Hybrid Endoscopic Stricturotomy Plus Balloon Dilation Versus Stricturotomy Alone for Short Crohn's Disease Strictures

NCT ID: NCT06958159

Last Updated: 2025-07-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-29
• Study Completion Date: 2027-05-15

Brief Summary

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that can lead to inflammation and narrowing (strictures) of the intestine, causing symptoms like pain, bloating, and difficulty with bowel movements. These strictures are often treated with endoscopic procedures such as balloon dilation or stricturotomy to widen the narrowed segments and relieve symptoms.

The HEIST Study is a randomized clinical trial designed to compare two endoscopic treatment strategies for short Crohn's disease-related strictures (less than 3 centimeters in length). One group will undergo endoscopic stricturotomy alone, while the other group will receive a combination of stricturotomy followed by balloon dilation (hybrid approach).

The goal is to determine whether the hybrid approach improves long-term outcomes such as symptom relief, reduced need for repeat procedures, and avoidance of surgery. Patients will be followed for 12 months after treatment to assess durability of response, quality of life, and any complications or additional interventions needed.

This study aims to provide high-quality evidence to guide endoscopic treatment of intestinal strictures in Crohn's disease and to help identify the most effective and safest approach for long-term symptom control.

Detailed Description

The HEIST Study (Hybrid Endoscopic Stricturotomy Plus Balloon Dilation Versus Endoscopic Stricturotomy Alone for Short Strictures in Crohn's Disease) is a prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to compare two endoscopic treatment strategies for short, fibrotic strictures in patients with Crohn's disease. The trial specifically evaluates whether the addition of balloon dilation to endoscopic stricturotomy improves clinical outcomes compared to stricturotomy alone.

Eligible patients will have symptomatic, non-angulated strictures less than 3 centimeters in length, located in the colon or neo-terminal ileum. Participants will be randomly assigned during colonoscopy to receive either (1) endoscopic stricturotomy alone or (2) endoscopic stricturotomy followed by balloon dilation using a controlled radial expansion balloon (up to 18 mm diameter). Interventions will be performed using a therapeutic colonoscope and either a needle knife or insulated-tip knife, followed by balloon inflation if applicable.

All procedures will be carried out by experienced interventional endoscopists using a standardized protocol. Patients will be evaluated at baseline, immediately post-procedure, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following the intervention. The follow-up includes clinical symptom scoring using the Crohn's Disease Obstructive Symptom Score, adverse event monitoring, quality of life assessment, and documentation of any further endoscopic or surgical intervention.

The primary outcome is the rate of clinical success at 12 months, defined as sustained symptom improvement without the need for repeat endoscopic or surgical intervention. Secondary outcomes include technical success, rate of complications (e.g., bleeding, perforation), time to re-intervention, and changes in quality of life metrics.

By evaluating these two commonly used endoscopic techniques in a randomized design with 12-month follow-up, the HEIST Study aims to provide evidence to optimize endoscopic treatment of short strictures in Crohn's disease and support treatment decisions in routine clinical practice.

Conditions

Crohn Disease (CD)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Endoscopic Stricturotomy Alone

Participants in this arm will undergo endoscopic stricturotomy alone for the treatment of short (\<3 cm), fibrotic, symptomatic Crohn's disease strictures. The procedure will be performed using a needle knife or insulated-tip knife during colonoscopy, following a standardized protocol.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Endoscopic Stricturotomy

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Endoscopic stricturotomy is performed using either a needle knife or an insulated-tip (IT) knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), selected based on the location and morphology of the stricture. Electrosurgical cutting is delivered using the Endo Cut I mode on an ERBE VIO 300D or VIO 3 electrosurgical unit (Erbe Elektromedizin, Germany), with standardized settings: Effect 3, Cut Duration 1, Cut Interval 3.

Radial incisions are initially made across the stricture, followed by circumferential cutting in non-ulcerated areas to relieve luminal narrowing. The goal is to achieve adequate stricture opening while minimizing the risk of perforation.

Hybrid Endoscopic Stricturotomy Plus Balloon Dilation

Participants in this arm will undergo hybrid therapy consisting of endoscopic stricturotomy followed by controlled radial expansion balloon dilation of the stricture during the same session. The procedure is intended to enhance luminal patency and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Endoscopic Stricturotomy

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Endoscopic stricturotomy is performed using either a needle knife or an insulated-tip (IT) knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), selected based on the location and morphology of the stricture. Electrosurgical cutting is delivered using the Endo Cut I mode on an ERBE VIO 300D or VIO 3 electrosurgical unit (Erbe Elektromedizin, Germany), with standardized settings: Effect 3, Cut Duration 1, Cut Interval 3.

Radial incisions are initially made across the stricture, followed by circumferential cutting in non-ulcerated areas to relieve luminal narrowing. The goal is to achieve adequate stricture opening while minimizing the risk of perforation.

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Endoscopic balloon dilation is performed using a Controlled Radial Expansion (CRE) balloon (Boston Scientific, USA). The size of the balloon is selected based on the estimated diameter of the stricture, presence or absence of ulceration, and the anatomical location.

The balloon is gradually inflated under endoscopic visualization to a maximum diameter of 12-20 mm, tailored to the baseline luminal narrowing. The balloon is maintained at full inflation for 60 seconds to achieve controlled and uniform dilation of the stricture.

Interventions

Endoscopic Stricturotomy

Endoscopic stricturotomy is performed using either a needle knife or an insulated-tip (IT) knife (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), selected based on the location and morphology of the stricture. Electrosurgical cutting is delivered using the Endo Cut I mode on an ERBE VIO 300D or VIO 3 electrosurgical unit (Erbe Elektromedizin, Germany), with standardized settings: Effect 3, Cut Duration 1, Cut Interval 3.

Radial incisions are initially made across the stricture, followed by circumferential cutting in non-ulcerated areas to relieve luminal narrowing. The goal is to achieve adequate stricture opening while minimizing the risk of perforation.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Endoscopic Balloon Dilation

Endoscopic balloon dilation is performed using a Controlled Radial Expansion (CRE) balloon (Boston Scientific, USA). The size of the balloon is selected based on the estimated diameter of the stricture, presence or absence of ulceration, and the anatomical location.

The balloon is gradually inflated under endoscopic visualization to a maximum diameter of 12-20 mm, tailored to the baseline luminal narrowing. The balloon is maintained at full inflation for 60 seconds to achieve controlled and uniform dilation of the stricture.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults aged 18 to 65 years.
• Diagnosed Crohn's disease based on clinical, endoscopic, histologic, or radiologic criteria.
• Presence of fibrotic or mixed strictures measuring less than 3 cm in length.
• A maximum of two strictures per patient.
• Strictures located in endoscopically accessible sites

Exclusion Criteria

• Predominantly ulcerated or active inflammatory strictures.
• Strictures longer than 3 cm.
• Strictures not accessible via standard colonoscopy.
• Pregnancy.
• Three or more strictures identified in a single patient.
• Prior endoscopic stricturotomy at the same stricture site.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, India

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Asian Institute of Gastroenterology

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

India

Central Contacts

Partha Pal, MD, DNB, MRCP (UK), FASGE

Role: CONTACT

partha0123456789@gmail.com

+91-8945906823

Facility Contacts

Duvvuru Nageshwar Reddy, MD, DM, MASGE, FACG, AGAF

Role: primary

aigindia@yahoo.co.in

+91-40-23378888

References

Lan N, Shen B. Endoscopic Stricturotomy Versus Balloon Dilation in the Treatment of Anastomotic Strictures in Crohn's Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2018 Mar 19;24(4):897-907. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izx085.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 29546384 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

AIG/IEC-BH&R 65/12.2024-04

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id