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CompletedNCT05628415StaplerUpdated Feb 21, 2025

Comparison Between the Non-powered AEON™ Endostapler and Echelon FLEX™ Powered Plus Stapler With Regards to the Closure of Lung Tissue After Lung Resection in the Presence of Severe Lung Emphysema

An interventional study of Non-powered AeonTM Endostapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb) and Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb) in Postoperative Air Leak and Lung Resection, sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. Completed at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-02-21.

Sponsored by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
19
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Prolonged air leak is reported in up to 60 to 75% of patients after lung operation in the presence of severe lung emphysema. The effect of the non-powered AEONTM Endostapler as compared to the Echelon FlexTM Powered plus stapler on the volume and duration of air leak and on the time to chest drain removal after lung operation in the presence of severe lung emphysema will be investigated in a randomized, prospective, single-blinded clinical trial.

Read the detailed description

Patients with severe lung emphysema Grad III or IV scheduled for an operation by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open method at the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital Basel will be pre-screened in terms of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Before the operation, a randomization envelope is opened in the operation room, in which it is specified on which side and with which method the lung tissue will be closed. If bilateral surgery is planned, the other side is automatically closured using the other method. If for example the non-powered AEONTM Endostapler is randomly allocated to the left side, the right side is automatically operated with the Echelon FLEXTM Powered plus Stapler and vice versa. In cases of a unilateral surgery a random stapler as stated in the envelop would be allocated for that side in question. On the day of the operation, postoperative air leak will be measured quantitatively in ml per minute immediately, 2h, 4h, 8h, and 12h after skin closure. Starting on the first postoperative day, this is done twice a day at 8 am and 5 pm until the air leak stops or another surgery must be performed. Cessation of air leak is the case when a value of 0ml/min or two consecutive values under 30 ml/min by use of thoracic drainage Medela- Topaz™ system are read by the investigator.

02

Conditions studied

  • Postoperative Air Leak
  • Lung Resection

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Keywords

  • severe lung emphysema
  • AEON™ Endostapler
  • Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler
  • lung-volume-reduction-surgery (LVRS)
03

In context

Emphysema

339 studies on the registry are indexed under Emphysema; 59 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 19 is below the median of 48 across 208 interventional studies indexed under Emphysema.

Browse Emphysema studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland is the lead sponsor of 989 studies on the registry; 191 are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
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

  • Informed Consent signed by the subject
  • Patients discussed in the interdisciplinary emphysema treatment board and found to have the indication for a LVRS or patients who meet the criteria in agreement with pneumology recommendation for bilateral or unilateral LVRS with pulmonary emphysema (all morphologies including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) GOLD III and IV) or patients operated for other Pathology other than lung emphysema requiring lung resection in the presence of severe lung emphysema.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • non-bullous pulmonary emphysema
  • Severely impaired carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (≤ 20% of predicted value, One-second capacity (FEV1) ≤ 20% of predicted value with a homogeneous emphysema morphology
  • Patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (mPAP > 35 mmHg) and are symptomatic
  • Significant (i.e. clinically relevant and symptomatic) Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD)
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e. g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant
  • Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent person
  • Current enrolment in another clinical trial studying an experimental treatment
  • Pregnancy
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
19 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Procedure: non-powered AEON™ Endostapler

    Bilateral or unilateral lung-volume-reduction-surgery (LVRS) by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open method with use of the non-powered AEON™ Endostapler for left and/or right side of the lung. By randomization it is specified on which side and with which method the lung tissue will be closed. If bilateral surgery is planned, the other side is automatically closured using the other method. In cases of a unilateral surgery a random stapler as stated in the envelop would be allocated for that side in question.

    Procedure: Non-powered AeonTM Endostapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb)

  • Active comparator
    Procedure: Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler

    Bilateral or unilateral lung-volume-reduction-surgery (LVRS) by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) or open method with use of the Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler for left and/or right side of the lung. By randomization it is specified on which side and with which method the lung tissue will be closed. If bilateral surgery is planned, the other side is automatically closured using the other method. In cases of a unilateral surgery a random stapler as stated in the envelop would be allocated for that side in question.

    Procedure: Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb)

Interventions

  • ProcedureNon-powered AeonTM Endostapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb)

    Closure of the left and/or right side of the lung after bilateral or unilateral lung-volume-reduction- surgery is performed with the non-powered Aeon™ Endostapler (Lexington medical) 60-mm and 45-mm. At the end of the operation, two 24F apical chest tubes are placed on each side and are systematically set at -10 cm H2O suction via the Medela- Topaz™ system. Air leak will be measured quantitatively in ml per minute by use of a Medela-Topaz™ system. Cessation of air leak is the case when a value of 0ml/min or two consecutive values under 30 ml/min by use of thoracic drainage Medela- Topaz™ system are read.

  • ProcedureEchelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler (according to manufacturer medical device classification IIb)

    Closure of the left and/or right side of the lung after bilateral or unilateral lung-volume-reduction- surgery is performed with the Echelon FLEX™ Powered plus Stapler (Ethicon) 60-mm and 45-mm. At the end of the operation, two 24F apical chest tubes are placed on each side and are systematically set at -10 cm H2O suction via the Medela- Topaz™ system. Air leak will be measured quantitatively in ml per minute by use of a Medela-Topaz™ system. Cessation of air leak is the case when a value of 0ml/min or two consecutive values under 30 ml/min by use of thoracic drainage Medela- Topaz™ system are read.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time interval between the end of operation (skin closure) and air leak closure (when the volume is < 30 ml/min measured twice on Medela- Topaz™ drainage system) between the two staplers.

    Comparison of the time interval between the end of operation (skin closure) and air leak closure (when the volume is \< 30 ml/min measured twice on drainage system) between the two staplers.

    Time frame: End of the operation (0 hours) until timepoint of air leak closure (approx. 3 days to a maximum of 7 days)

  2. Change in Volume of air leak

    Volume of air leak measured following connection of chest tube drainages until removal of the chest tubes

    Time frame: End of the operation (0 hours), at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours and 12 hours thereafter and from the first postoperative day, at 8 am and 5 pm daily until removal of the chest tubes (approx. 3 days to a maximum of 7 days)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of postoperative air leaks

    Number of postoperative air leaks

    Time frame: End of the operation (0 hours) until timepoint of air leak closure (approx. 3 days to a maximum of 7 days)

  2. Duration of postoperative air leaks until removal of the chest tubes in days

    Duration of postoperative air leaks until removal of the chest tubes in days

    Time frame: End of the operation (0 hours) until timepoint of air leak closure (approx. 3 days to a maximum of 7 days)

  3. Postoperative complications graded using the Clavien -Dindo Classification

    The Clavien Classification system differentiates in five degrees of severity upon the intention to treat (Grade-I: Any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or surgical, endoscopic, and radiological interventions up to Grade-V: Death of a patient).

    Time frame: End of the operation (0 hours) until timepoint of air leak closure (approx. 3 days to a maximum of 7 days)

  4. Number of resurgeries due to prolonged or profuse air leak

    Number of resurgeries due to prolonged or profuse air leak

    Time frame: From the day of admittance to hospital to the day of discharge (approx. 7 days)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University Hospital of Basel, Department of Thoracic Surgery
    Basel, 4031, Switzerland
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Macharia-Nimietz EF, Mallaev M, Gecas P, Vujic J, Simmen U, Hojski A, Tamm M, Lardinois D. Efficacy of Non-Powered Stapler in Lung Volume Reduction Surgery of Severe Lung Emphysema: A Prospective Randomized Single-Blinded Monocentric Study. Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2026 Apr 1;41(4):ivag071. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivag071. PubMed 41787969 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 21, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05628415
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 28, 2022
Start date
Nov 15, 2022
Primary completion
Feb 20, 2025
Completion
Feb 20, 2025
Last update
Feb 21, 2025

Study contacts

Didier Lardinois, Prof. Dr. med.
study director · Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Basel

Oversight

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

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