Steroid Impregnated Tape in the Treatment of Over-granulating Peritoneal Dialysis Exit Sites

Phase 3CompletedNCT01996930

University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust32 enrolled

Overview

Kidney failure is a devastating illness requiring treatment with dialysis or transplantation to preserve life. Individuals unable to have transplants are managed by peritoneal dialysis (PD)or haemodialysis (HD). PD involves the placement of a soft, flexible plastic tube (catheter) into the abdomen, allowing dialysis fluid to be drained in and out of the peritoneal cavity. This catheter exits from a hole in the abdomen and occasionally patients can have complications at this exit site. One possible complication is over-granulation. Over-granulation occurs as the wound attempts to heal and the skin around the exit site becomes red,'wet','bumpy' and stands 'proud' of the surrounding skin. An over-granulating exit site can lead to discomfort, pain, bleeding and harbour infection. More serious complications include dialysis failure, sepsis and death. There are several ways to treat over-granulation but there is limited research evidence to demonstrate which treatment is best. The study aims to compare current standard treatment which involves the application of silver nitrate by qualified nursing staff to chemically burn the tissue away, with an alternative treatment which involves the application of steroid impregnated tape to the area of over-granulating tissue by the patient themselves.

This study will be a United Kingdom wide multi-centre trial. A minimum of 40 patients in each arm will be recruited. Subjects will be identified using a standardised exit site assessment tool by PD nurses in participating units during the routine care of their PD population. Any subject with an over-granulating exit site deemed to meet the agreed standard for treatment will be invited to participate. Therapy will be administered for two weeks followed by an additional two weeks if clinically indicated. Treatment must be according to randomisation for the first 28 days. If after 14 days the over-granulation is worse than at day 0, then a medical decision to continue treatment may be taken. A further two weeks of the designated treatment may then be administered although this can be discontinued at any point if a satisfactory clinical response is observed.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Subject has been established on PD for \> 3 months * Subject has an over-granulating exit site judged to require treatment according to standard (appendix 1) * If patient has exit site infection, they must currently be treated with antibiotics and the site must be clinically improving. * Subject is \> 18 years of age * Subject is able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Subject has had peritonitis treated in the previous month * Subject has been treated with silver nitrate or topical steroids in the previous 2 weeks * Subject is receiving oral steroids * Patient is unable to give informed consent * Patient is participating in a clinical trial of an intervention relating to PD catheters. * Subject is pregnant or unwilling to use an effective method of contraception during the course of the study

Locations (8)

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

Exeter, United Kingdom

Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

Hull, United Kingdom

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Leeds, United Kingdom

Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester, United Kingdom

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield, United Kingdom

University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust

Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Complete response rate in over-granulation severity

The primary research objective of this study is to assess the total response at 14 days to treatment with either steroid tape or silver nitrate therapy on the over-granulated tissue surrounding the PD exit site. Assessment is by two blinded independent investigators (patient and therapy administrators will not be blinded to the therapy received). At each of the study visits, a series of photographs will be taken according to a study specific standard operating procedure and the two assessors will score the exit sites from the photographic series. There is no standardised scoring system for over-granulating exit sites so a scale has been devised: Score 1: Complete response:complete disappearance of over-granulation Score 2: Partial response: reduction in size or an obvious reduction in intensity of over-granulation Score 3: No change, appearance identical to that of pre-treatment Score 4: Worse, increase in size or increased intensity of over-granulation

Time frame: 14 days

Secondary Outcomes

Partial response rate of over-granulation to treatment

Partial response rate of over-granulation to treatment by either silver nitrate or steroid impregnated tape will assessed by two blinded independent investigators (patient and therapy administrators will not be blinded to the therapy received). At each of the study visits, a series of photographs will be taken according to a study specific standard operating procedure and the two assessors will score the exit sites from the photographic series. There is no standardised scoring system for over-granulating exit sites so a scale has been devised: Score 1: Complete response:complete disappearance of over-granulation Score 2: Partial response: reduction in size or an obvious reduction in intensity of over-granulation Score 3: No change, appearance identical to that of pre-treatment Score 4: Worse, increase in size or increased intensity of over-granulation

Time frame: 14 days and 28 days

Recurrence of over-granulation

Following treatment, what is the rate of recurrence of over-granulation tissue at Day 28 and Day 56 of the study. The local investigators will assess the exit site at protocol defined study visits using a standardised exit site assessment tool.

Time frame: at 28 days and 56 days

Exit site infection rate

Following treatment, what is the rate of exit site infections within 28 and 56 days (An exit site infection is defined as occurring when a clinician decides treatment with antibiotics is required)

Time frame: within 28 days and 56 days

Exit site swab results

At defined time points the exit site will be swabbed by trained staff to detect the presence of micro-organisms

Time frame: Baseline (Day 0), Day 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28 and Day 56

Patient reported pain, discomfort and satisfaction score

The study will assess patient reported pain and discomfort as well as satisfaction in terms of convenience and ease of use, with the treatment they received to treat their over-granulation tissue, through completion of a short non-validated patient questionnaire.

Time frame: Baseline (Day 0), Day 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28 and Day 56

Occurrence of redness, ulceration or infection using a standardised exit site assessment tool

The local investigators will assess the exit site at protocol defined study visits using a standardised exit site assessment tool.

Time frame: Baseline (Day 0), Day 7, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28, Day 56