Thoracic NeoplasmsNCT07159659
Post-operative Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet May Reduce Hospital Stay Following Lung Resection
A study testing MCT Diet in people with Thoracic Neoplasms, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Lung resection, a critical treatment for various thoracic diseases, including lung cancer, often necessitates prolonged hospitalization due to rare but severe postoperative complications such as chyle leaks, with an occurrence of 0.25%-3%, prolonging chest drainage, and delaying recovery. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Thoracic Neoplasms
- What is being tested?
- MCT Diet
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 210 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2026to 30 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- General Inclusion Criteria for All procedures:
- Age between 18 - 80 years
- Body mass index <35 kg/m2
- Suitable for minimally invasive surgery
- Willingness to participate as demonstrated by giving informed consent
- Project-specific Criteria:
- 1. Patients performed lobectomy with lymph node dissection
Who cannot join
- Patient general exclusion criteria:
- Contraindication to general anesthesia
- Severe concomitant illness that drastically shortens life expectancy or increases the risk of therapeutic intervention
- Untreated active infection
- Non-correctable coagulopathy
- Emergency surgery
Show all 18Show fewer
- Vulnerable population (e.g. mentally disabled, pregnancy)
- Project-specific Criteria
- Segmentectomy
- Pleurodesis
- Esophageal procedures
- Redo/readmitted patients for lung resection
- Chylothorax (Triglyceride > 110 mL, excluded at day 1 routine lab check)
- Air leak (> 30 mL/min when back to ward)
- Heart Failure
- Renal failure (estimated GFR < 30; CKD grading stage 4-5)
- Moderate to severe adhesion (defined at randomization by surgeon; criteria include estimated surface area of adhesion and staging)
- History of tuberculosis or empyema
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Hong Kong1 site
Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin
Calvin Sze Hang Ng, +852 3505 2618, calvinng@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk
About this study
Lung resection, a critical treatment for various thoracic diseases, including lung cancer, often necessitates prolonged hospitalization due to rare but severe postoperative complications such as chyle leaks, with an occurrence of 0.25%-3%, prolonging chest drainage, and delaying recovery. Therefore, effective postoperative care is essential for optimizing outcomes, reducing complications, and expediting recovery.
Recent studies have highlighted the significant potential of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diets, owing to their unique absorption pathway and metabolic properties. MCT contains mainly medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), which is absorbed in the intestine and transported to the liver via the portal system instead of the lymphatic system. This helps to bypass the lymphatic system, thereby reducing the volume of lymph. MCFAs also provide better energy utilization in stressed condition since it does not require carnitine shuttle upon metabolism, which is beneficial to post-operation recovery.
Read more
Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of MCT diets in managing chyle leaks and supporting gastrointestinal recovery, particularly in conditions that strain the lymphatic system. For instance, short-term MCT-enriched diets have been associated with improved post-operation recovery of gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal functions, reduced total chest drainage volumes, and shorter hospital stay when compared to regular diet groups.
Patients with post-operative chyle leak following thoracic surgery are often given an MCT diet to reduce chest drain volume and hence shorten hospital stay. Based on the successful use of MCT diet on patients with chyle leak after lobectomy, it is hypothesized that patients with chylothorax provided with post-operative MCT diet can also shorten hospital stay by decreasing chest drainage. Therefore, a prospective and randomized trial is designed to investigate how post-operative MCT diet in lung resection patients without chylothorax may affect hospital stay and post-operative recovery.
Read the detailed description
This study is a single-center, prospective, randomized trial designed to investigate how a post-operative diet enriched with MCT affects recovery in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Medical students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, under the supervision of the principal investigator, will conduct the study, including obtaining consent and collecting data. Experienced surgeons at the Prince of Wales Hospital will perform the VATS procedures.
2.2 Hypotheses
- MCT diet can speed up post-operative recovery and shorten hospital length of stay.
- MCT diet poses no adverse effects in post-operative recovery for patients without chyle leak following lung surgery.
- The use of MCT diet after discharge for 2 weeks can enhance patient recovery and possibly reduce readmissions or complications.
- Conditions
- Thoracic Neoplasms
- Being tested
- MCT Diet
- Keywords
- Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet, Lung Resection, Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
- Medical subject headings
- Thoracic Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MCT DietDietary supplement
MCT diet for patients following lung resection
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | Patients in the control group will receive a standard hospital diet consistent with routine postoperative nutritional care after lobectomy with lymph node dissection. This diet does not include medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation and serves as a comparator to evaluate the effects of the MCT diet on postoperative recovery |
| MCT diet during hospital stay | Experimental | Patients will receive a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-enriched diet during their hospital stay following lobectomy with lymph node dissection. The MCT diet is administered as part of the postoperative nutritional regimen to evaluate its impact on recovery outcomes Receives: Dietary Supplement: MCT Diet |
| MCT diet during hospital stay and 2 weeks after discharge | Experimental | Participants will receive a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet during their hospital stay and for two weeks following discharge. This aims to evaluate the effects of continued MCT dietary supplementation on postoperative recovery outcomes after lobectomy with lymph node dissection Receives: Dietary Supplement: MCT Diet |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
hospital length of stay (LOS)
hospital length of stay (LOS), which is hypothesized to be reduced following the administration of an MCT diet. Currently, patients undergoing lobectomy using VATS have a median LOS of approximately 3-4 days. The study aims to investigate whether MCT diet interventions can reduce this to 2 days, representing a 30% reduction in hospital stay.
Measured: From the end of the lung resection procedure until the time of patient discharge, assessed up to 7 days post-surgery
Secondary outcomes (5)
Total Chest Drain Output (mL)
Chest drain output indirectly reflects recovery status. The total chest drain output will be measured using the Medela digital chest drainage system, which is routinely used for patients undergoing lobectomy. Compared to manual drainage system, this system allows more precise monitoring of fluid output. This information will help evaluate the overall impact of the MCT diet on postoperative recovery, particularly in reducing fluid drainage.
Measured: From the end of the lung resection procedure until the time of chest drain removal assessed up to 7 days post-surgery
Patient Satisfaction and Tolerability
Patient-reported outcomes will be assessed using a quality of life (QoL) questionnaire, which is an established tool for evaluating recovery after surgery. The questionnaire will include:
- Patient satisfaction with their recovery process
- Tolerability of the MCT diet
- Any challenges experienced during the diet, including adherence and acceptability
Measured: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of Participants with Symptoms Associated with MCT Diet
Patients will be monitored for any gastrointestinal discomfort associated with the MCT diet, including:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Increased flatus
Reports of these symptoms will be collected during the hospital stay and follow-up visits to assess the safety and tolerability of the MCT diet.
Measured: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of patients with Infection symptoms
- Observing for symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath (SOB), which will be incorporated into the QoL questionnaire
Measured: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of patients with infection risk
Regular checks for pleural-based complications, such as effusion, through chest X-rays (performed before discharge and during follow-ups)
Measured: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Sep 2025
- Study start1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Thoracic NeoplasmsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Chinese University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Calvin Sze Hang Ng, Chinese University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07159659
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MCT Study Protocol version 1.1
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 21 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Post-operative Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet May Reduce Hospital Stay Following Lung Resection
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07159659
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MCT Study Protocol version 1.1
- Conditions
- Thoracic Neoplasms
- Keywords
- Medium Chain Triglyceride Diet, Lung Resection, Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 210 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Chinese University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Lung resection, a critical treatment for various thoracic diseases, including lung cancer, often necessitates prolonged hospitalization due to rare but severe postoperative complications such as chyle leaks, with an occurrence of 0.25%-3%, prolonging chest drainage, and delaying recovery. Therefore, effective postoperative care is essential for optimizing outcomes, reducing complications, and expediting recovery.
Recent studies have highlighted the significant potential of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diets, owing to their unique absorption pathway and metabolic properties. MCT contains mainly medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), which is absorbed in the intestine and transported to the liver via the portal system instead of the lymphatic system. This helps to bypass the lymphatic system, thereby reducing the volume of lymph. MCFAs also provide better energy utilization in stressed condition since it does not require carnitine shuttle upon metabolism, which is beneficial to post-operation recovery.
Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of MCT diets in managing chyle leaks and supporting gastrointestinal recovery, particularly in conditions that strain the lymphatic system. For instance, short-term MCT-enriched diets have been associated with improved post-operation recovery of gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal functions, reduced total chest drainage volumes, and shorter hospital stay when compared to regular diet groups.
Patients with post-operative chyle leak following thoracic surgery are often given an MCT diet to reduce chest drain volume and hence shorten hospital stay. Based on the successful use of MCT diet on patients with chyle leak after lobectomy, it is hypothesized that patients with chylothorax provided with post-operative MCT diet can also shorten hospital stay by decreasing chest drainage. Therefore, a prospective and randomized trial is designed to investigate how post-operative MCT diet in lung resection patients without chylothorax may affect hospital stay and post-operative recovery.
Detailed description
This study is a single-center, prospective, randomized trial designed to investigate how a post-operative diet enriched with MCT affects recovery in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Medical students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, under the supervision of the principal investigator, will conduct the study, including obtaining consent and collecting data. Experienced surgeons at the Prince of Wales Hospital will perform the VATS procedures.
2.2 Hypotheses
- MCT diet can speed up post-operative recovery and shorten hospital length of stay.
- MCT diet poses no adverse effects in post-operative recovery for patients without chyle leak following lung surgery.
- The use of MCT diet after discharge for 2 weeks can enhance patient recovery and possibly reduce readmissions or complications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | –Patients in the control group will receive a standard hospital diet consistent with routine postoperative nutritional care after lobectomy with lymph node dissection. This diet does not include medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation and serves as a comparator to evaluate the effects of the MCT diet on postoperative recovery |
| MCT diet during hospital stay | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: MCT DietPatients will receive a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-enriched diet during their hospital stay following lobectomy with lymph node dissection. The MCT diet is administered as part of the postoperative nutritional regimen to evaluate its impact on recovery outcomes |
| MCT diet during hospital stay and 2 weeks after discharge | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: MCT DietParticipants will receive a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet during their hospital stay and for two weeks following discharge. This aims to evaluate the effects of continued MCT dietary supplementation on postoperative recovery outcomes after lobectomy with lymph node dissection |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age between 18 - 80 years
- Body mass index <35 kg/m2
- Suitable for minimally invasive surgery
- Willingness to participate as demonstrated by giving informed consent
- 1. Patients performed lobectomy with lymph node dissection
Key exclusion criteria (18 listed)
- Contraindication to general anesthesia
- Severe concomitant illness that drastically shortens life expectancy or increases the risk of therapeutic intervention
- Untreated active infection
- Non-correctable coagulopathy
- Emergency surgery
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MCT DietMCT diet for patients following lung resection | Dietary supplement | MCT diet during hospital stay, MCT diet during hospital stay and 2 weeks after discharge |
Primary outcome
hospital length of stay (LOS)
Time frame: From the end of the lung resection procedure until the time of patient discharge, assessed up to 7 days post-surgery
hospital length of stay (LOS), which is hypothesized to be reduced following the administration of an MCT diet. Currently, patients undergoing lobectomy using VATS have a median LOS of approximately 3-4 days. The study aims to investigate whether MCT diet interventions can reduce this to 2 days, representing a 30% reduction in hospital stay.
5 secondary outcomes
Total Chest Drain Output (mL)
Time frame: From the end of the lung resection procedure until the time of chest drain removal assessed up to 7 days post-surgery
Patient Satisfaction and Tolerability
Time frame: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of Participants with Symptoms Associated with MCT Diet
Time frame: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of patients with Infection symptoms
Time frame: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Number of patients with infection risk
Time frame: Upon discharge (assessed up to 7 days post-surgery), 2 weeks post discharge, 3 months post discharge
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MCT Diet in people with Thoracic Neoplasms, run by Chinese University of Hong Kong at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 7 inclusion and 18 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Calvin Sze Hang Ng (+852 3505 2618, calvinng@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
hospital length of stay (LOS) (time frame: From the end of the lung resection procedure until the time of patient discharge, assessed up to 7 days post-surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 21 Oct 2026.