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CompletedNCT02507414Updated Oct 5, 2016

Mesenteric Traction Syndrome During Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

An interventional study of Blood samples and Measurement of microcirculation in Gastrointestinal Neoplasms and Mesenteric Traction Syndrome, sponsored by Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2016-10-05.

Sponsored by Rigshospitalet, Denmark · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
75
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

It is the hypothesis of this project that the Mesenteric Traction Syndrome (MTS) is a common event during upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery (UGC surgery) and that the induction of the syndrome is an important factor in provoking further peri- and postoperative complications and in worsening the surgical stress response (SSR). The characteristics of MTS is hypotension, tachycardia, and flushing.

In order to uncover the role of MTS in cancer surgery and the effects on the oncological patients, the aim of the project is:

  1. To characterize MTS in patients undergoing three common forms of UGC surgery using a new objective methodology and by recording biomarkers suspected of playing a role in the pathophysiology of MTS and postoperative complication development.

Three different interventions will be examined during this prospective trial:

  1. Continuous measurement of microcirculation on the forehead using Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging during surgery.
  2. Analyses of plasma samples obtained pre-, intra-, and one day postoperatively.
  3. Continuous measurements of haemodynamic variables during surgery.
Read the detailed description

Background

Surgical procedures for upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGC) induce a considerable risk of morbidity and mortality, and more than half of all UGC patients die within one year of diagnosis. Radical surgery is crucial to survival, but is associated with a high risk of complications which contributes to a poor long-term prognosis. Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, postoperative complications frequently occur.

An essential part of gastrointestinal cancer surgery is the reconstruction of the digestive tract by forming a gut-to-gut reconnection, an anastomosis. Especially during UGC surgery this reconstructive anastomosis is at high risk of insufficient healing and can thus leak intestinal contents into the surrounding tissues, causing life-threatening infections. Development of measures that can reduce the perioperative complications in these vulnerable patients is therefore of vital importance

Patients undergoing surgery for UGC are subjected to a substantial trauma reaction termed the surgical stress response (SSR). SSR is characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the endocrine system, as well as by immunological and hematological responses leading to hypotension, systemic and local inflammation. In addition, surgical stress can cause immunosuppression in response to the complex interaction of various hormones, cytokines and acute phase reactants. Furthermore, it has recently been reported that perioperative immunosuppression increases the incidence of cancer recurrence, growth of metastases and reduces survival.

A contributing factor to SSR, and possibly most importantly, to the rate of postoperative complications, may be the mesenteric traction syndrome (MTS). MTS arises when the organs of the abdomen are manipulated during surgery. One of the main symptoms is substantial circulatory changes (hypotension, tachycardia and subsequent flushing), which can potentially lead to surgical complications.

Hypothesis and aim

It is the hypothesis of this project that the Mesenteric Traction Syndrome (MTS) is a common event during UGC-surgery and that the induction of the syndrome is an important factor in provoking further peri- and postoperative complications and in worsening the SSR. In order to uncover the role of MTS in cancer surgery and the effects on the oncological patients, the aim of the project is:

To characterize MTS in patients undergoing three common forms of UGC surgery using a new objective methodology and by recording biomarkers suspected of playing a role in the pathophysiology of MTS and postoperative development of complications.

Methods

75 patients undergoing UGC surgery (25 each of the three most common cancer types of UGC) will be included. This study will use a novel skin flushing measuring method called laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) to measure skin blood flow of the forehead. LSCI is a real-time and non-touch measuring device capable of measuring blood flow on a large field surface (15 cm x 20 cm). In parallel, inflammatory and hormonal stress biomarkers considered to be associated with SSR, will be measured. In this study, it is hypothesized, that by correlating a new method of quantifiable flushing measurement and known biomarkers, it is possible to relate the extent of flushing to the severity of hypotension and MTS and by proxy the extent of complications.

Furthermore, the participants will be exposed to head down tilt at three pre defined time points with subsequent monitoring of haemodynamics and SSR. This intervention is done to assess the patients' fluid status in the end of surgery as well as postoperatively, as hypovolemia is associated with postoperative complications.

Statistics

The incidence of MTS in UGC patients was previously unknown and power calculations was performed based on previous reported cases of MTS during abdominal surgery (incidence of 30% and 85%). 15 patients are required in each group in order to obtain a statistical power greater than 0.90 with an α-level of \< 0.05,. Groups of 25 patients are therefore chosen to ensure statistical significance.

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Conditions studied

  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
  • Mesenteric Traction Syndrome

Keywords

  • Mesenteric Traction Syndrome
  • Upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery
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In context

Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

779 studies on the registry are indexed under Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; 231 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 75 is above the median of 60 across 569 interventional studies indexed under Gastrointestinal Neoplasms.

Browse Gastrointestinal Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Rigshospitalet, Denmark is the lead sponsor of 1,017 studies on the registry; 183 are open to participants now.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • patients under going either whipple's procedure, liver resection, or gastric resection.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Robotic assisted procedures
  • Lack of informed consent
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Diagnostic
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
75 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group 1

    Patients under going Whipple's procedure, gastric resection and liver resection (n=75). Interventions: Blood samples obtained pre-, intra-, and one day postoperatively (n=15). Measurements of microcirculation using LSCI from procedure start and up to 60 min during surgery. Head down tilt of 20 degrees at three time points.

    Other: Blood samples · Other: Measurement of microcirculation · Other: Head down tilt

Interventions

  • OtherBlood samples

    15 arterial blood samples (pre-, intra- and one day postoperatively); no more than 180ml in total over two days.

  • OtherMeasurement of microcirculation

    Measurement of microcirculation with Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (non-touch setup with no side effects); continuous measurement of the microvascular blood flow on the forehead up to 60 minutes starting one minute before the surgical procedure.

    Also known as: LSCI

  • OtherHead down tilt

    At three different time points the participants will be head down tilted in 20 degrees. End of surgery (A) One hour postoperatively (B) 18 hours postoperatively (C)

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Relative changes in plasma-hormone concentrations (pro-ANP, PGF2, GLP-1, ACTH, cortisone, adrenaline, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alfa and CRP (stress hormones)) from baseline.

    A: the day before the surgical procedure B: After induction of anaesthesia (baseline) C: 5 min intraoperatively D: 15 min intraoperatively E: 30 min intraoperatively F: 60 min intraoperatively G: 90 min intraoperatively H: 120 min intraoperatively I: 180 min intraoperatively J: Procedure ending K: 5 min after head down tilt (1) L: One hour after surgery M: 5 min after head down tilt (2) N: 18 hours postoperatively O: 5 min after head down tilt (3)

    Time frame: 15 blood samples obtained pre-, intra-, and 18 hours postoperatively

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative complications

    All complications will be registered on every postoperative day until discharge.

    Time frame: Participants will be followed during the hospital stay, with an expected average of ten days

  2. Relative changes in heart rate from baseline measured in beats per minute

    The variable will be obtained during the surgical procedure using modelflow (Nexfin, BMEYE B.V. Amsterdam, Holland)

    Time frame: Continuous measurements intra- and postoperatively.

  3. Relative changes in microcirculation from baseline during surgery measured in flux-units

    Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) is a real-time and non-touch measuring device capable of measuring blood flow on a large field surface (0.5 cm x 0.7 cm up to 15 cm x 20 cm). The infrared LSCI camera is placed at a distance of 20-30 cm and measures the relative flow (flux) at a depth of 1-2 mm by infrared light reflected from circulating erythrocytes in the micro-vessels. The technique will be used for quantifying facial flushing (i.e. increased blood flow to the facial region) during the first hour of surgery, when the MTS is frequently observed.

    Time frame: A continuous measurement starting one minute prior to the surgical procedure and terminates after 60 minutes.

  4. 30-days and 90-days mortality

    Time frame: 30-days and 90-days mortality

  5. Length of stay

    Time frame: Expected time frame of 10 days in average.

  6. Relative changes in median arterial pressure from baseline measured in mmHg

    The variable will be obtained during the surgical procedure using modelflow (Nexfin, BMEYE B.V. Amsterdam, Holland)

    Time frame: Continuous measurements intra- and postoperatively.

  7. Relative changes in cardiac output from baseline measured in litres per minute

    The variable will be obtained during the surgical procedure using modelflow (Nexfin, BMEYE B.V. Amsterdam, Holland)

    Time frame: Continuous measurements intra- and postoperatively.

  8. Relative changes in systemic vascular resistance from baseline measured in dyn.s/cm5

    The variable will be obtained during the surgical procedure using modelflow (Nexfin, BMEYE B.V. Amsterdam, Holland)

    Time frame: Continuous measurements intra- and postoperatively.

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Publications

  • Rizk NP, Bach PB, Schrag D, Bains MS, Turnbull AD, Karpeh M, Brennan MF, Rusch VW. The impact of complications on outcomes after resection for esophageal and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma. J Am Coll Surg. 2004 Jan;198(1):42-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2003.08.007. PubMed 14698310 ↗
  • Biere SS, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Maas KW, Bonavina L, Rosman C, Garcia JR, Gisbertz SS, Klinkenbijl JH, Hollmann MW, de Lange ES, Bonjer HJ, van der Peet DL, Cuesta MA. Minimally invasive versus open oesophagectomy for patients with oesophageal cancer: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012 May 19;379(9829):1887-92. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60516-9. Epub 2012 May 1. PubMed 22552194 ↗
  • Giannoudis PV, Dinopoulos H, Chalidis B, Hall GM. Surgical stress response. Injury. 2006 Dec;37 Suppl 5:S3-9. doi: 10.1016/S0020-1383(07)70005-0. Erratum In: Injury. 2007 Oct;38(10):1224. PubMed 17338909 ↗
  • Kehlet H. The stress response to surgery: release mechanisms and the modifying effect of pain relief. Acta Chir Scand Suppl. 1989;550:22-8. PubMed 2652970 ↗
  • Pham TH, Perry KA, Enestvedt CK, Gareau D, Dolan JP, Sheppard BC, Jacques SL, Hunter JG. Decreased conduit perfusion measured by spectroscopy is associated with anastomotic complications. Ann Thorac Surg. 2011 Feb;91(2):380-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.10.006. PubMed 21256274 ↗
  • Avgerinos DV, Theoharides TC. Mesenteric traction syndrome or gut in distress. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2005 Apr-Jun;18(2):195-9. doi: 10.1177/039463200501800202. PubMed 15888243 ↗
  • Seltzer JL, Ritter DE, Starsnic MA, Marr AT. The hemodynamic response to traction on the abdominal mesentery. Anesthesiology. 1985 Jul;63(1):96-9. doi: 10.1097/00000542-198507000-00015. No abstract available. PubMed 4014775 ↗
  • Mythen MG, Webb AR. Intra-operative gut mucosal hypoperfusion is associated with increased post-operative complications and cost. Intensive Care Med. 1994;20(2):99-104. doi: 10.1007/BF01707662. PubMed 8201106 ↗
  • Ceppa EP, Fuh KC, Bulkley GB. Mesenteric hemodynamic response to circulatory shock. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2003 Apr;9(2):127-32. doi: 10.1097/00075198-200304000-00008. PubMed 12657975 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 5, 2016, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02507414
Lead sponsor
Rigshospitalet, Denmark
Collaborators
Danish Cancer Society
Responsible party
Rikard Ambrus (MD, Rigshospitalet, Denmark) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 24, 2015
Start date
Aug 2014
Primary completion
Sep 2016
Completion
Sep 2016
Last update
Oct 5, 2016

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
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