MedPath

Packing of Perianal Abscess Cavities

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Perianal Infections
Abscess; Anus
Peri Rectal Abscess
Abscess Anorectal
Perianal Abscess
Interventions
Other: External dressing
Other: Packing of perianal abscess cavity
Registration Number
NCT03315169
Lead Sponsor
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

The aim of this trial is to compare internal wound packing to no packing in postoperative management following incision and drainage of perianal abscess. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to either the packing or non-packing arm.

Detailed Description

Perianal abscess is common, affecting 18,000 patients annually in England. Management has remained largely unchanged for over 50 years, and comprises surgical incision and drainage followed by continued internal wound dressing (packing) until healed. Packing is thought to reduce the rate of recurrent abscess and perianal fistula; a known complication of perianal abscess. Perianal fistula frequently requires multiple operations to resolve. The evidence for postoperative packing is limited¹ and may expose patients to painful procedures with no clinical benefit, and at considerable increased cost².

A multi-centre observational study of outcomes after drainage of perianal abscess (PPAC²) (n=141) found packing to be painful (2-3 fold increase in Visual Analogue Score pain scores during packing) and costly (estimated cost of £280 per patient; overall cost in the United Kingdom of £5 million annually). Fistula rate was 27%.

This study is a randomised controlled trial designed to assess whether there are differences between non-packing and packing of the perianal abscess cavity in terms of the short term negative effects of packing (pain, quality of life, return to work) whilst assessing the impact on key clinical outcomes (wound healing, fistulae formation) and resource use/cost.

All participants will be required to complete pain diaries following discharge from hospital. Clinical follow up to assess healing and other key clinical outcomes will take place at 4, 8 (if not healed at 4 weeks) and 26 weeks. Further data will be collected from National Health Service Registries at 52 weeks in order to assess abscess recurrences and fistulae formation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
433
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Aged 18 or over
  2. Undergoing surgical incision and drainage of a primary perianal abscess
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Suspected inflammatory bowel disease
  2. Fournier's Gangrene
  3. Horseshoe (bilateral) abscess
  4. Fistula-in-ano
  5. Multiple abscess

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
External dressingExternal dressingExternal application of a non-adherent dressing to the perianal abscess cavity.
Packing of perianal abscess cavityPacking of perianal abscess cavityInternal packing of perianal abscess cavity as per normal practice.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Wound-related pain intensityMean score over first 10 post-operative days

Wound-related pain intensity (worst pain during previous 24 hours) measured using a single 100mm Visual Analogue Scale where 0 represents 'no pain' and 100 represents 'worst pain possible'. The pain Visual Analogue Scale is a continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line 100mm in length, anchored by 2 verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme, where 0 represents 'no pain' and 100 represents 'worst pain possible'. The mean score over the first 10 post-operative days will be used.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical diagnosis of perianal abscesses recurrence after healing52 weeks post-operatively

Clinical diagnosis of perianal abscesses recurrence after healing, ascertained either through clinical follow-up as part of trial procedures or via central National Health Service registries.

Time to return to work or normal functionUp to 52 weeks post-operatively

Length of time, measured in days, between operation and return to work or normal function.

Rate of wound healingFour and eight weeks post-operatively

Rate of wound healing (complete epithelialization)

Patient satisfaction with wound managementOn the 21st post-operative day

Patient satisfaction with wound management measured using a five point Likert scale. Patients are asked to mark the extent to which they agree with the statement 'I am satisfied with the way my wound has been treated following my surgery' where 1 equates to 'strongly disagree' and 5 equates to 'strongly agree'.

Dressing useUp to 52 weeks post-operatively

Number of dressings used between time of operation up until week 52.

Health related quality of lifeOn the 21st post-operative day

Health related quality of life measured using EuroQol EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaires. The EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension now has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems. The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number expressing the level selected for that dimension. The digits for 5 dimensions can be combined in a 5-digit number describing the respondent's health state.

Health utilityOn the 21st post-operative day

Health utility measured using EuroQol EQ-5D-5L quality of life questionnaires. The EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension now has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems. The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number expressing the level selected for that dimension. The digits for 5 dimensions can be combined in a 5-digit number describing the respondent's health state.

Chronic post-surgical pain4, 8 and 26 weeks post-operatively

Chronic post-surgical pain measured using the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form. The Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form assesses the severity of pain and the impact on daily functions. Pain is assessed at its "worst," "least," "average," and "now" (current pain), measured on a scale of 1-10 where 1 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "pain as bad as you can imagine". The four items will be represented singly but a composite of the four pain items (a mean score) will be presented as supplemental information. Pain interference (impact of pain on seven daily activities) will be scored as the mean of the seven interference items. These items are scored between 1 and 10, where 1 represents "does not interfere" and 10 represents "completely interferes".

Hospital admission timeUp to 52 weeks post-operatively

Number and length of hospital admissions as recorded in NHS central registries - Hospital Episodes Statistics.

Dressing-change related pain intensityFirst 10 post-operative days

Pain before, during and after dressing change measured using a 100mm Visual Analogue Scale where 0 represents 'no pain' and 100 represents 'worst pain possible'. The pain Visual Analogue Scale is a continuous scale comprised of a horizontal line 100 mm in length, anchored by 2 verbal descriptors, one for each symptom extreme. The mean score for each timepoint (before, during and after) over the first 10 post-operative days will be used.

Health Professional contact timeUp to 52 weeks post-operatively

Number of contacts with a Health Professional regarding perianal abscess or post-surgical complications between time of operation and 52 weeks post-operatively.

CostUp to 52 weeks post-operatively

Cost as applied to resource use data (see outcome 9-12)

Assessment of pain control methods21 days post-operatively

Assessment of pain control methods (i.e. pain control medications) using Patient Global Assessment of the method of pain control where a rating of the pain control method over the past 24 hours is rated as being one of "poor," "fair," "good," or "excellent".

Fistula rateUp ro 52 weeks post-operatively

Fistula rate observed during clinical follow up and through Hospital Episodes Statistics

Trial Locations

Locations (50)

Mew Cross Hospital

🇬🇧

Wolverhampton, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Salford Royal Hospital

🇬🇧

Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Salisbury District Hospital

🇬🇧

Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom

West Middlesex University Hospital (Isleworth)

🇬🇧

Isleworth, Middlesex, United Kingdom

Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

🇬🇧

Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Bath, United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

🇬🇧

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Royal Bolton Hospital

🇬🇧

Bolton, United Kingdom

Blackpool Victoria Hospital

🇬🇧

Blackpool, United Kingdom

Royal Blackburn Hospital

🇬🇧

Blackburn, United Kingdom

Bristol royal Infirmary, University Hospitals Bristol

🇬🇧

Bristol, United Kingdom

Southmead Hospital North Bristo; NHS Trust

🇬🇧

Bristol, United Kingdom

University Hospital of Wales (Cardiff)

🇬🇧

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Addenbrooke's Hospital

🇬🇧

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Chesterfield, United Kingdom

Victoria Hospital (Fife)

🇬🇧

Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

🇬🇧

Coventry, United Kingdom

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital

🇬🇧

Exeter, United Kingdom

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

🇬🇧

Lancaster, United Kingdom

Aintree Hospital

🇬🇧

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

🇬🇧

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Royal Glamorgan Hospital

🇬🇧

Llantrisant, United Kingdom

Manchester Royal Infirmary

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

Macclesfield District General Hospital

🇬🇧

Macclesfield, United Kingdom

Newcastle Upon Tyne University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Newcastle, United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital

🇬🇧

Margate, United Kingdom

Wythenshawe Hospital

🇬🇧

Manchester, United Kingdom

Royal Gwent Hospital

🇬🇧

Newport, United Kingdom

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

🇬🇧

Norwich, United Kingdom

Royal Alexandra Hospital

🇬🇧

Paisley, United Kingdom

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

🇬🇧

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Derriford Hospital

🇬🇧

Plymouth, United Kingdom

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Southampton General Hospital

🇬🇧

Southampton, United Kingdom

Warrington Hospital

🇬🇧

Warrington, United Kingdom

Arrowe Park Hospital

🇬🇧

Upton, United Kingdom

Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

🇬🇧

Wrexham, United Kingdom

Sandwell Hospital, SWBH NHS Trust

🇬🇧

West Bromwich, United Kingdom

Royal Albert and Edward Infirmary

🇬🇧

Wigan, United Kingdom

Warwick Hospital, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust

🇬🇧

Warwick, United Kingdom

Yeovil District Hospital

🇬🇧

Yeovil, United Kingdom

John Radcliffe Hospital

🇬🇧

Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

🇬🇧

Portsmouth, United Kingdom

Pindersfields General Hospital

🇬🇧

Wakefield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

🇬🇧

Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Bangor Hospital, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

🇬🇧

Bangor, United Kingdom

Furness General Hospital

🇬🇧

Barrow In Furness, United Kingdom

Birmingham Heartlands Hospital

🇬🇧

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Broomfield Hospital

🇬🇧

Chelmsford, United Kingdom

Countess of Chester

🇬🇧

Chester, United Kingdom

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