NCT03188380

Brief Summary

Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the most serious conditions in newborns, affecting up to 10% of very low birth weight infants (VLBW). In the most premature population mortality rates can rise as high as 60%. Typical findings on abdominal radiography (AR) include pnuematosis intestinalis (PI), portal vein gas (PVG) and pneumoperitoneum, but are sometimes not present even in severe cases. Abdominal ultrasound (AUS) can depict PI, PVG and pnuemoperitoneum (in some cases a head of AR), but it also provides other crucial information such as bowel wall viability (thickness or thinning) and free abdominal fluid. These additional findings are helpful in expediting diagnosis and management of NEC. Methods and analysis The hypothesis being tested is that preforming an AUR in patients with clinical symptoms of NEC but inconclusive/normal AR will enhance detection rates, and expedite treatment in infants born at \<32 weeks. Discussion The use of AUS together with AR as an add-on test may increase the accuracy of diagnosing NEC, and precipitate treatment. Swift implementation of antibiotics and bowel rest is extremely important. To our best knowledge, our study will be the first to focus only on VLBW, who are most prone to NEC. It will also be the first multi-centre study evaluating the use of AUS as an add-on test, enabling us to recruit a significantly higher number of patients compared to published studies.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
200

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2021

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 11, 2017

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 15, 2017

Completed
3.6 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2021

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

May 14, 2020

Status Verified

May 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

May 11, 2017

Last Update Submit

May 12, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

necabdominal ultrasoundabdominal radiographpreterm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Intervention time

    The time required to initiate conservative and/or surgical treatment after diagnosing NEC with AR versus AR and AUS

    until 40 weeks of post-conceptional age

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Sensitivity and specificity

    until 40 weeks of post-conceptual age

Study Arms (2)

Plain abdominal radiograph (AR)

After meeting enrolment criteria each patient will have an AR performed. One image will be obtained with a vertical beam and a horizontal beam, with the patient supine.

Diagnostic Test: Plain abdominal radiographyDiagnostic Test: Abdominal ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasound (AUS)

If plain abdominal radiography is inconclusive or no abnormalities typical for NEC are recorded, an AUS will be ordered.

Diagnostic Test: Plain abdominal radiographyDiagnostic Test: Abdominal ultrasound

Interventions

After meeting enrolment criteria each patient will have an AR performed. One image will be obtained with a vertical beam and a horizontal beam, with the patient supine.

Abdominal ultrasound (AUS)Plain abdominal radiograph (AR)
Abdominal ultrasoundDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

If the AR is inconclusive or no abnormalities typical for NEC are recorded, an AUS will be ordered.

Abdominal ultrasound (AUS)Plain abdominal radiograph (AR)

Eligibility Criteria

Age22 Weeks - 32 Weeks
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)
Sampling MethodProbability Sample
Study Population

In this single-gate study we plan to include all consecutive preterm infants (born at \<32 weeks of gestation) with suspected necrotizing enterocolitis based on the presence of at least three of the above mentioned clinical symptoms 4-7:

You may qualify if:

  • Abdominal distension
  • Visible bowels loops
  • Feeding intolerance (defined as emesis ≥ 2 consecutive feeds, or gastric residuals of \>50% per feed in ≥ 2 consecutive feeds, bilious residuals, bilious emesis)
  • Temperature instability (defined as ≥ 2 consecutive measurements)
  • Frank bloody stools
  • Cardiovascular instability (hypotension; defined as MAP \< 30mmHg, tachycardia \>160/' or bradycardia \< 80/')
  • Recurrent apnea
  • Increase of abdominal girth \> 2cm (allowing inter-observer variability of 1 cm) within 12 h
  • Abdominal wall erythemia
  • And/or at least 2 of the below laboratory findings5:
  • Thrombocytopenia \< 50 x103/uL
  • Leukopenia \<6 x106/uL
  • CRP \> 10 mg/L
  • PCT \> 1 ng/ml
  • Coagulopathy

You may not qualify if:

  • \< 22 weeks of gestational age or \> 32 weeks (estimated by ultrasound)
  • Congenital abnormalities
  • No parental consent

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Warsaw Medical University

Warsaw, 00-315, Poland

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Seliga-Siwecka J, Rutkowski J, Margas W, Puskarz-Gasowska J, Bokiniec R. Sensitivity and specificity of different imaging modalities in diagnosing necrotising enterocolitis in a Polish population of preterm infants: a diagnostic test accuracy study protocol. BMJ Open. 2020 Jul 20;10(7):e033519. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033519.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Enterocolitis, NecrotizingPremature Birth

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

EnterocolitisGastroenteritisGastrointestinal DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesIntestinal DiseasesObstetric Labor, PrematureObstetric Labor ComplicationsPregnancy ComplicationsFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital Diseases

Central Study Contacts

Joanna Seliga-Siwecka, MD PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Renata Bokiniec MD PhD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 11, 2017

First Posted

June 15, 2017

Study Start

January 1, 2021

Primary Completion

December 31, 2022

Study Completion

December 31, 2022

Last Updated

May 14, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-05

Locations