NCT03583931

Brief Summary

This study aims to standardize the treatment of pleural space (parapneumonic) infections by comparing the difference in outcomes between 2 methods of treatment: early VATS (Video Assisted Thorascopic Surgery) decortication versus fibrinolytic therapy. During treatment, the patient's coagulopathy status will also be evaluated.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
10

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2018

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

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

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 11, 2018

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 12, 2018

Completed
14 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 26, 2018

Completed
1.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 2, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

February 2, 2020

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 27, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

January 27, 2022

Status Verified

November 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

1.5 years

First QC Date

May 11, 2018

Results QC Date

August 2, 2021

Last Update Submit

November 19, 2021

Conditions

Keywords

VATS DecorticationSurgical Pleural DecorticationFibrinolytic TherapyPneumoniaThoracostomy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Hospital Length of Stay

    How long the patient remains admitted in the hospital during their index hospitalization

    From patient's admission to hospital to their discharge, (excluding extended stay due to social work reasons) up to 28 days or discharge, which ever comes first.

Secondary Outcomes (11)

  • ICU Free Days

    From admission to discharge, or for 28 days, whichever comes first.

  • Chest Tube Days

    From admission to discharge, or for 28 days, whichever comes first.

  • Cost of Admission and Treatment

    From admission to discharge, or for 28 days, whichever comes first.

  • Pain Score

    From admission to discharge, or for 28 days, whichever comes first.

  • Chest Tube Drainage

    From admission to discharge, or for 28 days, whichever comes first.

  • +6 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Operative VATS decortication

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Operative group that will undergo early VATS decortication of complicated parapneumonic effusion/empyema

Procedure: VATS Decortication

Non-operative Fibrinolytic Therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Non-operative group that will undergo instillation of the drugs DNAse and tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) together i.e. 5mg DNAse and 10mg tPA twice a day for up to six doses, through chest tube as treatment of the patient's complicated parapneumonic effusion/empyema. Fibrinolytic therapy = DNAse + tPA; these medications are not mutually exclusive.

Drug: Fibrinolytic Therapy

Interventions

Surgical procedure to unroof all located collections of the pleural space through a chest wall incision

Operative VATS decortication

Instillation of DNAse and tPA together through patient's chest tube already in placed to break down complex fluid collection in the pleural space. DNAse and tPA are are administered together only i.e. are not mutually exclusive.

Also known as: DNAse / tPA combination therapy.
Non-operative Fibrinolytic Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • years old and older
  • Admitted with pleural effusion that undergoes thoracentesis by medical/pulmonary service
  • Pleural fluid pH \<7.3
  • SICU placed chest tube
  • Subsequent transfer to SICU

You may not qualify if:

  • Existing malignancy
  • Malignant cells from initial pleural fluid sample
  • End stage liver disease (Child's B or greater)
  • Coagulopathy
  • Unable to tolerate surgical procedure
  • Frank purulent drainage (needs OR regardless)
  • Recent surgery of abdomen or thorax precluding the use of tPA
  • Baseline neurologic impairment requiring a proxy for consent

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Denver Health

Denver, Colorado, 80204, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Barrett CD, Moore PK, Moore EE, Moore HB, Chandler JG, Siddiqui H, Maginot ER, Sauaia A, Perez-Calatayud AA, Buesing K, Wang J, Davila-Chapa C, Hershberger D, Douglas I, Pieracci FM, Yaffe MB. Neutrophil-Mediated Inflammatory Plasminogen Degradation, Rather Than High Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor-1, May Underly Failures and Inefficiencies of Intrapleural Fibrinolysis. Chest. 2025 Jan;167(1):67-75. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2024.04.005. Epub 2024 May 6.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Empyema, PleuralHemostatic DisordersPneumonia

Interventions

Thrombolytic TherapyDeoxyribonucleases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiratory Tract InfectionsInfectionsEmpyemaSuppurationPleural DiseasesRespiratory Tract DiseasesInflammationPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsVascular DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesHemorrhagic DisordersHematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesLung Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Drug TherapyTherapeuticsEsterasesHydrolasesEnzymesEnzymes and Coenzymes

Limitations and Caveats

Potential limitations to this study include a small sample size.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr Fredric Pieracci
Organization
Denver Health and Hospital Authority

Study Officials

  • Fredric Pieracci, MD, MPH

    Denver Health and Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 11, 2018

First Posted

July 12, 2018

Study Start

July 26, 2018

Primary Completion

February 2, 2020

Study Completion

February 2, 2020

Last Updated

January 27, 2022

Results First Posted

January 27, 2022

Record last verified: 2021-11

Locations