Transanal Irrigation for the Management of LARS

Rectal Cancer Clinical Trial

— TAI-LARS  

Official title:

Transanal Irrigation for the Management of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS): A Multicenter Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05007015
• Other study ID #: MP-05-2022-2925
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 15, 2022
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: February 2023
• Source: Jewish General Hospital
• Contact: Sarah Sabboobeh
• Phone: 514-320-8222
• Email: sarah.sabboobeh[@]ladydavis.ca
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study aims to evaluate the impact of Transanal irrigation (TAI) on the quality of life and low anterior resection symptoms (LARS) in Canadian rectal cancer survivors living with minor to major LARS. It proposes to teach TAI through a novel online platform and to provide virtual nursing support for the participants. To our knowledge, this is the first North American based and largest randomized control trial on the use of TAI for patients with LARS. This will also be the first study to teach and support patients through the TAI process using a virtual platform. While TAI has been demonstrated to reduce LARS scores and increased QoL in patients with significant LARS, its feasibility and acceptance for Canadian patients remains uncertain. Furthermore despite the existing studies, the rate of TAI seems to be low in North America. The hypothesis is that TAI, taught and supported through an online portal dedicated to LARS patients, will positively impact QoL and improve LARS symptoms. The results of this trial may allow TAI to become part of the standard armamentarium that clinicians offer patients for LARS management, with the presence of online nursing support and guidance to facilitate this practice.

Description:

Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a constellation of bowel symptoms which occur following rectal cancer treatment. These symptoms have a well characterized negative impact on a patient's quality of life (QoL) following sphincter sparing surgery. The treatment of LARS is primarily based on the management of symptoms with conservative measures such as dietary changes and fiber supplements, anti-diarrheal medications and pelvic floor physiotherapy. Despite these measures, patients often still experience uncontrolled debilitating symptoms.

Transanal irrigation (TAI) has been described for the management of LARS symptoms that persist after conservative measures have been insufficient. The positive impact of this treatment on LARS and the number of bowel movements experienced by patients has been demonstrated in several, primarily European small studies. This multicenter, assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomized control trial (RCT) will assess the outcomes of an online, nurse-led, North American TAI program for the management of LARS.

This RCT will recruit patients who have undergone a low anterior resection (LAR) with closure of any diverting stoma at least 6 months prior to entry into the trial with a LARS score of >20 at recruitment. Participants will be recruited from five academic hospitals with high volumes of rectal cancer care in Ontario and Quebec, and will be randomized using a computer-generated sequence in balanced blocks, stratified by hospital, to the intervention (TAI) or control (traditional care) arms.

Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to perform TAI every 1-2 days for a six-month period. Teaching on the use of TAI will be given through virtual sessions with an experienced research nurse and supportive material (video and animated text) on a web-based application, eLARS. This is an established online application designed to provide quality health information for patients living with LARS created by our research group. Participants in the intervention arm of this study will be given access to a restricted transanal irrigation section on this application dedicated to this RCT with detailed written instructions and educational videos on the use of TAI. Participants in the control arm of the study will have access to the general eLARS application without the section on the transanal irrigation, and no specific change in their current management routine will be required. The required sample size for this RCT, accounting for attrition, is 99 patients. It is anticipated this patient sample can be accrued from the five interested sites within a year.

The primary outcome of the study will be health-related quality of life (QoL) as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTIC-QLQ-C30), with secondary outcomes including evaluation of bowel function by the LARS score, Wexner/Cleveland Clinic Fecal Incontinence Score, and bowel diary and satisfaction with TAI. Participant demographics, disease and treatment characteristics will be obtained via hospital chart review as time of recruitment. The TAI treatment effect on global QoL will be modeled using generalized estimating equations (GEE), accounting for within-subject correlations between responses at different time-points, and possible clustering of responses among participants from the same hospital.

To our knowledge, this will be the first North American trial to assess TAI acceptance and impact on quality of life for patients living with LARS. Furthermore, this will be the largest RCT to date, and the first to use a virtual platform to deliver this service for rectal cancer survivors. This study aims to provide an additional feasible and acceptable treatment option for the management of LARS symptoms refractory to our currently limited treatment options.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 66
• Est. completion date: December 1, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: December 1, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Low anterior resection by a laparoscopic, robotic, transanal total mesorectal excision, or open approach with (or without) creation of a diverting loop ileostomy for the treatment of rectal cancer, advanced adenoma or dysplasia And

• have had their ileostomy closed (if applicable) And

• completed treatment at least 6 months ago (including ileostomy closure) And

• LARS score > 20 points

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent, including fluency in English or French language

• unable to access the internet,

• presence of an ostomy,

• no active or ongoing treatment

• anastomotic stricture, sinus or any other ongoing anastomotic complications.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Low Anterior Resection Syndrome
• Rectal Cancer
• Syndrome

Intervention

Procedure:
• Transanal Irrigation
Each participant will receive a mailed package of TAI materials, given access to the LARS website, and have two scheduled virtual visits with a trained research nurse to learn how to use TAI once assigned to the intervention arm. These sessions will include one on one session with the nurse for review of the material, discussion of the device and any questions. TAI involves introducing an applicator into the anus for irrigation. An initial volume of 1000 mL will be suggested but can be increased to 1500 mL or reduced to 500 mL as per patient preference and tolerance. Applicators are single-use instruments that can be disposed of into standard waster receptacle after each treatment. The irrigation system is multiple-use and can be used for the duration recommend by the manufacturer manual. Daily irrigation can take anywhere between 20 and 90 minutes depending on individual patient experience.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Jewish General Hospital	Montreal	Quebec
Canada	McGill University Health Centre	Montréal	Quebec

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Jewish General Hospital	CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

References & Publications (16)

Battersby NJ, Juul T, Christensen P, Janjua AZ, Branagan G, Emmertsen KJ, Norton C, Hughes R, Laurberg S, Moran BJ; United Kingdom Low Anterior Resection Syndrome Study Group. Predicting the Risk of Bowel-Related Quality-of-Life Impairment After Restorative Resection for Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Dis Colon Rectum. 2016 Apr;59(4):270-80. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000552. — View Citation

Bryant CL, Lunniss PJ, Knowles CH, Thaha MA, Chan CL. Anterior resection syndrome. Lancet Oncol. 2012 Sep;13(9):e403-8. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(12)70236-X. — View Citation

Ekkarat P, Boonpipattanapong T, Tantiphlachiva K, Sangkhathat S. Factors determining low anterior resection syndrome after rectal cancer resection: A study in Thai patients. Asian J Surg. 2016 Oct;39(4):225-31. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2015.07.003. Epub 2015 Sep 2. — View Citation

Enriquez-Navascues JM, Labaka-Arteaga I, Aguirre-Allende I, Artola-Etxeberria M, Saralegui-Ansorena Y, Elorza-Echaniz G, Borda-Arrizabalaga N, Placer-Galan C. A randomized trial comparing transanal irrigation and percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in the management of low anterior resection syndrome. Colorectal Dis. 2020 Mar;22(3):303-309. doi: 10.1111/codi.14870. Epub 2019 Oct 21. — View Citation

Fayers P, Bottomley A; EORTC Quality of Life Group; Quality of Life Unit. Quality of life research within the EORTC-the EORTC QLQ-C30. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. Eur J Cancer. 2002 Mar;38 Suppl 4:S125-33. doi: 10.1016/s0959-8049(01)00448-8. — View Citation

Gosselink MP, Darby M, Zimmerman DD, Smits AA, van Kessel I, Hop WC, Briel JW, Schouten WR. Long-term follow-up of retrograde colonic irrigation for defaecation disturbances. Colorectal Dis. 2005 Jan;7(1):65-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2004.00696.x. — View Citation

Iwama T, Imajo M, Yaegashi K, Mishima Y. Self washout method for defecational complaints following low anterior rectal resection. Jpn J Surg. 1989 Mar;19(2):251-3. doi: 10.1007/BF02471596. — View Citation

Keane C, Fearnhead NS, Bordeianou LG, Christensen P, Basany EE, Laurberg S, Mellgren A, Messick C, Orangio GR, Verjee A, Wing K, Bissett I; LARS International Collaborative Group. International Consensus Definition of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome. Dis Colon Rectum. 2020 Mar;63(3):274-284. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001583. — View Citation

Kim MJ, Park JW, Lee MA, Lim HK, Kwon YH, Ryoo SB, Park KJ, Jeong SY. Two dominant patterns of low anterior resection syndrome and their effects on patients' quality of life. Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 11;11(1):3538. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82149-9. — View Citation

Koch SM, Rietveld MP, Govaert B, van Gemert WG, Baeten CG. Retrograde colonic irrigation for faecal incontinence after low anterior resection. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2009 Sep;24(9):1019-22. doi: 10.1007/s00384-009-0719-x. Epub 2009 May 19. — View Citation

Martellucci J, Sturiale A, Bergamini C, Boni L, Cianchi F, Coratti A, Valeri A. Role of transanal irrigation in the treatment of anterior resection syndrome. Tech Coloproctol. 2018 Jul;22(7):519-527. doi: 10.1007/s10151-018-1829-7. Epub 2018 Aug 6. — View Citation

McCutchan GM, Hughes D, Davies Z, Torkington J, Morris C, Cornish JA; LARRIS Trial Management Group. Acceptability and benefit of rectal irrigation in patients with Low Anterior Resection Syndrome: a qualitative study. Colorectal Dis. 2017 Dec 11. doi: 10.1111/codi.13985. Online ahead of print. — View Citation

Rodrigues BDS, Rodrigues FP, Buzatti KCLR, Campanati RG, Profeta da Luz MM, Gomes da Silva R, Lacerda-Filho A. Feasibility Study of Transanal Irrigation Using a Colostomy Irrigation System in Patients With Low Anterior Resection Syndrome. Dis Colon Rectum. 2022 Mar 1;65(3):413-420. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000002005. — View Citation

Rosen H, Robert-Yap J, Tentschert G, Lechner M, Roche B. Transanal irrigation improves quality of life in patients with low anterior resection syndrome. Colorectal Dis. 2011 Oct;13(10):e335-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2011.02692.x. — View Citation

Rosen HR, Kneist W, Furst A, Kramer G, Hebenstreit J, Schiemer JF. Randomized clinical trial of prophylactic transanal irrigation versus supportive therapy to prevent symptoms of low anterior resection syndrome after rectal resection. BJS Open. 2019 Mar 18;3(4):461-465. doi: 10.1002/bjs5.50160. eCollection 2019 Aug. — View Citation

Sturiale A, Martellucci J, Zurli L, Vaccaro C, Brusciano L, Limongelli P, Docimo L, Valeri A. Long-term functional follow-up after anterior rectal resection for cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2017 Jan;32(1):83-88. doi: 10.1007/s00384-016-2659-6. Epub 2016 Sep 30. — View Citation

* Note: There are 16 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	EORTC-QLQ-C30	Quality of Life change with treatment. Scale scores are calculated by averaging items within scales and transforming average scores linearly. All of the scales range in score from 0 to 100. A high score for a functional scale represents a high/healthy level of functioning whereas a high score for a symptom scale or item represents a high level of symptomatology or problems. For more details, are available in the EORTC QLQ-C30 Scoring Manual (Fayers et al., 2001)	Monthly for the seven months of the trial
Secondary	LARS Score	Bowel function over the course of treatment. Scores range from 0 to 42 0-20: No LARS 21-29: Minor LARS 30-42: Major LARS	Monthly for the seven months of the trial
Secondary	Satisfaction Survey	Satisfaction survey based on LARS Consensus Definition symptoms and consequences	Monthly for the seven months of the trial
Secondary	Bowel diaries	Standardize measure of the number of bowel movement per day	Will be taken in first and last 2 week periods of each treatment groups