Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)

Introduction Anastomotic stricture formation is the most common postoperative complication after oesophageal atresia (OA) repair. The standard of care is endoscopic dilatation. A possible adjuvant treatment is intralesional steroid injection, which is thought to inhibit scar tissue formation and the...

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Main Authors: René M H Wijnen, Hanneke IJsselstijn, John Vlot, Manon C W Spaander, Joost van Rosmalen, Erica L T van den Akker, Marten J Poley, Karel Allegaert, Chantal A ten Kate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/12/e033030.full
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author René M H Wijnen
Hanneke IJsselstijn
John Vlot
Manon C W Spaander
Joost van Rosmalen
Erica L T van den Akker
Marten J Poley
Karel Allegaert
Chantal A ten Kate
author_facet René M H Wijnen
Hanneke IJsselstijn
John Vlot
Manon C W Spaander
Joost van Rosmalen
Erica L T van den Akker
Marten J Poley
Karel Allegaert
Chantal A ten Kate
author_sort René M H Wijnen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Anastomotic stricture formation is the most common postoperative complication after oesophageal atresia (OA) repair. The standard of care is endoscopic dilatation. A possible adjuvant treatment is intralesional steroid injection, which is thought to inhibit scar tissue formation and thereby to prevent stricture recurrence. We hypothesise that this intervention could prevent refractory strictures and reduce the total number of dilatations needed in these children.Methods and analysis This is an international multicentre randomised controlled trial. Children with OA type C (n=110) will be randomised into intralesional steroid injection followed by balloon dilatation or dilatation only. Randomisation and intervention will take place when a third dilatation is performed. The indication for dilatation will be confirmed with an oesophagram. One radiologist—blinded for randomisation—will review all oesophagrams. The primary outcome parameter is the total number of dilatations needed with <28 days’ interval, which will be analysed with a linear-by-linear χ2 association test. Secondary outcome parameters include the level of dysphagia, the luminal oesophageal diameter and stricture length (measured on the oesophagrams), the influence of comedication on stricture formation, systemic effects of intralesional steroids (cortisol levels, length and weight) and the cost-effectiveness. Patients will undergo a second oesophagram; length and weight will be measured repeatedly; a scalp hair sample will be collected; and three questionnaires will be administered. The follow-up period will be 6 months, with evaluation at 2–3 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the intervention.Ethics and dissemination Patients will be included after written parental informed consent. The risks and burden associated with this trial are minimal. The institutional review board of the Erasmus Medical Centre approved this protocol (MEC-2018–1586/NL65364.078.18). The results of the trial will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presented at international conferences.Trial registration numbers 2018-002863-24 and NTR7726/NL7484.
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spelling doaj-art-1fac472e38464090bf952c813cb5cde22025-08-20T02:49:16ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-12-0191210.1136/bmjopen-2019-033030Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)René M H Wijnen0Hanneke IJsselstijn1John Vlot2Manon C W Spaander3Joost van Rosmalen4Erica L T van den Akker5Marten J Poley6Karel Allegaert7Chantal A ten Kate84 Intensive Care and Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands4 Biostatistics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands2 Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands4Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Paediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, Erasmus University Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The NetherlandsIntroduction Anastomotic stricture formation is the most common postoperative complication after oesophageal atresia (OA) repair. The standard of care is endoscopic dilatation. A possible adjuvant treatment is intralesional steroid injection, which is thought to inhibit scar tissue formation and thereby to prevent stricture recurrence. We hypothesise that this intervention could prevent refractory strictures and reduce the total number of dilatations needed in these children.Methods and analysis This is an international multicentre randomised controlled trial. Children with OA type C (n=110) will be randomised into intralesional steroid injection followed by balloon dilatation or dilatation only. Randomisation and intervention will take place when a third dilatation is performed. The indication for dilatation will be confirmed with an oesophagram. One radiologist—blinded for randomisation—will review all oesophagrams. The primary outcome parameter is the total number of dilatations needed with <28 days’ interval, which will be analysed with a linear-by-linear χ2 association test. Secondary outcome parameters include the level of dysphagia, the luminal oesophageal diameter and stricture length (measured on the oesophagrams), the influence of comedication on stricture formation, systemic effects of intralesional steroids (cortisol levels, length and weight) and the cost-effectiveness. Patients will undergo a second oesophagram; length and weight will be measured repeatedly; a scalp hair sample will be collected; and three questionnaires will be administered. The follow-up period will be 6 months, with evaluation at 2–3 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the intervention.Ethics and dissemination Patients will be included after written parental informed consent. The risks and burden associated with this trial are minimal. The institutional review board of the Erasmus Medical Centre approved this protocol (MEC-2018–1586/NL65364.078.18). The results of the trial will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and will be presented at international conferences.Trial registration numbers 2018-002863-24 and NTR7726/NL7484.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/12/e033030.full
spellingShingle René M H Wijnen
Hanneke IJsselstijn
John Vlot
Manon C W Spaander
Joost van Rosmalen
Erica L T van den Akker
Marten J Poley
Karel Allegaert
Chantal A ten Kate
Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
BMJ Open
title Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
title_full Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
title_fullStr Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
title_full_unstemmed Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
title_short Intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia: study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (STEPS-EA trial)
title_sort intralesional steroid injections to prevent refractory strictures in patients with oesophageal atresia study protocol for an international multicentre randomised controlled trial steps ea trial
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/12/e033030.full
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