NCT06841003

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

65
Monitor

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
752

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
12mo left

Started Feb 2025

Status
not yet recruiting

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

Study Progress56%
Feb 2025May 2027

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 1, 2025

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 3, 2025

Completed
18 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 21, 2025

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2027

Expected
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2027

Last Updated

February 21, 2025

Status Verified

February 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.1 years

First QC Date

February 3, 2025

Last Update Submit

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

EXPERIMENTAL
Drug: Laparoscopic antibiotic peritoneal lavage with gentamicin / clindamycin

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Peritoneal antibiotic lavage using a solution of gentamicin/clindamycin in NaCl 0.9%.

Laparoscopic antibiotic lavage

Eligibility Criteria

Age8 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

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

Abdominal Abscess

Interventions

GentamicinsClindamycin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AbscessSuppurationInfections

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AminoglycosidesGlycosidesCarbohydratesLincomycinLincosamidesPyrrolidinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic Compounds

Central Study Contacts

Emeline Gebro, Master of science degree

CONTACT

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