CompletedNot Applicable

Breast and Abdominal Related Morbidity of DIEP and SIEA Flaps

Canada91 participantsStarted 2012-02

Plain-language summary

The Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator flap (DIEP) is the current standard of care in breast reconstruction. The newer Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery flap (SIEA) is felt to be an improvement as it does not damage the abdominal wall. The SIEA unfortunately has smaller vessels which put the flap at a higher risk of developing flap loss and fat necrosis. The uncertainty regarding the tradeoffs inherent in the choice of procedure has not been resolved. As such the investigators aim to perform a randomized single blinded trial to evaluate the abdominal and breast related morbidity associated with DIEP and SIEA flaps.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * female subject older than 18 * with satisfactory abdominal tissue for DIEP and SIEA flap reconstruction * fluent in English Exclusion Criteria: * reconstruction planned using latissimus dorsi flap, gluteal artery perforator flap or tissue expansion * suffer from neurological back problems * suffer form inguinal hernias

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in objective isokinetic abdominal strength

Timeframe: pre-operative (baseline), 3, 6 and 12 months post-operative

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01469494

SponsorUniversity of Manitoba

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2016-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction trials