Prospective Multicenter Randomized Comparative Study of the Treatment of de Novo Stenosis in Chron's Disease. (ENDOCIR)

Prospective Multicenter Randomized Comparative Study of the Treatment of de Novo Stenosis in Chron's Disease.

Prospective Multicenter Randomized Comparative Study of the Treatment of de Novo Stenosis in Crohn's Disease. Endoscopic Treatment (Self-expanding Metal Prosthesis/Ballon Dilation) vc Surgical Resection (ENDOCIR STUDY)

Stenosis is one of the most frequent complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), causing greater morbidity and increasing the probability of repeated surgery and short bowel syndrome (1-3). Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is clearly the treatment of choice for short stenoses located at the anastomosis of previous surgeries (4-6). However, there is no scientific evidence for determining the most appropriate treatment for de novo stenosis less than 10 cm in length (surgical versus endoscopic treatment), both in terms of efficacy and complications. Neither has it been established which of these two approaches has a greater impact on the quality of life of patients and on costs.

In many cases, a surgical approach allows for the removal of the entire inflamed intestine. However, the percentage of post-surgical recurrence per year after surgery is 80-85% (7), decreasing to 40% in patients who begin preventive immunosuppressive treatment in the immediate post-surgery period (8). This means that more than 40% of patients will require combined immunosuppression to keep CD under control one year after surgery. Endoscopic treatment does not remove the affected intestine. However, it has a long-term therapeutic efficacy of 50-60% with a very low percentage of complications (4-6%). A large number of studies have shown that patients' quality of life improves when CD is properly controlled, either through medical or surgical treatment (9). However, there are no studies evaluating the quality of life of patients after endoscopic treatment. Neither are there comparative studies of the costs of the two procedures. However, a recent study comparing the cost of 38 endoscopic procedures with their surgical equivalent suggested that, in most cases, the cost of endoscopic treatment is four times lower (10). The European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) guidelines on the management of de novo stenosis in patients with CD recommend surgery as the first option, based on expert opinion (Level of Evidence 4), although there are no studies comparing the two treatment modalities (11,12). A Spanish multicenter study coordinated by researchers involved in the present project (Andujar X, et al)(13), which included the largest published series of endoscopic treatment with dilation in patients with CD to date, shows that therapeutic success with EBD in de novo stenoses is achieved in a large percentage of cases, with results similar to those obtained in post-surgical stenoses (73% vs 84%). In addition, CD stenoses can be treated effectively with self-expanding metal stents (SEMS), and it has been suggested that these may be particularly indicated in patients who are refractory to balloon dilation, including both de novo and anastomotic stenosis patients (14-17). Therefore, in order to compare the efficacy of these two endoscopic treatments, the PROTDILAT study (IP: C Loras. Project FIS nº Pl13/01226 and Clinical Trials. Gov nº NCT02395354) was designed, and is currently in the final manuscript writing phase (100 patients included). The final results (Andújar X, UEGW 2019)(18) confirm that both procedures are effective and safe in the treatment of both post-surgical and de novo stenosis, while showing the therapeutic superiority of EBD over SEMS when the results are evaluated globally (80.5 vs 51.3 %; primary end point). However, this difference is not observed in the subanalysis of patients with stenosis ≥4 cm (LBD: 66.7% vs PMA: 63.6%) but with a significantly lower cost in EDB treatment (EDB 1,212.41 euros vs PMA 3,615.07 euros). Therefore, SEMS may have a role to play in longer stenosis in which EBD has proven to be less efficacious. This work has been conceived as an exploratory proof of concept study, given that there are currently no studies comparing surgical and endoscopic approaches and it is therefore difficult to calculate the adequate sample size.

A prospective multicenter randomized comparative study of the treatment of de novo stenosis due to CD, comparing endoscopic treatment (stent or EBD) vs. surgical resection (SR). The type of endoscopic treatment will be initially with EBD and if a failure treatment occurred then a SEMS will be placed.

Post-procedural admission in the Short Stay Unit (SSU). Superficial sedation by endoscopist or anesthesiologist depending on the center. Pneumatic balloon type CRE Boston scientific®; diameter of the balloon at the endoscopist's discretion. A maximum of 2 dilations will be performed with a minimum interval of 15-30 days between each dilation. Dilation failure will be considered if > 2 dilations are required.

Post-procedural admission in the Short Stay Unit (SSU). Superficial sedation by endoscopist or anesthesiologist depending on the center. Fully coated, self-expanding Tae Woong medical®-type metal prostheses; size of the prostheses at the discretion of the endoscopist Clips can be placed at the distal end of the prosthesis at the endoscopist's discretion. Removal time of the prosthesis 4 weeks.

The type of endoscopic treatment will be initially with EBD and if a failure treatment occurred then a SEMS will be placed.

Percentage of patients with an increase of more than 30 points in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ-32) quality of life index. The higher the better.

Percentage of patients with clinical recurrence (scale of obstructive symptoms 0-6) and costs. The lower the better.

Inclusion Criteria: 18-80 years of age. Crohn's disease with predominantly de novo fibrotic stenosis* confirmed by endoscopic and radiological tests, accessible by endoscopy (colonoscopy). Patients with known stenosis previously treated with stenting and/or dilation performed over one year before the date of inclusion. Symptomatology of intestinal occlusion-subocclusion. Refractoriness to conventional medical treatment (non-response to the usual accelerated step-up therapeutic approach). Stenosis length < 10 cm. Maximum of 2 stenoses. Informed consent from patient. Exclusion Criteria: No informed consent from the patient. Complicated stenosis with abscess, fistula or significant activity associated with CD not limited to the area of the stenosis. Patients with known stenosis previously treated with stenting and/or dilation performed < 1 year before the date of inclusion. Pregnancy or lactation. Any clinical situation that prevents the performance of endoscopy or surgery. Stenosis not accessible by endoscopy. Asymptomatic patient. Stenosis length ≥ 10 cm. Presents with > 2 stenoses. Severe coagulation disorders (platelets < 70000; INR > 1.8).

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Multicenter prospective randomized study to compare endoscopic treatment of strictures in crohn´s disease: self-expanding metal stents vs endoscopic balloon dilation. Protdilat study. Andujar X, Loras Alastruey C, Gornals J.B, Guardiola J., Sanchiz V., Bosca M., Brullet E., Sicília Aladrén B., Naranjo Rodríguez A., Martín-Arranz M.D., Dueñas-Sadornil C., Foruny J.R., Barrio Andrés J., Monfort Miquel D., Busquets Casals D., Pineda J.R., Pérez-Roldán F., Pons Beltrán V., González-Huix Lladó F., Sainz E., Gonzalez B.9,, Reyes Moreno J., Fernández-Bañares F.9,, Esteve M. 27rd United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW). Barcelona 2019. UNITED EUROPEAN GASTROENTEROLOGY Barcelona 22- 24 October 2019.