TerminatedNot Applicable

Plastic vs. Fully Covered Self Expanding Stents (FCSEMS) for Treatment of Anastomotic Bile Leaks

Stopped: Post transplant leaks are now less frequent at VUMC and we struggled to enroll.

United States1 participantsStarted 2018-01-30

Plain-language summary

Standard endoscopic management for anastomotic bile leaks following OLT has been endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with placement of a temporary plastic biliary endoprosthesis (stent) across the site of anastomotic leak. While this intervention carries a high rate of technical success, clinical success is not universal. An alternative to placement of a plastic biliary stent is placement of a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (FCSEMS). Whereas a plastic stent functions largely as a wick to siphon bile flow, the theoretical advantage of a FCSEMS is that the relatively larger expansile diameter and membrane coating provide an actual and effective seal at the site of leak. FCSEMS have been used successfully for salvage therapy of anastomotic bile leaks in the post-OLT population with no serious stent related adverse events and no cases of unsuccessful FCSEMS removal in this population. The objective of this study is to prospectively randomize patients found to have anastomotic bile leaks following OLT to placement of either a plastic biliary stent or a FCSEMS at initial ERCP intervention.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

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: * adult patients undergoing ERCP for suspected anastomotic bile leak within 60 days following OLT with standard biliary reconstruction * cognitively impaired population with a surrogate who has legal power of attorney Exclusion Criteria: * patients who have undergone OLT with hepaticojejunostomy * patients who have undergone percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram with percutaneous biliary intervention following OLT and prior to ERCP

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

Cholangiographic Resolution of Bile Leak at Follow-up ECRP

Timeframe: up to 6 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03333382

SponsorVanderbilt University Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-08-21

Results submitted2021-11-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Bile Leak trials