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AppendicitisCAPPNCT04755179

Identification of the Optimal Treatment Strategy for Complex Appendicitis in the Pediatric Population

An observational study of Appendicitis and Appendix Mass, run by Ramon Gorter at 32 sites in Netherlands.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different treatment strategies on overall complications, health related-Quality of Life (hr-QOL) and costs among two subtypes of complex appendicitis in children (<18 years old). Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 0 to 17 years
What is being tested?
Laparoscopic appendectomy, Open appendectomy and Non-operative treatment
How many people
1,308 participants
Where
32 sitesNetherlands
Study dates
12 Aug 2019to 3 Jul 2024
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 0 to 17 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Study population: All children that present with a preoperative suspicion of complex appendicitis. This suspicion is based on 4 points or more on the abovementioned complex appendicitis scoring system OR a high index of suspicion of complex appendicitis by the treating physician.

Who may be able to join

  • Eligible for inclusion are all children <18 years old that need to undergo treatment for the suspicion of complex appendicitis. Suspicion of complex appendicitis is based upon the following predefined criteria:
  • 4 or more points on our scoring system developed to predict complex appendicitis. The diagnostic accuracy of this scoring system is 91% (Range: 84-98%). This scoring system consists of five variables (clinical, biochemical and radiological,each awarded points). In case the total score is 4 or more points, the patient is likely to have complex appendicitis. Variables included in the scoring system are:
  • Diffuse abdominal guarding (3 points)
  • CRP level more than 38 mg/L (2 points)
  • Signs on ultrasound / imaging indicative for complex appendicitis (2 points)
  • More than one day abdominal pain (2 points)
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Temperature more than 37.5 degrees Celsius (1 point)
  • Or
  • High index of suspicion of complex appendicitis by the treating physician. If this is the case, the treating physician will make pre-treatment note upon what clinical, biochemical or radiological variable the high index of suspicion is based.

Who cannot join

  • Adult patients (=18 years old)
  • Children with a suspicion of simple appendicitis (based upon the previous mentioned scoring system and radiological features)

Trial locations and contacts

32 sites in 1 country.

32 sites in 1 country

Netherlands32 sites
  • Northwest hospital group

    Alkmaar

  • Flevoziekenhuis

    Almere Stad

  • Meander MC

    Amersfoort

  • Hospital Amstelland

    Amstelveen

  • Amsterdam UMC - Location AMC

    Amsterdam

  • Amsterdam UMC - Location VUmc

    Amsterdam

  • OLVG

    Amsterdam

  • Gelre hospital

    Apeldoorn

  • Rijnstate

    Arnhem

  • Bravis Hospital

    Bergen op Zoom

  • Red Cross Hospital

    Beverwijk

  • Tergooi

    Blaricum

  • Amphia

    Breda

  • IJsselland Hospital

    Capelle aan den IJssel

  • Albert Schweitzer Hospital

    Dordrecht

  • Catharina hospital

    Eindhoven

  • Admiraal de Ruyter Hospital

    Goes

  • UMCG

    Groningen

  • Spaarne Gasthuis

    Haarlem

  • Zuyderland MC

    Heerlen

  • Dijklander

    Hoorn

  • Sint Antonius Hospital

    Nieuwegein

  • Radboud UMC

    Nijmegen

  • Laurentius

    Roermond

  • Erasmus MC

    Rotterdam

  • Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland

    Rotterdam

  • Ikazia

    Rotterdam

  • Maasstad Hospital

    Rotterdam

  • Haga/JKZ

    The Hague

  • Maxima Medical Centre

    Veldhoven

  • Zaans Medical Centre

    Zaandam

  • Isala

    Zwolle

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: The Identification of the Optimal Treatment Strategy for Complex Appendicitis in the Pediatric Population

Aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of different treatment strategies on overall complications, health related-Quality of Life (hr-QOL) and costs among two subtypes of complex appendicitis in children (<18 years old).

Main research questions: What is the difference in overall complications at three months between:

Subgroup 1 (complex appendicitis without abscess/mass formation): Laparoscopic (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) Subgroup 2: (complex appendicitis with abscess/mass formation): Non-operative treatment (NOT) and direct appendectomy

Read the detailed description

Up till now initiated research projects worldwide mainly focus on simple appendicitis (questioning the necessity of an appendectomy). However, complex appendicitis is associated with significant morbidity (up to 30%), prolonged hospital stay and high costs. Identification of the optimal treatment strategy for children with complex appendicitis is therefore essential. Heterogeneity in the treatment of complex appendicitis still exists in daily practice and reflects the lack of high-quality data and emphasizes the need for well-designed studies. Complex appendicitis can be divided into two subtypes:

  1. Complex appendicitis without mass/abscess. (subgroup 1) Although (inter)national guidelines agree that appendectomy should be usual care, the optimal approach (open or laparoscopy) is unclear. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is increasingly applied both in adults (80%) and children (60%). Benefits reported for LA in children are, but not limited to, less superficial site infection (SSI), reduced length of hospital stay and significant less postoperative bowel obstruction compared with open appendectomy (OA). Reluctance for usage of LA in this specific subgroup, however, remains due to the potential higher incidence of post-appendectomy abscess formation (PAA) reported. However, the quality of studies on this topic is low and there is considerable inconsistency in results.
  2. Complex appendicitis with mass/abscess. (subgroup 2) The recommendation made in our national guideline (to perform direct appendectomy in this subgroup) is not in line with the available literature. A recent Cochrane review on this topic could only include two trials and stated that no firm conclusions could be drawn. An older systematic review, including 7 studies in children, concluded that non-operative treatment (NOT) led to fewer complications, specifically SSI and PAA, when compared to direct appendectomy. Still the recommendation from our national guideline is to perform a direct appendectomy based upon good experiences in the pediatric academic centers.

In order to investigate the optimal treatment for children with complex appendicitis we will perform a nationwide, multi-center, comparative, prospective cohort study. For the purpose of this study, treatment strategies will be standardized among the participating hospitals in order to reduce heterogeneity. Prospectively derived, high quality data will be sufficient to answer the research questions regarding the optimal treatment strategy for each subtype of complex appendicitis in the pediatric population. As it is a non-randomized prospective cohort study, propensity score matching technique will be performed in order to estimate the effect of the treatments adjusted for potential confounders.

Being tested
Laparoscopic appendectomy, Open appendectomy, Non-operative treatment, Direct appendectomy
Keywords
Complex appendicitis, Children, Treatment
Medical subject headings
Appendicitis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Laparoscopic appendectomyProcedure or surgery

    Laparoscopic appendectomy is performed according to daily practice but with the following standardized key points:

    1. Conventional laparoscopy (three-trocar technique)
    2. In case of purulent fluid: Suction and no peritoneal lavage procedure
    3. Skelletizing of the mesoappendix (coagulation/clips according to routine practice locally)
    4. Appendiceal stump closure: with two endoloops and dissected between the endoloops. In case of involvement of the appendiceal base, the use of endostapler is recommended.
    5. Withdrawal of appendix: principle of abdominal wall protection is followed (trocar technique / endobag)
    6. No drain placement, no nasogastric tube, and no urinary catheter routinely, only on indication.
    7. Closure of wounds as appropriate
  • Open appendectomyProcedure or surgery

    Open appendectomy will be performed according to the following standardized key points:

    1. Gridiron incision at the right lower quadrant. (McBurney's point)
    2. After obtaining access to the abdominal cavity the principle of abdominal wall protection will be followed.
    3. The appendiceal stump will be closed by ligation, not a purse string suture.
    4. Closure of wounds as appropriate
  • Non-operative treatmentProcedure or surgery

    Non-operative treatment consisting of administration of intravenous antibiotics with or without drainage procedures (in case of an abscess), reserving an appendectomy for those not responding or with recurrent disease.

    One of the two antibiotic regiments:

    1. Combination A:
    2. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 25/2.5mg/kg 6 hourly (total 100/10 mg/kg daily. Maximum 6000/600mg a day) for children <40 kg OR Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 1000/200mg/kg 8 hourly (total 3000/6000 mg/kg daily) for children > 40 kg
    3. Gentamicin 7mg/kg once daily
    4. Combination B:
    5. Cefuroxim 25 mg/kg 6 hourly (total 100 mg/kg/day. Maximum 6gram/day)
    6. Metronidazole 10mg/kg 8hourly (total 30 mg/kg/day. Maximum 4000 mg/day) In case of peri-appendicular abscess the decision can be made to perform a drainage procedure either percutaneously or surgical.
  • Direct appendectomyProcedure or surgery

    laparoscopic or open appendectomy as described

Study groups in NCT04755179
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Complex appendicitis without abscess or mass formationAll children (<18 years old) that present with a suspicion of complex appendicitis without clinical or radiological signs of abscess or mass formation. Preoperative suspicion of complex appendicitis is based upon a previously developed clinical scoring system.
Receives: Procedure: Laparoscopic appendectomy; Procedure: Open appendectomy
Complex appendicitis with abscess or mass formationAll children (<18 years old) that present with a suspicion of complex appendicitis with clinical or radiological signs of abscess or mass formation. Preoperative suspicion of complex appendicitis is based upon a previously developed clinical scoring system.
Receives: Procedure: Non-operative treatment; Procedure: Direct appendectomy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Overall complications

    The proportion of patients experiencing any complication within 3 months after inclusion

    Measured: 3 months

Secondary outcomes (19)
  1. Postappendectomy abscess

    Proportion patients with a postappendectomy abscess

    Measured: 3 months

  2. Superficial Site Infection

    Proportion of patients with a superficial site infection

    Measured: 3 months

  3. Secondary bowel obstruction

    Proportion of patients with a secondary/prolonged bowel obstruction

    Measured: 3 months

  4. Days absent from school, social or sports events

    Number of days absent from school, social or sports events

    Measured: 30 days, 3 months

  5. Number of days absent from work

    Number of days that parents are absent from work

    Measured: 30 days, 3 months

  6. Total number of extra visits

    Total number of extra visits to the outpatient clinic, general pratctitioner's office or emergency department

    Measured: 30 days, 3 months

  7. Length of hospital stay

    Total length of hospital stay during follow-up due to trategy related treatment or complications

    Measured: 3 months

  8. Level of pain

    Level of pain measured according to the Visual Analogue Scale (0-10 points, higher scores indicating worse outcomes)

    Measured: at inclusion/baseline (=day 0), 3 days, 5 days, 30 days, 3 months

  9. Pain medication utilization

    Pain medication utilization during admission

    Measured: 30 days, 3 months

  10. Need for appendectomy

    Proportion of patients not having to undergo appendectomy within 3 months after start of non-operative treatment

    Measured: 3 months

  11. Recurrent appendicitis

    Proportion of patients experiencing recurrent appendicitis within 3 months after inclusion

    Measured: 3 months

  12. Early failure of non-operative treatment

    Proportion of patients experiencing early failure of initial non-operative treatment

    Measured: 3 months

  13. Quality of Life questionnaire (EQ-5d-Youth/EQ-5d-Proxy)

    QoL measured by the validated EQ-5d-Youth / EQ-5d-Proxy questionnaire (0-1 point, higher scores indicating better outcome)

    Measured: at inclusion/baseline (=day 0), 30 days, 3 months

  14. Quality of Life questionnaire (PedsQL 4.0)

    QoL measured by the validated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) (0-100 points, higher scores indicating better outcome) Labor Questionnaire (HLQ), Medical Consumption Questionnaire (iMCQ) and Productivity Consumption Questionnaire (iPCQ) and gathered actual health care cost

    Measured: at inclusion/baseline (=day 0), 30 days, 3 months

  15. Medical costs (iMCQ)

    Medical costs measured by the iMedical Consumption Questionnaire

    Measured: at inclusion/baseline (=day 0), 30 days, 3 months

  16. Non-medical / indirect costs (iPCQ)

    Non-medical / indirect costs measured by the iProductivity Cost Questionnaire

    Measured: at inclusion/baseline (=day 0), 30 days, 3 months

  17. Quality adjusted life months (QALM's)

    Quality adjusted life months calculated using outcomes 14 -17

    Measured: 3 months

  18. Patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18)

    Patient satisfaction measured by the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) (0-100, higher scores indicating better outcome)

    Measured: 3 months

  19. Patient satisfaction questionnaire (Net promotor score)

    Patient satisfaction measured by the NET PROMOTOR SCORE (0-10, higher scores indicating better outcome)

    Measured: 3 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Feb 2021
  2. Study start12 Aug 2019
  3. Primary completion3 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion3 Jul 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
1,308 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04755179
Sponsor's protocol ID
W18_302#18.348
Acronym
CAPP
Status last verified
Jul 2024
First submitted
29 Jan 2021
Last updated
30 Jul 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • van Amstel P, Bakx R, van der Lee JH, van der Weide MC, Eekelen RV, Derikx JPM, van Heurn ELW, Gorter RR; CAPP collaborative study group. Identification of the optimal treatment strategy for complex appendicitis in the paediatric population: a protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study (CAPP study). BMJ Open. 2022 Feb 17;12(2):e054826. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054826.

    PubMed 35177453

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Appendicitis and Appendix Mass, run by Ramon Gorter at 32 sites in Netherlands.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jul 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 32 sites in Netherlands. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Overall complications (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04755179, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jul 2024.

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