Visible Abdominal Distension

NCT ID: NCT06369753

Last Updated: 2025-10-31

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-30

Study Completion Date

2026-10-31

Brief Summary

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Background. Abdominal distention is produced by an abnormal somatic postural tone. The authors developed an original biofeedback technique. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial the authors demonstrated the superiority of biofeedback over placebo for the treatment of abdominal distention. However, the technique is technically complex and unpractical.

Aim. To prove the efficacy of a noninstrumental biofeedback technique, transmitted by a standard training program, for the treatment of abdominal distension in different centers.

Selection criteria. Episodes of visible abdominal distension. Intervention. Patients will be randomized into biofeedback and placebo groups. Three sessions of either biofeedback or placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period.

Biofeedback: Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. In each center one operator will receive a standard training on how to deliver the noninstrumental biofeedback treatment. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Placebo: Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Dyspepsia Functional Bloating

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Biofeedback

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Biofeedback

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Three sessions of biofeedback intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period

Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Three sessions of placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Interventions

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Biofeedback

Three sessions of biofeedback intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Placebo

Three sessions of placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* episodes of visible abdominal distension triggered by meal ingestion

Exclusion Criteria

* organic cause detected by clinical work-up
* constipation
* abdominal distension not confirmed by the 7-day clinical questionnaires in the pre- intervention evaluation
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Fernando Azpiroz, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University Hospital Vall d'Hebron

Locations

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G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience

Los Angeles, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Bordeaux University Hospital

Bordeaux, , France

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Santa Orsola Hospital

Bologna, , Italy

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron

Barcelona, , Spain

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Sahlgrenska Hospital, Gothenburg

Gothenburg, , Sweden

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Manchester University

Manchester, , United Kingdom

Site Status ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Countries

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United States Canada France Italy Spain Sweden United Kingdom

Central Contacts

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Fernando Azpiroz, MD

Role: CONTACT

34 932746259

Jordi Serra, MD

Role: CONTACT

34 932746259

Facility Contacts

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Lin Chang, M.D.

Role: primary

(310) 206-0192

Premysl Bercic, M.D.

Role: primary

(905) 525-9140

Jordi Serra, M.D

Role: primary

34932746259

Fernando Azpiroz, MD

Role: backup

References

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Barba E, Livovsky DM, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Thoracoabdominal Wall Motion-Guided Biofeedback Treatment of Abdominal Distention: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Gastroenterology. 2024 Aug;167(3):538-546.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.005. Epub 2024 Mar 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38467383 (View on PubMed)

Barba E, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Correction of Abdominal Distention by Biofeedback-Guided Control of Abdominothoracic Muscular Activity in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Dec;15(12):1922-1929. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.052. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28705783 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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PR(AG)459/2023B

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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