CClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07325877SupraBilSUpdated Jan 8, 2026

Supra-papillary Versus Trans-papillary Biliary Stenting in Malignant Peri-hilar Stenosis

An interventional study of ERCP with suprapapillary stent placement and ERCP with transpapillary stent placement in Biliary Disease Tract, Biliary Stenosis and Biliary Stents, sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-08.

Sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
70
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This is a randomized controlled trial comparing patients with obstructive jaundice due to malignancies of the perihilar area of bile ducts and undergoing both preoperative and palliative biliary drainage. The comparison will focus on the technique:, on the one hand, an arm of patients undergoing standard-of-care ERCP with trans-papillary plastic protesis placement, and on the other hand, an experimental arm of patients undergoing suprapapillary plastic protesis placement with no sphincterotomy. The primary objective will be to compare the time-to-stent dysfunction in the two groups; secondary objectives will include a comparison of the safety, technical, and clinical success of the procedures.

02

Conditions studied

  • Biliary Disease Tract
  • Biliary Stenosis
  • Biliary Stents

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Keywords

  • ERCP
  • Malignant Biliary Stenosis
  • Supra-papillary
  • Trans-Papillary
03

Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

  1. Radiological/ biochemical/pathological diagnosis of malignant OJ.
  2. Stenosis maximum extent may be 2 cm after biliary confluence.
  3. Documented obstructive jaundice (serum bilirubin > 3 mg/dL).
  4. Indication for biliary drainage (preoperative or palliative).
  5. Age ≥ 18 years.
  6. Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Contraindications to endoscopic approach (duodenal stenosis, surgically altered anatomy).
  2. Previous sphincterotomy or drainage.
  3. Involvement of the papilla of Vater by the tumour.
  4. Uncontrolled coagulopathy (INR > 1.5 uncorrectable or \<50.000 PLTs).
  5. Ongoing uncontrolled cholangitis as defined according to the Tokyo 2018 Guidelines, or systemic sepsis.
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Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Suprapapillary

    ERCP for malignant stenosis of bile duct with suprapapillary stents positioning (experimental)

    Procedure: ERCP with suprapapillary stent placement

  • Active comparator
    Trans Papillary

    ERCP for malignant stenosis of bile duct with transpapillary stents positioning (Standard of care).

    Procedure: ERCP with transpapillary stent placement

Interventions

  • ProcedureERCP with suprapapillary stent placement

    ERCP with no sphincterotomy and placement of plastic stents above the papilla of Vater.

  • ProcedureERCP with transpapillary stent placement

    Standard ERCP with or without sphincterotomy with trans papillary stent placement

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time-to-Stent disfunction

    In days, calculated from the index procedure. Stent(s) dysfunction, which includes occlusion or migration of the stent(s) and tumour ingrowth/overgrowth, is defined as the presence of at least two of the following three criteria: 1. New dilation of the biliary tree on imaging: 2. Bilirubin level above 2 mg/dL (34.2 mmol/L) with a new increase ≥ 1 mg/dL compared with the value after initial clinical success, or elevation of alkaline phosphatase and/or g-glutamyl transferase greater than 2 times the upper normal limit with a new elevation of 30 U/L 3. Cholangitis, characterized by fever along with leucocytosis (\> 10,000/mL) or C-reactive protein levels above 20 mg/dL.

    Time frame: From index procedure to a minimum of one year of follow up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Safety of the procedure

    The incidence of Adverse events and severe adverse events will be compared. Adverse events (AEs) (timepoint 14 days) are defined according to the ASGE lexicon and graded according to the Adverse Events in GI endoscopy (AGREE) classification that classifies AEs in 5 grades from Grade I, any deviation from standard postprocedural course without need for pharmacological or interventional treatment, to Grade V, death of the patient. Sub-group analysis will be performed for procedure-related AEs. Severe adverse events are defined as AGREE≥3.

    Time frame: From the index procedure within 14 days.

  2. Technical success

    Defined as the placement of the stent(s) in the desired position (timepoint 0)

    Time frame: At the moment of index procedure.

  3. Clinical Success

    Defined as the reduction of bilirubin level ≥50% or at a level \<2 mg/dL (34.2 mmol/L).

    Time frame: Between 14 and 30 days from the index procedure.

06

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

07

References and documents

Publications

  • Naitoh I, Inoue T. Optimal endoscopic drainage strategy for unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction. Clin Endosc. 2023 Mar;56(2):135-142. doi: 10.5946/ce.2022.150. Epub 2023 Jan 5. PubMed 36600654 ↗
  • Harris PA, Taylor R, Minor BL, Elliott V, Fernandez M, O'Neal L, McLeod L, Delacqua G, Delacqua F, Kirby J, Duda SN; REDCap Consortium. The REDCap consortium: Building an international community of software platform partners. J Biomed Inform. 2019 Jul;95:103208. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2019.103208. Epub 2019 May 9. PubMed 31078660 ↗
  • Kiriyama S, Kozaka K, Takada T, Strasberg SM, Pitt HA, Gabata T, Hata J, Liau KH, Miura F, Horiguchi A, Liu KH, Su CH, Wada K, Jagannath P, Itoi T, Gouma DJ, Mori Y, Mukai S, Gimenez ME, Huang WS, Kim MH, Okamoto K, Belli G, Dervenis C, Chan ACW, Lau WY, Endo I, Gomi H, Yoshida M, Mayumi T, Baron TH, de Santibanes E, Teoh AYB, Hwang TL, Ker CG, Chen MF, Han HS, Yoon YS, Choi IS, Yoon DS, Higuchi R, Kitano S, Inomata M, Deziel DJ, Jonas E, Hirata K, Sumiyama Y, Inui K, Yamamoto M. Tokyo Guidelines 2018: diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholangitis (with videos). J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2018 Jan;25(1):17-30. doi: 10.1002/jhbp.512. Epub 2018 Jan 5. PubMed 29032610 ↗
  • Nass KJ, Zwager LW, van der Vlugt M, Dekker E, Bossuyt PMM, Ravindran S, Thomas-Gibson S, Fockens P. Novel classification for adverse events in GI endoscopy: the AGREE classification. Gastrointest Endosc. 2022 Jun;95(6):1078-1085.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2021.11.038. Epub 2021 Dec 8. PubMed 34890695 ↗
  • Cotton PB, Eisen GM, Aabakken L, Baron TH, Hutter MM, Jacobson BC, Mergener K, Nemcek A Jr, Petersen BT, Petrini JL, Pike IM, Rabeneck L, Romagnuolo J, Vargo JJ. A lexicon for endoscopic adverse events: report of an ASGE workshop. Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Mar;71(3):446-54. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2009.10.027. No abstract available. PubMed 20189503 ↗
  • Kovacs N, Pecsi D, Sipos Z, Farkas N, Foldi M, Hegyi P, Bajor J, Eross B, Marta K, Miko A, Rakonczay Z Jr, Sarlos P, Abraham S, Vincze A. Suprapapillary Biliary Stents Have Longer Patency Times than Transpapillary Stents-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2023 Jan 23;12(3):898. doi: 10.3390/jcm12030898. PubMed 36769545 ↗
  • Okamoto T, Fujioka S, Yanagisawa S, Yanaga K, Kakutani H, Tajiri H, Urashima M. Placement of a metallic stent across the main duodenal papilla may predispose to cholangitis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2006 May;63(6):792-6. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2005.05.015. PubMed 16650540 ↗
  • Keulen AV, Gaspersz MP, van Vugt JLA, Roos E, Olthof PB, Coelen RJS, Bruno MJ, van Driel LMJW, Voermans RP, van Eijck CHJ, van Hooft JE, van Lienden KP, de Jonge J, Polak WG, Poley JW, Pek CJ, Moelker A, Willemssen FEJA, van Gulik TM, Erdmann JI, Hol L, IJzermans JNM, Buttner S, Koerkamp BG. Success, complication, and mortality rates of initial biliary drainage in patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Surgery. 2022 Dec;172(6):1606-1613. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.06.028. Epub 2022 Aug 18. PubMed 35989132 ↗
  • Ipek S, Alper E, Cekic C, Cerrah S, Arabul M, Aslan F, Unsal B. Evaluation of the effectiveness of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and its effect on development of cholangitis. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2014;2014:508286. doi: 10.1155/2014/508286. Epub 2014 May 27. PubMed 24982670 ↗
  • Vogel A, Bridgewater J, Edeline J, Kelley RK, Klumpen HJ, Malka D, Primrose JN, Rimassa L, Stenzinger A, Valle JW, Ducreux M; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Electronic address: clinicalguidelines@esmo.org. Biliary tract cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2023 Feb;34(2):127-140. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.10.506. Epub 2022 Nov 10. No abstract available. PubMed 36372281 ↗
  • Qumseya BJ, Jamil LH, Elmunzer BJ, Riaz A, Ceppa EP, Thosani NC, Buxbaum JL, Storm AC, Sawhney MS, Pawa S, Naveed M, Lee JK, Law JK, Kwon RS, Jue TL, Fujii-Lau LL, Fishman DS, Calderwood AH, Amateau SK, Al-Haddad M, Wani S. ASGE guideline on the role of endoscopy in the management of malignant hilar obstruction. Gastrointest Endosc. 2021 Aug;94(2):222-234.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2020.12.035. Epub 2021 May 20. PubMed 34023067 ↗
  • Boulay BR, Birg A. Malignant biliary obstruction: From palliation to treatment. World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2016 Jun 15;8(6):498-508. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i6.498. PubMed 27326319 ↗
  • Hameed A, Pang T, Chiou J, Pleass H, Lam V, Hollands M, Johnston E, Richardson A, Yuen L. Percutaneous vs. endoscopic pre-operative biliary drainage in hilar cholangiocarcinoma - a systematic review and meta-analysis. HPB (Oxford). 2016 May;18(5):400-10. doi: 10.1016/j.hpb.2016.03.002. Epub 2016 Apr 4. PubMed 27154803 ↗
  • Pavlidis ET, Pavlidis TE. Pathophysiological consequences of obstructive jaundice and perioperative management. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int. 2018 Feb;17(1):17-21. doi: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2018.01.008. Epub 2018 Jan 31. PubMed 29428098 ↗
  • Ruzzenente A, Alaimo L, Caputo M, Conci S, Campagnaro T, De Bellis M, Bagante F, Pedrazzani C, Guglielmi A. Infectious complications after surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A single Western center experience. Surgery. 2022 Sep;172(3):813-820. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2022.04.028. Epub 2022 May 24. PubMed 35618490 ↗
  • Valle JW, Kelley RK, Nervi B, Oh DY, Zhu AX. Biliary tract cancer. Lancet. 2021 Jan 30;397(10272):428-444. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00153-7. PubMed 33516341 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided — Question asked to the ethics committee, decision is still pending.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07325877
Lead sponsor
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona
Responsible party
Andrea Ruzzenente (Professor, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 8, 2026
Start date
Mar 1, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 1, 2029 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 1, 2029 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 8, 2026

Study contacts

Andrea Ruzzenente, Professor
Contact
andrea.ruzzenente@univr.it
+39 0458124644
Edoardo Poletto, PhD Candidate - Consultant
Contact
edoardo.poletto@univr.it
+39 3452308635
Andrea Ruzzenente, Professor
principal investigator · Integrated University Hospital Verona
Stefano Francesco Crinò, Consultant
study director · Integrated University Hospital Verona
Edoardo Poletto, PhD Candidate, Consultant
study chair · Integrated university Hospital Verona
Maria Cristina Conti Bellocchi, Consultant
study chair · Integrated University Hospital Verona

Oversight

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

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