Cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy (CAES) is a new interventional therapy for internal hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse under colonoscopy. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of CAES in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse are still not clear due to the lack of large sample studies. Therefore, a nationwide multi-center, large sample, prospective and cohort study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAES in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse, to provide reliable evidence for popularization of this minimally invasive technology.
CAES is an innovative endoscopic sclerotherapy procedure which is different from traditional method. Firstly, the cap added to the front of colonoscope can fully expose the operating field. Secondly, before or during the opportunity of CAES, endoscopist can perform endoscopic differentiation diagnosis (such as tumors, inflammatory bowel disease and others induced hematochezia), endoscopic therapy within lower-gut based on the same colon preparation, thus saving patients' medical cost, physical and mental pain. The last but not least, specially designed length of endoscopic injection needle (eg.10-20 mm) was used in CAES could be helpful for accurately controlling the injection angle, direction, depth under direct vision and to avoid iatrogenic injury due to ectopic injection.The core value of CAES for internal hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse is to provide precise therapy, reduce the iatrogenic injuries, avoid pain during and after therapy. Our pilot studies demonstrated that CAES based on long injection needle is an effective, safe, convenient operation technique. 100% of participants underwent CAES showed sustained clinical efficacy within the 3-month follow-up, with no severe or obvious complications related to CAES. However, the long-term efficacy and safety of CAES in the treatment of internal hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse need to be confirmed by further large sample real world studies.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
10,000
Cap-assisted endoscopic sclerotherapy (CAES) is an innovation technique for having advantages in accurately controlling the injection angle, direction, depth under direct vision of flexible endoscope.
Medical Center for Digestive Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
RECRUITINGRecurrence rate
Recurrence rate defined as the proportion of patients with recurrent hemorrhoids at 24 weeks post-CAES, as derived from patients' self-reported answer. Patients will be considered to have recurrent hemorrhoids when any of the following are recorded: (1) "Unchanged or worse compared with before starting treatment" at 24th week as reported by the patient, or (2) seeking repeat CAES treatment, alternative non-surgical/surgical treatments for internal hemorrhoids within 24weeks (except medication treatment), or (3) presence of any symptoms or events that strongly indicated recurrent hemorrhoids among patients not meeting (1) or (2).
Time frame: 1st week to 24th week
Improvement rate
Bleeding, prolapse, and anal pain had resolved or remitted after CAES. Bleeding is divided into three degrees: 1. No bleeding; 2. 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.There are three degrees of prolapse: 1. No prolapse; 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.NRS pain digital rating scale was adopted, that is, 0-10 was used to represent different degrees of pain, 0 was painless, and 10 was severe pain. 0 painless, 1-3 mild pain (pain does not affect sleep), 4-6 moderate pain, 7-9 severe pain (inability to fall asleep or waking up during sleep), 10 severe pain.
Time frame: 1st day, 1st week, 2nd week and 24th week
Failure rate
Bleeding, prolapse, and anal pain remained the same after CAES. Bleeding is divided into three degrees: 1. No bleeding; 2. 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.There are three degrees of prolapse: 1. No prolapse; 2: occasionally; 3: quite often.NRS pain digital rating scale was adopted, that is, 0-10 was used to represent different degrees of pain, 0 was painless, and 10 was severe pain. 0 painless, 1-3 mild pain (pain does not affect sleep), 4-6 moderate pain, 7-9 severe pain (inability to fall asleep or waking up during sleep), 10 severe pain.
Time frame: 1st day, 1st week, 2nd week and 24th week
Three-level EuroQol five dimensions (ED-5Q) health scale scores
The ED-5Q questionnaire includes five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression), with three levels in each dimension (no/moderate/severe problem). Through the Chinese time trade-off (TTO) value table, the health status of five dimensions will be converted into a preference weight of a ED-5Q index score for further analysis.
Time frame: 24th week
Adverse events (AEs)
AEs refer to adverse medical events that occurs during or after CAES, including bleeding, anal pain, having difficulties in passing gas and defecation, infection, ulcer/bleeding in the injection points under endoscopic examination (5-7 days after CAES) and other symptoms.
Time frame: 1st day, 1st week, 2nd week and 24th week
severe adverse events (SAEs) severe adverse events (SAEs) severe adverse events (SAEs) Severe adverse events (SAEs)
SAEs include serious complications directly or indirectly related to the CAES, such as death, bleeding, perforation, infection.
Time frame: 1st day, 1st week, 2nd week and 24th week
Participants' attitudes toward CAES
The survey on the satisfaction with CAES efficacy, and the willingness to recommend CAES to others.
Time frame: 24th week
Symptom severity score
Symptom severity score: five questions about hemorrhoidal symptoms (anal pain, prolapse, itching, soiling, and blood loss) will be self-assessed by patients by answering how often each symptom was encountered (never, sometimes, weekly, or daily). The score is the sum of the points from all five questions, ranging from 0 to 15 points, where an increase in number is an increase in symptom.
Time frame: 1day and 24 weeks
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