Per Oral Versus Intravenous Postoperative Antibiotics After Surgery for Complicated Appendicitis. (PIPA)

Zealand University Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Complicated Appendicitis

Treatments: Drug: Antibiotic

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04803422

P-2021-27

Details and patient eligibility

About

The PIPA trial is a prospective, multicentre, cluster randomized cluster crossover non-inferiority study. We aim to test whether a three-day postoperative course of per oral antibiotics is non-inferior to a three-day postoperative course of intravenous antibiotics as standard care after laparoscopic surgery for complicated appendicitis in regards to the risk of postoperative intraabdominal abscess formation within 30-days

Full description

Complicated appendicitis increases the risk of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess. Treatment of complicated appendicitis are usually with a postoperative course of intravenous antibiotics. There is need for a study confirming the results of retrospective studies showing that a postoperative course of oral antibiotics is not inferior to intravenous antibiotics after laparoscopic surgery for complicated appendicitis.

The PIPA trial will be a prospective, multicenter, cluster randomized cluster crossover non-inferiority study designed to test whether a three-day postoperative course of per oral antibiotics is non-inferior to a three-day postoperative course of intravenous antibiotics as standard care after laparoscopic surgery for complicated appendicitis in regards to the risk of postoperative intraabdominal abscess formation within 30-days. Participating hospitals will be randomized to either a 6-month period with a per oral antibiotic regime followed by a 6-month period with an intravenous antibiotic regime, or 6-month period with an intravenous antibiotic regime followed by a 6-month period with a per oral antibiotic regime for the postoperative treatment after laparoscopic surgery for complicated appendicitis. Primary outcome will be the incidence of intra-abdominal abscess by the postoperative day 30.

The study duration has been extended by three months in both arms, totaling six months, due to insufficient patient recruitment. By addressing this challenge, the research team seeks to achieve a more representative sample size to ensure robust and reliable research outcomes.

Enrollment: 3,193 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• On cluster level, hospitals with emergency surgical admissions performing laparoscopic appendectomies are eligible for inclusion.
• On an individual level, participants are eligible for inclusion if they undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis (both uncomplicated and complicated), are ≥ 18 years of age, and provide a signed written consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Exclusion criteria are specifically related to the therapy and individual participants will be excluded if they undergo any other procedures than laparoscopic appendectomy during index surgery.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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3,193 participants in 2 patient groups

Arm 1- Postoperative Course

Active Comparator group

Description:

Pre-or intraoperative antibiotics (both uncomplicated and complicated) appendicits: Single-dose inj. Metronidazole and Pipperacillin/Tazobactam. In case of allergy to penicillin: Single-dose inj. Metronidazole and intravenous inj. Cefuroxim. First 6 month: Tablet Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid and Tablet Metronidazole.In case of allergy to Penicillin: Tablet Metronidazole and Tablet Ciprofloxacillin. Last 6 month: Intravenous Metronidazole and Intravenous Pipperacillin / Tazobactam. In case of allergy to penicillin: Intravenous Metronidazole and Intravenous Cefuroxim.

Treatment:

Drug: Antibiotic

Arm 2 - Postoperative Course

Active Comparator group

Description:

Pre-or intraoperative antibiotics (both uncomplicated and complicated) appendicits: Single-dose inj. Metronidazole and Pipperacillin/Tazobactam. In case of allergy to penicillin: Single-dose inj. Metronidazole and intravenous inj. Cefuroxim. First 6 month: Intravenous Metronidazole and Intravenous Pipperacillin / Tazobactam. In case of allergy to penicillin: Intravenous Metronidazole and Intravenous Cefuroxim. Last 6 month: Tablet Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid and Tablet Metronidazole.In case of allergy to Penicillin: Tablet Metronidazole and Tablet Ciprofloxacillin.

Treatment:

Drug: Antibiotic