ISRCTN ISRCTN15655996
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15655996
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
04/06/2015
Registration date
12/06/2015
Last edited
04/08/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
At the moment it's unclear if patients suffering from rectal cancer who undergo surgical treatment (rectal resection) have a potential benefit of a temporary protective stoma (ileostomy)in terms of lower postoperative complications, especially at the colorectal anastomosis. Postoperative complications may lead to significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study is to investigate if a protective stoma may prevent severe postoperative complications.

Who can participate?
Adult patients of both sexes (age 19-85 years) suffering from rectal cancer.

What does the study involve?
All patients undergo surgical treatment (rectal resection). Before surgery a randomization of all patients is performed and two groups are created: in one group patients receive a temporary protective stoma (ileostomy) additionally to rectal surgery, in the other group patients are treated without this protective stoma. After the operation and hospital dismissal, all patients are invited to a planned study visit 10 weeks after the operation. Patients who are treated with temporary stoma gets their stoma revised 6 to 8 weeks after the primary operation. In all patients the postoperative course is documented and gets compared in a statistical analysis.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
At the moment it's unclear whether patients who undergo rectal resection without protective stoma have a higher risk of postoperative complication compared to patients treated with temporary stoma. A possible benefit for lower postoperative complications may be the performance of a protective stoma.

Where is he study run from?
Brothers of Mercy Hospital St. Veit/Glan (Austria)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2004 to September 2014

Who is funding the study?
Brothers of Mercy Hospital St. Veit/Glan (Austria)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Jörg Tschmelitsch

Contact information

Dr Jörg Tschmelitsch
Scientific

Department of Surgery
Brothers of Mercy Hospital St. Veit
Spitalgasse 26
9300 St. Veit/Glan
St. Veit/Glan
9300
Austria

Phone +43 (0)421 249 9475
Email joerg.tschmelitsch@bbstveit.at

Study information

Study designTwo-arm randomised open-label multicentre study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleDiverting ileostomy versus no diversion after low anterior resection for rectal cancer: a prospective randomised multicenter trial
Study hypothesisTo determine whether a protective diverting ileostomy improves short-term outcome in patients with rectal resection and colonic J-pouch reconstruction for low anastomoses.
Ethics approval(s)Ethik-kommission des landes kärnten,14/11/2003, ref: A34/03
ConditionHistologically verified and operable rectal cancer
InterventionPatients were stratified by gender, anastomotic height and preoperative radio-chemotherapy to be operated either by rectal resection and colo-anal/rectal anastomosis with a diverting ileostomy (group A) or rectal resection and colo-anal/rectal anastomosis without protective ileostomy (group B). Patients in both groups with low anastomoses (< 8 cm) were planned to receive a colonic J-pouch reconstruction.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureThe primary efficacy endpoint of the present study was the overall anastomotic leakage rate as defined by one of the following:
1. Radiologic leak: radiologic evidence of a leak in a Gastrografin enema and/or CT scan without clinical signs of anastomotic leakage
2. Clinical leak: radiologic evidence of a leak in a Gastrografin enema and/or CT scan and/or sigmoidoscopy with one or more of the following clinical signs: elevated temperature (> 380C), leucocytosis, peritonitis, putrid or faecal discharge over the drainage or fistulas (recto-vaginal)
Secondary outcome measures1. Surgical complications related to primary surgery, to the stoma before closure and to secondary surgery for stoma closure
2. Postoperative mortality defined as death on account of any cause during the hospital stay due to the primary operation or stoma closure
3. The length of hospital stay in days for the primary operation and stoma closure
Overall study start date01/01/2004
Overall study end date01/09/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants210
Participant inclusion criteria1. Patients aged 19 to 85 years with biopsy-proven and operable rectal cancer
2. Patients with or without preoperative radio-chemotherapy
3. Patients with a distal border of the tumour within 16 cm from the anal verge as demonstrated by rigid rectoscopy
4. Patients with a WHO performance status ≤ 2
Participant exclusion criteria1. Patients with previous rectal surgery
2. Emergency cases
3. Planned laparoscopic resections
4. Patients suffering from metastatic disease or synchronous colon cancer
Recruitment start date01/01/2004
Recruitment end date01/09/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Austria

Study participating centres

Department of Surgery, Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy
Sankt Veit an der Glan
-
Austria
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the Brothers of Mercy
Graz
-
Austria
Department of Surgery, University of Salzburg
Salzburg
-
Austria

Sponsor information

Brothers of Mercy Hospital
Hospital/treatment centre

Spitalgasse 26
St. Veit/Glan
9300
Austria

Phone +43 (0)4212499475
Email joerg.tschmelitsch@bbstveit.at
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01fxzb657

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Brothers of Mercy Hospital (Austria)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination plan
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/04/2016 Yes No

Editorial Notes

04/08/2016: Publication reference added.