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TerminatedNCT03006562PREVENTERUpdated Aug 5, 2020Results posted

PREvention of VENous ThromboEmbolism Following Radical Prostatectomy

A Phase 4 interventional study of Subcutaneous Heparin in Prostate Cancer, Venous Thromboembolism and Lymphocele After Surgical Procedure, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 100 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-08-05.

Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University · Phase 4, Interventional, and Prevention

Why this study was terminated
Early stopping point based on 2nd interim analysis (planned per protocol)
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
501
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 100 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

The PREVENTER Trial aims to compare the use of perioperative pharmacologic prophylaxis (subcutaneous heparin) with intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPCs) to the use of IPCs alone for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Read the detailed description

The PREVENTER Trial aims to compare the use of perioperative pharmacologic prophylaxis (subcutaneous heparin) with intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPCs) to the use of IPCs alone for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after radical prostatectomy (RP). Currently, there is no standard practice for VTE prophylaxis after RP with the American Urological Association recommending "pharmacological or pneumatic mechanical prophylaxis" for high risk patients. Prior studies showed 30% of patients in the United States received no perioperative prophylaxis and less than 20% received pharmacologic agents, compared to 98% of patients receiving pharmacologic prophylaxis in the United Kingdom. Some urologists prescribe patients low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) after discharge for up to 30 days after surgery. Additionally, there are no established risks of pharmacologic prophylaxis for RP patients, but some urologists express concern about the potential impact of prophylaxis on the rate of postoperative lymphoceles or hematomas. At Johns Hopkins, patients do not routinely receive pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis in the perioperative setting for RP. Given the lack of standard practice and implications for patient safety, the investigators propose a prospective, stratified randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of perioperative pharmacologic prophylaxis on VTE following RP hypothesizing that it will prevent VTE events without significantly impacting the rate of postoperative bleeding or lymphoceles. The potential impact of surveillance bias with differential imaging between arms, effect of lymphadenectomy (yes/no and number of noted removed) or surgical approach (robotic and open), and differences by patients risk (comorbidity and VTE risk based on components of the Caprini score) or demographics will be assessed.

02

Conditions studied

  • Prostate Cancer
  • Venous Thromboembolism
  • Lymphocele After Surgical Procedure
  • Deep Venous Thrombosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism
03

In context

Lymphocele

27 studies on the registry are indexed under Lymphocele; 3 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 501 is above the median of 100 across 24 interventional studies indexed under Lymphocele.

Browse Lymphocele studies →

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University is the lead sponsor of 1,783 studies on the registry; 313 are open to participants now.

Of its 203 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 140 (69%) have results posted.

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

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 100 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Men 18-100 years of age with histologically confirmed prostate cancer of any stage undergoing RP
  • Patients who would have otherwise been eligible to receive routine post-RP care

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active treatment for VTE
  • Patients judged by patients' urologist, primary care doctor, or in the preoperative evaluation center (PEC) to be unsafe to forgo pharmacologic prophylaxis or systemic anticoagulation postoperatively (whether or not patients are on systematic anticoagulation for indications other than VTE)
  • Known adverse reactions to heparin (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia or any allergy)
  • Epidural analgesia
  • Spinal anesthesia
  • Participation in a different trial that increases a patient's risk of VTE
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Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
501 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Subcutaneous Heparin

    Patients randomized to the pharmacologic VTE prophylaxis arm will receive a dose of subcutaneous heparin 5,000 units prior to incision, and subcutaneous heparin 5,000 units every 8 hours after surgery until discharge.

    Drug: Subcutaneous Heparin

  • No intervention
    Control

    Patients randomized to the control arm will receive routine care with intermittent pneumatic compression devices.

Interventions

  • DrugSubcutaneous Heparin

    5,000 units of subcutaneous heparin before surgery and then every 8 hours after surgery until discharge from the hospital.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism

    Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The primary outcome is diagnosis of DVT or PE within 30 days after surgery due to imaging (any method, most commonly lower extremity ultrasound or computed tomography scan with pulmonary embolus protocol) prompted by symptoms of a DVT (lower extremity swelling, pain, fever of unknown origin) or PE (chest pain, shortness of breath, hypoxemia, tachycardia or fever of unknown origin, productive cough with bloody sputum).

    Time frame: 30 days

  2. Number of Participants With Symptomatic Postoperative Fluid Collection

    This outcome is defined as a surgical or pelvic fluid collection diagnosed as a hematoma (blood collection, with or without infection) or lymphocele (collection of lymph fluid in the pelvis) due to symptoms (fever, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, anemia, high surgical drain output) within 30 days after surgery.

    Time frame: 30 days

  3. Number of Participants With Major Postoperative Bleeding

    This additional primary outcome includes the development and diagnosis of any major clinically recognized bleeding event within 30 days after surgery requiring \>1 unit of packed red blood cell transfusion, intervention to stop bleeding, or return to the operating room.

    Time frame: 30 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Occurrence of Any Venous Thromboembolism

    DVT or PE diagnosed for any reason within 30 days after surgery. This includes any diagnosed DVT or PE as described in the primary outcome plus any additional DVTs or PEs diagnosed at 30 day screening lower extremity ultrasound for patients opting to undergo screening bilateral lower extremity Duplex ultrasound at 30 days who do not have symptoms.

    Time frame: 30 days

  2. Estimated Blood Loss During Surgery

    The total recorded intraoperative estimated blood loss in milliliters reported at the end of the surgery.

    Time frame: During surgery (usually between 2-3 hours of operative time)

  3. Surgical Drain Output After Surgery

    The total output in milliliters from any surgical drain left in place (not all patients will necessarily have a surgical drain) after surgery and until discharge from the hospital (usually 1 to 2 days). Drain output, if one is left in place after discharge, will not count toward this secondary outcome.

    Time frame: Over length of stay in hospital (usually 1 to 2 days)

  4. Surveillance Bias by Differential Use of Imaging as Assessed by Number of Participants Receiving Postoperative Diagnostic Imaging for Venous Thromboembolism Relative to Symptoms

    Patients in each arm receiving postoperative diagnostic imaging for venous thromboembolism relative to symptoms (e.g. lower extremity Duplex ultrasound, spiral CT angiography, V/Q scan).

    Time frame: 30 days

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Results

Posted Feb 28, 2020
Limitations and caveats
The study met a futility end point at the 2nd interim analysis (pre-planned in the study protocol) leading to an appropriate decision for early closure and termination rather than continuing to planned enrollment of N=666.

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Started251250
Voluntary ultrasound at 30 days141137
Completed251249
Not completed01
Withdrew: Lost to follow-up01

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants With Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The primary outcome is diagnosis of DVT or PE within 30 days after surgery due to imaging (any method, most commonly lower extremity ultrasound or computed tomography scan with pulmonary embolus protocol) prompted by symptoms of a DVT (lower extremity swelling, pain, fever of unknown origin) or PE (chest pain, shortness of breath, hypoxemia, tachycardia or fever of unknown origin, productive cough with bloody sputum).

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism
ParticipantsSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Number of Participants With Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism25
PrimaryNumber of Participants With Symptomatic Postoperative Fluid Collection

This outcome is defined as a surgical or pelvic fluid collection diagnosed as a hematoma (blood collection, with or without infection) or lymphocele (collection of lymph fluid in the pelvis) due to symptoms (fever, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, anemia, high surgical drain output) within 30 days after surgery.

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Symptomatic Postoperative Fluid Collection
ParticipantsSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Number of Participants With Symptomatic Postoperative Fluid Collection109
PrimaryNumber of Participants With Major Postoperative Bleeding

This additional primary outcome includes the development and diagnosis of any major clinically recognized bleeding event within 30 days after surgery requiring \>1 unit of packed red blood cell transfusion, intervention to stop bleeding, or return to the operating room.

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Major Postoperative Bleeding
ParticipantsSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Number of Participants With Major Postoperative Bleeding42
SecondaryNumber of Participants With Occurrence of Any Venous Thromboembolism

DVT or PE diagnosed for any reason within 30 days after surgery. This includes any diagnosed DVT or PE as described in the primary outcome plus any additional DVTs or PEs diagnosed at 30 day screening lower extremity ultrasound for patients opting to undergo screening bilateral lower extremity Duplex ultrasound at 30 days who do not have symptoms.

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants With Occurrence of Any Venous Thromboembolism
ParticipantsSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Number of Participants With Occurrence of Any Venous Thromboembolism44
SecondaryEstimated Blood Loss During Surgery

The total recorded intraoperative estimated blood loss in milliliters reported at the end of the surgery.

Time frame:
During surgery (usually between 2-3 hours of operative time)
Reported as:
Median · milliliters
Estimated Blood Loss During Surgery
millilitersSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Estimated Blood Loss During Surgery150 (100 to 300)200 (100 to 300)
SecondarySurgical Drain Output After Surgery

The total output in milliliters from any surgical drain left in place (not all patients will necessarily have a surgical drain) after surgery and until discharge from the hospital (usually 1 to 2 days). Drain output, if one is left in place after discharge, will not count toward this secondary outcome.

Time frame:
Over length of stay in hospital (usually 1 to 2 days)
Reported as:
Median · milliliters
Surgical Drain Output After Surgery
millilitersSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Surgical Drain Output After Surgery95 (60 to 180)100 (54 to 150)
SecondarySurveillance Bias by Differential Use of Imaging as Assessed by Number of Participants Receiving Postoperative Diagnostic Imaging for Venous Thromboembolism Relative to Symptoms

Patients in each arm receiving postoperative diagnostic imaging for venous thromboembolism relative to symptoms (e.g. lower extremity Duplex ultrasound, spiral CT angiography, V/Q scan).

Time frame:
30 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Surveillance Bias by Differential Use of Imaging as Assessed by Number of Participants Receiving Postoperative Diagnostic Imaging for Venous Thromboembolism Relative to Symptoms
ParticipantsSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Surveillance Bias by Differential Use of Imaging as Assessed by Number of Participants Receiving Postoperative Diagnostic Imaging for Venous Thromboembolism Relative to Symptoms2531

Adverse events

Collected over 30 days. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Subcutaneous Heparin0/251 (0%)9/251 (3.6%)34/251 (13.5%)
Control0/250 (0%)9/250 (3.6%)30/250 (12%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Clavien III or Greater ComplicationSurgical and medical procedures9/2519/250
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventSubcutaneous HeparinControl
Clavien I or II ComplicationSurgical and medical procedures34/25130/250

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Subcutaneous HeparinControlTotal
Median63 (57 to 67)61 (56 to 67)62 (57 to 67)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Subcutaneous HeparinControlTotal
Female000
Male251250501
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Subcutaneous HeparinControlTotal
White200204404
African American343973
Hispanic8210
Asian9514
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
    Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Huang MM, Su ZT, Becker REN, Pavlovich CP, Partin AW, Allaf ME, Patel HD. Complications after open and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and association with postoperative opioid use: an analysis of data from the PREVENTER trial. BJU Int. 2021 Feb;127(2):190-197. doi: 10.1111/bju.15172. Epub 2020 Aug 17. PubMed 32654363 ↗
  • Patel HD, Faisal FA, Trock BJ, Joice GA, Schwen ZR, Pierorazio PM, Johnson MH, Bivalacqua TJ, Han M, Gorin MA, Carter HB, Partin AW, Pavlovich CP, Allaf ME. Effect of Pharmacologic Prophylaxis on Venous Thromboembolism After Radical Prostatectomy: The PREVENTER Randomized Clinical Trial. Eur Urol. 2020 Sep;78(3):360-368. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2020.05.001. Epub 2020 May 19. PubMed 32444264 ↗
  • Patel HD, Faisal FA, Patel ND, Pavlovich CP, Allaf ME, Han M, Herati AS. Effect of a prospective opioid reduction intervention on opioid prescribing and use after radical prostatectomy: results of the Opioid Reduction Intervention for Open, Laparoscopic, and Endoscopic Surgery (ORIOLES) Initiative. BJU Int. 2020 Mar;125(3):426-432. doi: 10.1111/bju.14932. Epub 2019 Nov 15. PubMed 31643128 ↗
  • Patel HD, Srivastava A, Patel ND, Faisal FA, Ludwig W, Joice GA, Schwen ZR, Allaf ME, Han M, Herati AS. A Prospective Cohort Study of Postdischarge Opioid Practices After Radical Prostatectomy: The ORIOLES Initiative. Eur Urol. 2019 Feb;75(2):215-218. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 21. PubMed 30352714 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Apr 4, 2017

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 5, 2020, 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
NCT03006562
Lead sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 30, 2016
Start date
Jul 1, 2017
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2019
Completion
Nov 1, 2019
Results posted
Feb 28, 2020
Last update
Aug 5, 2020

Study contacts

Mohamad E Allaf, MD
principal investigator · Johns Hopkins University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is terminated, as verified in Jul 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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