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CompletedNCT05225909ASSUREUpdated Jan 22, 2026

aScope Single Use ERCP Study- ASSURE Study

An observational study in ERCP, Cholangitis and Infection, sponsored by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Completed at 1 site in United Kingdom. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-22.

Sponsored by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
59
Ages
18 Years to 90 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Patients undergo ERCP procedure (Endoscopic procedure with the help of x-rays) for a variety of reasons such as common bile duct (CBD)stones, bile duct obstruction secondary to bile duct narrowing (Strictures) and for bile leak. The incidence of infection post-ERCP is around one in 200. There are some group of patients where this risk is significantly increased. In this high risk group, the risk increases from 1 in 75 to in some diseases 1 in 15 (Described in PIS). There are some reports that some of the infection may be contributed by contamination of bacteria in the scope. This happens even after diligently sterilizing the scope. A multi-centre study reported that the risk of contamination is as high as 39% but what we do not know is how many resulted in bacterial infection. The investigators do not know what percentage of infection is secondary to the above. The new single use duodenoscope (aScope, Ambu Ltd) has been introduced in to the market to minimise the risk of post ERCP infection. It is CE marked but the evidence for performance of the aScope is limited. The investigators want to assess the performance of the scope simultaneously in multiple different hospitals. In addition, the investigators also want to assess the cost consequence to the NHS for using the above scope. Hence, the investigators want to assess the performance of the scope in the high risk groups for infection.

Read the detailed description

ERCP is a therapeutic endoscopic procedure done to establish either bile duct or pancreatic duct drainage or both. The indications for ERCP are bile duct stones, bile duct strictures, sphincter of Oddi manometry with sphincterotomy, bile leak, pancreatic duct stones and pancreatic duct stricture. The intended benefits of the procedure are either to relieve bile duct/ pancreatic duct obstruction or facilitate bile duct/ pancreatic duct drainage. It is a minimally invasive procedure and is associated with reduced morbidity compared to surgery.

Gall stones are made of cholesterol, pigment and mixture of cholesterol and pigment. The incidence of stones with in the bile-duct varies from 4.6% to 19%.The stones are predominantly formed in the gall bladder and are displaced from the gall bladder in to the bile duct via the cystic duct. ERCP is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for bile duct stones. Treatment of extrahepatic biliary strictures; irrespective of their aetiology, is to place a stent across the stricture through ERCP and facilitate biliary drainage.

There is emerging data that the incidence of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriae, Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRE) following exposure to contaminated duodenoscopes (ERCP endoscopes). The main reason for the outbreaks is due to inadequate reprocessing (Cleaning of endoscope post procedure) leading to contamination of endoscopes. To minimize the risk of contamination and outbreak of above infections, single use disposable duodenoscopes have been brought in to the market. The aim of the study is to assess the performance of the single use duodenoscope and the cost consequences associated with the above.

02

Conditions studied

  • ERCP
  • Cholangitis
  • Infection

Keywords

  • aScope
  • Ambu Ltd
03

In context

Cholangitis

82 studies on the registry are indexed under Cholangitis; 17 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 59 is below the median of 250 across 27 observational studies indexed under Cholangitis.

Browse Cholangitis studies →

Lead sponsor

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is the lead sponsor of 107 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The population studied will be patients who need ERCP procedure. All consecutive patients who are referred for ERCP will be screened to see if they meet the eligibility criteria to participate in the study.

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 who are at high risk of post ERCP infection such as

  • Jaundice ( >21)
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Post liver transplant anastomotic stricture
  • Inpatients
  • Combined procedures (Ex: ERCP+ spy glass cholangioscopy)
  • Previous inadequate biliary drainage.
  • Biliary stricture
  • Participant is willing and able to give for participation in the study.
  • Male or Female, aged 18 years or above.
  • Grade 1-3 ERCP on complexity grading (ASGE grading)
  • Able (in the Investigators opinion) and willing to comply with all study requirements.
  • Willing to allow his or her General Practitioner and consultant, if appropriate, to be notified of participation in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with CBD stones and no jaundice

  • Sphincter of Oddi manometry.
  • Female participants who is pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the study.
  • Patients who are unable to consent for the study.
  • ERCP for Pancreatic pathology.
  • Grade 4 complex ERCP (ASGE grading)
  • Participant who is terminally ill / 4
  • Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the study, or may influence the result of the study, or the participant's ability to participate in the study.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

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.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
59 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Patients who Undergo ERCP procedure with aScope

    This will be patients who undergo ERCP procedure using aScope.

    Device: Endoscopic retrograde Cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) with aScope (Single use duodenoscope

Interventions

  • DeviceEndoscopic retrograde Cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) with aScope (Single use duodenoscope

    ERCP Procedure will be done using aScope. We will assess the performance of the aScope.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Completion the intended ERCP procedure with single use duodenoscope.

    To assess if the intended ERCP procedure can be successfully completed with single use disposable duodenoscope.

    Time frame: 60-120 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Rate of complications

    Complications associated with the procedure such as bleeding, pancreatitis, post-ERCP infection and perforation

    Time frame: 30 days post procedure

  2. Endoscopy metrics

    Endoscopy metric will be assessed through a agreed, structured questionnaire

    Time frame: 15 minutes after the procedure

  3. Quality of life following the procedure

    Quality of life will me measured using validated questionnaire

    Time frame: 5 minutes on day 7 and 30

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
    Nottingham, Nottingham Ng7 2UH, United Kingdom
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — National research ethics committee does not allow sharing individual participant data because of confidentiality

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Jul 2022 to primary completion in Jan 2025, 30 months.

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

Registered
Jan 21, 2022
First posted
Feb 7, 2022
StartActual
Jul 5, 2022
Primary completionActual
Jan 21, 2025
CompletionActual
Mar 31, 2025
Last update
Jan 22, 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 Jan 22, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05225909
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 7, 2022
Start date
Jul 5, 2022
Primary completion
Jan 21, 2025
Completion
Mar 31, 2025
Last update
Jan 22, 2026

Study contacts

Suresh V Venkatachalapathy, MRCP
study chair · Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

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

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Discussion

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