ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02052063Compli-STARRUpdated Apr 16, 2026

Does the Stapled Transanal Rectal Resection (STARR Procedure) Has an Effect on Anal Compliance ?

An interventional study of stapled transanal rectal resection and Anal compliance measure with Endoflip system in Rectocele, Intussusception and Surgery, sponsored by University Hospital, Rouen. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-16.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Rouen · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
9
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) has recently been recommended for patients with obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) caused by rectocele and rectal wall intussusception.

The aim of STARR is to correct the mechanical outlet obstruction using a stapler device for endorectal resection of the distal rectum.

This technique significantly improves constipation. However, there are several reports of new-onset faecal incontinence after STARR and urgency has been identified as the major side-effect of this procedure.

Although this technique has become an important surgical option in the treatment of obstructive defaecation syndrome, its impact on continence can be problematic and objective data about parameters that predict its result are not yet available One study evaluated the anal function after surgery in 30 patients. In this study, urgency or incontinence was complained by 26% of patients. No sonographically demonstrable sphincter fragmentations were noticed in the endoanal exam performed at the follow-up.

No significant difference was observed in anorectal manometry. Even if data are not statistically significant, resting and squeezing pressures are lower in those patients not satisfied.

Currently, anal canal pressure measurements using ano-rectal manometry are the most common means of assessment of sphincter function. Some studies have been looking at the concept of distending sphincter regions as a better measure of its performance.

The functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) is a novel technique which has the ability to provide real-time images of the function of human gastrointestinal sphincter during distension. This distensibility technique provides an important new way of studying the anal canal and hence may have a role in testing sphincter competence in patients with disorders after STARR procedure.

Twenty-eight patients will be enrolled in this study over a period of 36 months.

Preoperative assessment will include

  • clinical examination
  • the Wexner Incontinence Score and the Faecal Incontinence Quality-of-Life Index (FIQL) to rate anal incontinence
  • video defecography, anorectal manometry, anal ultrasound (AUS) and measure of anal sphincter distensibility using endoFLIP Follow-up evaluation will scheduled for 3 months after surgery, and will include symptom evaluation (using the same standard questionnaires for incontinence), clinical examination and investigation using anal ultrasound and endoFLIP.

If we demonstrate that this surgical technique can cause anal lesions with decreased sphincter competence, this may lead to a modification of the surgical technique especially in patients at risk of developing postoperative anal incontinence.

02

Conditions studied

  • Rectocele
  • Intussusception
  • Surgery
  • Sphincter Ani Incontinence

Keywords

  • rectocele
  • intussusception
  • surgery
03

In context

Rectocele

50 studies on the registry are indexed under Rectocele; 9 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 9 is below the median of 62 across 37 interventional studies indexed under Rectocele.

Browse Rectocele studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Rouen is the lead sponsor of 418 studies on the registry; 106 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients >18 years old
  • Patient is not under any type of guardianship
  • Patient has a rectocele > 3 cm during defecography
  • Patient has persistent defecatory troubles despite medical treatment (laxatives for at least 1 month)
  • Patient received information and signed the consent form
  • Patients having social security coverage

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient has an asymptomatic rectocele
  • Patient with an enterocele at rest upon defecography, with opacification of the small bowel
  • Faecal incontinence
  • Anal sphincter insufficiency detected by rectal manometry
  • Patient with non-rehabilitated anorectal asynchrony
  • Patient has previously had rectal surgery or pelvic radiotherapy
  • Patient has a anal or rectal lesion, intestinal inflammatory disease
  • Anal or rectal tumor
  • subjects
  • Positive pregnancy test, by urine
  • Psychological condition which would impair participation in the study
  • Coagulation disorders
  • Patients using anticoagulants
  • Participation in any other device or drug study within 30 days prior to enrollment.
  • Patient cannot read French
  • Patient is under any type of guardianship
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Enrollment
9 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Surgery

    Patient who undergone stapled transanal rectal resection for rectocele. Anal compliance will be evaluated before and starting the surgery using endoflip system

    Device: stapled transanal rectal resection · Device: Anal compliance measure with Endoflip system

Interventions

  • Devicestapled transanal rectal resection

    transanal rectal resection using staple will be done for rectocele

    Also known as: transanal rectal resection using staple

  • DeviceAnal compliance measure with Endoflip system

    Anal compliance will be measured using Endoflip system

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Comparison of anal sphincter distensibility

    Comparison of anal sphincter distensibility before and 3 months after surgery with cross-sectional area and intra-balloon pressure. The device used is Endoflip system

    Time frame: Month 3

Secondary outcomes

  1. Comparison of Faecal Incontinence Quality-of-Life Index (FIQL) before and 3 months after surgery

    Comparison of Faecal Incontinence Quality-of-Life Index (FIQL) before and 3 months after surgery

    Time frame: Month 3

  2. Comparison of radiological data (Anal ultrasound)

    Comparison of radiological data (Anal ultrasound) before and 3 months after surgery Endo-rectal Brüel and Kjaer echographic probe will be used to compare radiological data (conventional endo-rectal echography)

    Time frame: Month 3

  3. Comparison of Cleveland Clinic Incontinence score (CCIS) before and 3 months after surgery

    Comparison between Cleveland Clinic Incontinence score (CCIS)

    Time frame: Month 3

07

Study locations

1 site
  • UH Rouen
    Rouen, 76031, France
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Desprez C, Melchior C, Gourcerol G, Tuech JJ, Houivet E, Leroi AM, Bridoux V. Assessment of anal sphincter distensibility following the STARR procedure: a pilot study. Acta Chir Belg. 2020 Jun;120(3):198-201. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2019.1693156. Epub 2019 Nov 21. PubMed 31738687 ↗
09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Sep 2014 to primary completion in Sep 2018, 48 months.

Of 16 interventional studies with no phase under Rectocele, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 38. This study's 48 months is above that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jan 27, 2014
First posted
Jan 31, 2014
StartActual
Sep 5, 2014
Primary completionActual
Sep 5, 2018
CompletionActual
Sep 5, 2018
Last update
Apr 16, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 16, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02052063
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 31, 2014
Start date
Sep 5, 2014
Primary completion
Sep 5, 2018
Completion
Sep 5, 2018
Last update
Apr 16, 2026

Study contacts

Valérie BRIDOUX, MD
principal investigator · UH Rouen

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion