Laparoscopic Antibiotic Lavage to Prevent Intra-abdominal Abscess Formation in Complicated Appendicitis
ALPACA
1 other identifier
interventional
752
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute surgical admission. Presently, two types of appendicitis are distinguished: complicated and uncomplicated (phlegmonous). Complicated appendicitis (CA) is defined as gangrenous and/or perforated appendicitis and/or appendicitis with an intra-abdominal or pelvic abscess. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the preferential mode of surgical treatment. However, development of an intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) remains an important and clinically relevant complication following appendectomy, especially in complicated appendicitis. Although patients with complicated appendicitis receive postoperative intravenous antibiotics, the incidence of IAA remains considerable. The reported incidence of IAA in children and adults with CA is 7.9% - 24%. We recently reported an IAA rate of 12.3% after laparoscopic appendectomy for CA in our own institution. Patients with IAA are readmitted and treated with either antibiotics, image-guided percutaneous drainage, surgical reintervention, or a combination of these treatments. Furthermore, IAA represents a considerable burden for the healthcare system with high readmission rates and reinterventions, prolonged hospital stay, and therefore increased medical costs. Intra operative techniques aiming at more effective infection source control represent a clinically relevant area of investigation. Laparoscopic antibiotic lavage represents a promising concept in order to reduce intra-abdominal abscess formation. Antibiotic lavage is mainly known for the treatment of peritoneal dialysis associated peritonitis. Several studies show promising results of antibiotic peritoneal lavage on the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) including IAA in patients with CA. However, these studies were retrospective or conducted in a small number of patients who underwent an open appendectomy while high quality randomized controlled trials have not been performed yet. The aim of the ALPACA study is to evaluate the effect of laparoscopic antibiotic peritoneal lavage with gentamicin / clindamycin for 3 minutes after appendectomy on the incidence of IAA in patients with CA.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for phase_3
Started Feb 2025
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Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 1, 2025
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
February 3, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
February 21, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
May 1, 2027
February 21, 2025
February 1, 2025
2.1 years
February 3, 2025
February 18, 2025
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
The incidence of intra-abdominal abscess (IAA)
Within 30 days follow-up
Secondary Outcomes (15)
The number of participants with wound infections measured by tracking any wound complications that these patients have and comparing the incidence between treatment arms
Within 90-days follow-up
The type of treatment for the intra-abdominal abscess, consisting of percutaneous (radiological drainage), surgical drainage, antibiotic treatment or observation only
Within 90-days follow-up
Microbial cultures of intra-operative aspirate, based on cultures
Within 90-days follow-up
Operating time
From the moment of start surgery (the incision) to wound closure.
Readmission rate
Within 90-days follow-up
- +10 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Laparoscopic antibiotic lavage
EXPERIMENTALControl group
NO INTERVENTIONInterventions
Peritoneal antibiotic lavage using a solution of gentamicin/clindamycin in NaCl 0.9%.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- All patients ≥ 8 years with a preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis either with or without clinical or radiological suspicion of CA undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy for intra-operative confirmed CA that can provide a signed written consent form.
You may not qualify if:
- Age under 8 years;
- Not able to give informed consent (language barrier, legally incapable)
- Any contraindication for the use of the study medication:
- Hypersensitivity to clindamycin or to any of the excipients benzyl alcohol, sodium edetate, water, or to lincomycin;
- Hypersensitivity to gentamicin or to sodium metabisulfite: particularly in asthmatic patients, this may trigger bronchospasms and anaphylactic shock or to any of the excipients: disodium edetate, sodium hydroxide, sodium metabisulfite (E223), water for injections;
- Severe sepsis defined as sepsis-induced tissue hypoperfusion or organ dysfunction that includes any of the following thought to be caused by the infection:
- Sepsis-induced hypotension
- Lactate above upper limits laboratory normal
- Urine output \<0.5 mL/kg/h for more than 2h despite adequate fluid resuscitation
- Acute lung injury with PaO2/FiO2 \<250 in the absence of pneumonia as infection source
- Acute lung injury with PaO2/FiO2 \<200 in the presence of pneumonia as infection source
- Creatinine \>2.0 mg/dL (176.8 μmol/L)
- Bilirubin \>2mg/dL (34.2 μmol/L)
- Platelet count \< 100,000 μL
- Coagulopathy (international normalized ratio (INR) \> 1.5);
- +7 more criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 3
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
February 3, 2025
First Posted
February 21, 2025
Study Start
February 1, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
March 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
May 1, 2027
Last Updated
February 21, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-02