MedPath

A Clinical Trial Using Spy Elite System in Planning Tissue Advancement Flaps After Ventral Hernia Repair

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Ventral Hernia
Registration Number
NCT01886963
Lead Sponsor
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to assess the efficacy of the Spy Elite System (LifeCell Corporation, Branchburg, NJ, USA) in planning tissue advancement flaps and reducing wound complications after complex ventral hernia repairs. Complex ventral hernia repairs are associated with a high rate of wound complications. To a large degree these complications are caused by creating tissue advancement flaps to close the abdomen, which can compromise the blood supply to the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The current standard of care for assessment of blood perfusion to the flaps is a surgeon's clinical judgment. It is, however, often inaccurate. The Spy Elite System was developed to address this problem. The Spy Elite System is a device that enables surgeons to visualize and evaluate tissue perfusion in real time. It can help the surgeon to identify optimal flap design and reduce the risk of postoperative wound complications related to tissue ischemia. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Spy Elite System to aid a surgeon in creating tissue flaps with adequate blood supply through a prospective, randomized clinical trial. The Spy Elite System has been used successfully for assessing the viability of mastectomy flaps in breast surgery and has been shown to be extremely sensitive in predicting mastectomy flap necrosis. However, no clinical trial has been conducted in order to evaluate the efficacy of the Spy Elite System for assessing the viability of abdominal subcutaneous flaps in complex ventral hernia repairs.

Detailed Description

More than 90,000 ventral hernia repairs are performed in the US annually. Large ventral hernias often require a complex abdominal wall reconstruction including creating tissue advancement flaps. Complex abdominal wall reconstructions are associated with up to 20% rate of wound complications including skin flap necrosis and wound breakdowns. Prevention of skin necrosis and ischemia would significantly reduce the morbidity associated with these procedures.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
115
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with ventral hernia that will require tissue advancement flaps at time of hernia repair
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • ASA score IV or above
  • Age < 18 years
  • Patients with iodine allergy
  • Patients with current wound or mesh infection
  • Pregnant patients
  • Patients with End Stage Renal Disease

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of Participants With Wound Complications12 Weeks

breakdown, necrosis, erythema, infection, or dehiscence with location specified

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center

🇺🇸

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center
🇺🇸Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.