cancer is surgery, where at least part of the pancreas is removed (resected). This can be done as open surgery (traditional surgery where the patient is opened up at the region where the procedure is to be performed) or laparoscopic (or keyhole) surgery. Laparoscopic surgery allows the surgeon to access a region of the inside of the body without having to make the large incisions (cuts) required in open surgery. The incisions made are much smaller and a laparoscope, a optic cable that allows the surgeon to see inside the body, is used to do the operation. This study investigates whether laparoscopic resection of the left side of the pancreas may result in shorter hospital stay and less bleeding than open procedures.
Who can participate?
Patients that are at least 18 years old diagnosed with diseases in the pancreatic body or tail that needs resection.
What does the study involve?
Particiants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in group 1 have an open distal pancreatectomy. Those in group 2 have a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy. After surgery, the length of hospital stay for all participants are recorded and comparisons are made as to the amount of bleeding after surgery, pain experienced after surgery, quality of life, any complications, costs involved and whether the participants were still alive two years afterwards.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
Linköping University Hospital (lead centre) and Kalmar Hospital (Sweden)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2014 to January 2020
Who is funding the study?
Region Östergötland (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Bergthor Björnsson
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
RCT-Laparoscopic vs open distal pancreatectomy in an unselected patient cohort
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) with or without the use of robot, shortens hospital stay and reduces bleeding compared to open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) in unselected patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy with or without splenectomy.
Ethics approval
Regionala etikprövningsnämnden i Linköping (The regional ethics board for South-east Sweden), ref: 2015/39-31
Study design
Prospective, randomized comparison of laparoscopic vs. open distal pancreatectomy, multicentre
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
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
Pancreatic tumors
Intervention
Two arms:
1. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy
2. Open distal pancreatectomy
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Length of stay in hospital after laparoscopic- and open distal pancreatectomy
Secondary outcome measures
1. To compare perioperative bleeding during LDP and ODP, measured after operation
2. To compare postoperative pain after LDP and ODP, measured 3 times/day during hospital stay with Visual analouge scale
3. To compare the use of analgetics after LDP and ODP, measured at discharge, amount of drugs given
4. To evaluate quality of life postoperatively after LDP and ODP, measured 5-6 weeks postoperatively as well as 6, 12 and 24 months after operation. Tools for measurement: EORTC QLQ-C30 to which is added the PAN26 module and EQ-5D.
5. To analyze costs associated with LDP and ODP. Measured as direct (hospital cost) after discharge a combination of actual cost and schablon is used
6. To compare complications in LDP and ODP measured up to 90 Days after operation according to Clavien-Dindo classification as well as comprehensive complication index
7. To evaluate survival, measured 2 years after operation
8. Oncological quality of resection measured by PAD assessment as number of investigated lymphnodes and tumor marginal in mm
Overall trial start date
01/01/2014
Overall trial end date
31/12/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1.Patients with lesion in the body or tail of the pancreas demanding surgery (indication set by multidisciplinary conference)
2. Operable patient (as the local preoperatively evaluation dictates)
3. Possibility to achieve R0-resection without resection of additional organs (besides the spleen)
4. Patients with performance status 0-2 according to WHO scale
5. Written informed consent.
6. Age > 18 years
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
60
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Pregnancy and/or lactation
2. Patients being unable to comply with the protocol for reasons of language or cognitive function
3. Preoperatively defined need to resect other organs than pancreas and spleen
4. Preoperatively defined division line of pancreas to the right of the SMV
Recruitment start date
01/10/2015
Recruitment end date
31/12/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Sweden
Trial participating centre
Linköping University Hospital (lead centre)
Linköping
58185
Sweden
Trial participating centre
Kalmar Hospital
Lasarettsvägen 1
Kalmar
39185
Sweden
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
Region Östergötland (Sweden)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Intention to publish date
31/12/2022
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list