NCT05925959

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare preoperative intensive weight management to upfront surgery in obese patients undergoing complex abdominal wall reconstruction. The main question is will abdominal wall specific quality of life (using the HerQLes survey) for the group undergoing upfront surgery be non-inferior compared to the group in the weight management program.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
258

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
13mo left

Started Jun 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
recruiting

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

Study Progress73%
Jun 2023Jun 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 14, 2023

Completed
5 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 19, 2023

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 29, 2023

Completed
3.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2027

Last Updated

March 23, 2026

Status Verified

October 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

June 14, 2023

Last Update Submit

March 19, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Abdominal core health-specific quality of life at 1 year

    This will be measured at 1 year using the HerQLes survey which is scored from 0-100 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

    1 year

Secondary Outcomes (20)

  • Hernia recurrence at 1 year

    1 year

  • Wound morbidity at 30 days

    30 days

  • Wound morbidity at 1 year

    1 year

  • Body composition changes in weight

    1 year

  • Body composition changes in BMI

    1 year

  • +15 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Upfront Surgery

NO INTERVENTION

Preoperative Weight Management Program

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Other: Preoperative Weight Management Program

Interventions

The medical obesity intervention is comprised of monthly visits with an obesity medicine (OM) provider +/- a registered dietitian (in person or virtual). Lifestyle modifications (nutrition, physical activity, stress, sleep), appetite control, and medication side effects will be addressed in all visits. At initial visit, patients will evaluated in person by an OM provider +/- registered dietitian. An individualized intense lifestyle intervention will be implemented with the addition of an anti-obesity medication (phentermine, naltrexone/bupropion, phentermine/topiramate, liraglutide, semaglutide, etc). Medication use will be based on disease risk, patient preference, severity of obesity, contraindications, potential drug interactions and insurance coverage. A diet recommendation will be tailored to the patient's medical and food allergy history. Weight and vital signs will be monitored at each visit. Participants will have a total of 5 follow-up monthly encounters, every 30 +/- 7 days.

Preoperative Weight Management Program

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Adults having open retromuscular ventral hernia repair with an anticipated posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release and synthetic mesh
  • BMI 40-55 kg/m2 and who are not planning to pursue weight loss surgery for any of the following reasons: they are not a candidate for weight loss surgery, cannot pursue weight loss surgery for insurance reasons, or are not interested in pursuing weight loss surgery.

You may not qualify if:

  • Lack of English language fluency
  • Urgent need for repair as determined by surgeon judgement
  • Pregnant patients
  • Permanent stoma in place
  • Isolated flank hernia
  • Anticipated need for staged operation; for example, patients who will undergo a mesh excision separate from definitive reconstruction.
  • BMI \<40 or \>55 kg/m2
  • Inability to participate in the Obesity Management Program due to lack of insurance coverage or history of mental illness (including eating disorders, schizophrenia, etc.).
  • Obstructive symptoms

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

RECRUITING

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Remulla D, Miles KS, Carvalho A, Maskal SM, Butsch WS, Beffa LR, Petro CC, Krpata DM, Prabhu AS, Rosen MJ, Miller BT. Preoperative weight loss for open abdominal wall reconstruction: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Hernia. 2025 May 28;29(1):187. doi: 10.1007/s10029-025-03375-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hernia, Abdominal

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

HerniaPathological Conditions, AnatomicalPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Benjamin T Miller, MD

    The Cleveland Clinic

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Benjamin T Miller, MD

CONTACT

Erika Schmidt, MD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
The assessor of the patient reported outcomes will be blinded. Hernia recurrence will be assessed by blinded review of CT scans by 3 surgeons.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 14, 2023

First Posted

June 29, 2023

Study Start

June 19, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2027

Last Updated

March 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations