Multicenter Study Of Plastic Vs. Self-expanding Metal Stents In Endoscopic Ultrasound-drainage Of Walled-off Pancreatic Necrosis – Prometheus: A Randomised Controlled Trial Protocol

Background: It seems that the appearance of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS), are displacing the role of plastic stents in the therapy of pancreatic fluid collection as walled-off necrosis (WON). To date there is no quality of evidence to recommend LAMS as the standard treatment in management of WON. The theoretical benefit of LAMS over PLASTIC stents, need to be proved. Methods/design: This is a multicenter prospective study, superiority, randomized controlled clinical trial by parallel groups, without masking. One hundred fourteen patients with WON will be Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural drained in 9 tertiary hospitals in Spain and will be randomized to the LAMS or PLASTIC stent group. The primary endpoint is to assess the short-term (4 weeks) clinical success determined by the reduction of the collection (to <50% or < 5cm in size), along with clinical improvement. Secondary endpoints: the long-term (4 months) clinical success (total resolution or 5cm); the procedure’s duration, the level of difficulty, safety and recurrences. Discussion: The PROMETHEUS trial has been designed to response if LAMS are superior over PLASTIC stents in the EUS-guided transmural drainage of WON.


Background
The Atlanta classification of pancreatic fluid collection establishes that WON (walled-off necrosis) consists of a variable amount of necrotic tissue within reactive tissue wall. This derives from the encapsulation of acute necrotic collections. 4 Imaging tests reveal a well-defined wall surrounding the collection, the formation of which typically occurs at about four weeks' time from the origin of the acute or chronic pancreatitis. The presence of more necrosis worsens the prognosis; mortality in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis is as high as 15%, and it can reach 30% in patients with infected necrosis [1,2]. In case of symptomatic WON, the drainage is considered, and in the last two decades minimally invasive approaches (surgical or endoscopic) have enjoyed increased acceptance in the management of necrotic collections over open surgical necrosectomy, with fewer adverse events (AE) and less long-term morbidity. Recent trials have shown that endoscopic approaches offer better clinical outcomes, with improvement in quality of life and lower costs [3][4][5][6].
In the last decade, endoscopic techniques such as the use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided transmural drainage have been increasingly used as a first-line option for the treatment of symptomatic WON [5,7]. To date, plastic stents (such as double plastic stents) have been become the mainstay of endoscopic therapy for WON, until the introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) [8][9][10]. There is the hypothesis that the large diameter of LAMS improves the drainage of WON with respect to plastic stents (7-10 Fr) and carry less time-consuming interventions, with a smaller number of endoscopic procedures to achieve final success. Regarding safety, the risk of leakage, perforation, or migration would theoretically be reduced using the specific stent design of LAMS. However, LAMS are more expensive, and their safety is controversial, with a significantly higher rate of adverse events such as bleeding compared with plastic stents [11][12][13][14].
Although some international systematic endoscopic reviews and metaanalysis have recommended LAMS as the care standard for WON drainage, the 5 quality of evidence is not high (retrospective, registry-based, or non-comparative) that LAMS are superior to PLASTIC stents in the management of WON by EUS-guided transmural drainage, and few studies have compared LAMS and plastic stents [15][16][17][18][19][20]. For all these reasons, a multicenter prospective, parallel group, randomized controlled clinical trial was designed to assess whether LAMS are superior to plastic stents in the endoscopic treatment of WON.

Methods/Design
The PROMETHEUS trial is a randomized controlled multicenter prospective clinical trial with two parallel groups, without masking and with 1:1 allocation ratio.
One hundred fourteen patients with WON will be scheduled for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural drainage in nine tertiary Spanish hospitals and will be randomized to the LAMS and PLASTIC stent groups. All the centers are members of the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SEED), which acts as the promoter of this trial.
Central ethical approval of the study protocol has been confirmed from the Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica (CEIC) del Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL (ref approval no. 140/15) and we will not begin recruiting at other centers in the trial until local ethical approval has been obtained. A checklist with the recommendations for interventional trials (SPIRIT) is attached as an additional file (see Appendix 1).

Study population
This clinical trial will be performed at the endoscopy unit of the digestive diseases departments of nine tertiary and university centers in Spain. In order to participate in this study, the patient must be a candidate for guided transmural 6 drainage with EUS of WON-type pancreatic collection as a local complication in acute pancreatitis. The investigator at each center will be contacted to evaluate the inclusion of the patient in the study. The patient will be correctly informed by personnel knowledgeable about the specifics of the study, who will help to resolve any questions that may arise. The informed consent form will be signed in the presence of participating personnel knowledgeable about the study. The patient has the right to opt out of the study at any time.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in Table 2.

Recruitment
Principal investigators from each center will have the task of presenting strategies to promote enrolment and to ensure the target sample size.

Randomization and masking
Patients will be enrolled in this trial by gastroenterologists, surgeons, and endoscopists that will evaluate the cases in the inpatient wards or in outpatient consultation areas. The participants will be randomized with a random number table generated by an online platform.
A code list will be generated by randomization with a 1:1 randomization ratio, by blocks, stratified by centers and by the ASA score. Each individual will be assigned a randomization code along with the treatment that corresponds. Once the patient meets the eligibility criteria and has provided informed consent, we will proceed to the allocation of each participant centrally, ensuring allocation concealment, and based on the randomization list. To prevent different subject recruitment rates at the various hospitals from interfering in the development of the study, the entire population will be randomized in blocks of four between the two treatment possibilities.

Qualification of centers
The participation of a minimum of nine hospitals with an inclusion of about 13-15 patients per year per hospital is required. The investigators at the participating centers will all have experience in endoscopic intervention and therapeutics, previous experience in EUS-guided transmural drainage with metal and plastic stents (>25 overall), and a minimum of 10 procedures per year, in addition to appropriate material at their disposal for carrying out transmural drainage with both types of stent.
General description of the technique Each selected case will ensure a conclusive diagnostic revision with WON. In case of doubt, EUS-guided fine needle aspiration will be considered prior to drainage to rule out cystic tumor. Prophylactic antibiotic prophylaxis will be administered in accordance with the protocol of each center. In case of INR>1.5, this will be corrected in accordance with the protocol of each center until INR <1.5.
Procedures will be performed under deep sedation in accordance with the directives of each center. In case of collection >10 cm (>700mL), tracheal intubation by anesthesiologist is recommended. CO 2 insufflation is recommended, especially of endoscopic necrosectomy. The WON will be localized by using a linear echoendoscope, selecting the appropriate optimal region for carrying out the EUSguided puncture. The collection will be punctured with a 19G needle (plastic or LAMS group) or directly with an electrocauterizing device (freehand technique, only in the LAMS group). The guidewire will be advanced and coiled into the WON cavity.
Then, the transmural ostomy will be carried out in accordance with the normal procedure of the experienced endoscopist. The use of fluoroscope will be decided 8 upon on the basis of technical considerations and the opinion of the endoscopic interventionist. The use (or not) of fluoroscope will be noted in the case report form (CRF). The scale of the ostomy will be determined by the size of the collection (see Table 3).
After the interventional procedure, all inpatients cases will be returned to the hospital ward and will discharged after clinical improvement. Outpatients will spend a minimal of 24 hours under observation and will be discharged the next day unless there is no improvement of symptoms or the appearance of adverse events.

Plastic stent group
Double pigtail plastic stents (5-10 cm length, diameter 7-8,5-10Fr, Advanix, Boston Scientific) will be used. A minimum of one 10Fr pigtail plastic stent will be placed. After initial EUS-guided access, the ostomy will be dilated first, using a cystotome, and secondly with a balloon dilation. The plastic stent will be inserted and delivered following the routine technique of each interventional endoscopist.
Number of plastic stent and size of the balloon used to dilate the ostomy will depend on the WON size and content (see Table 3). The time to plastic stent withdrawal will be considered until total resolution by imaging. If there is pancreatic duct involvement, non-withdrawal of stent will be considered.

Metal group
The metal stents used in this study will be LAMS (10, 15, or 20-mm in diameter, and 10-mm in length, HotAXIOS stent with electrocautery-enhanced delivery system, Boston Sc). This is a self-expanding metal stent totally covered with luminal apposition. After the EUS-guided access into the WON using first a 19G or directly with the electrocautery tip, the delivery system will be advanced into the cavity and the distal flange will be deployed under EUS guidance. Otherwise, the 9 proximal flange will be released under EUS or endoscopic guidance. The time to stent withdrawal will depend on total resolution by imaging. However there will be the intention to remove a LAMS no later than 4-6 weeks.

Additional interventions:
Necrosectomy will be considered in WON with predominantly solid debris, using the technique at the discretion of the endoscopist. In cases that require sessions of endoscopic necrosectomy, the different technical variants described in the literature will be used (irrigation technique with normal saline; mechanical technique using the common devices as snares, Dormia basket or retrieval nets for extraction of necrotic debris; or combined with nasocystic catheters). The periodicity will be every 2-5 days depending on the decision of the expert endoscopist and the clinical evolution of the patient.
Additional comments: In the event of technical failure in the placement of the stent (plastic or LAMS) for any reason, alternative treatment will be decided upon in accordance with the directives of the endoscopic interventionist, with the aim of offering the patient the best possible solution.
The first controls will be on the first day following and at four weeks (see Table 4). If there is no short-term clinical success, the most beneficial therapeutic approach for the patient will be adopted in accordance with the criteria of the patient's medical team (Example: use of technical variants at initial drainage such as placement of coaxial plastic pigtail within the LAMS, replacement or change the stent type, use of nasocystic drainage or other known variants).
Every intervention, diagnostic procedure, and additional therapeutic contribution will be noted in the CRF.
In the case of collections of significant size (ie. 14cm) with clinical-radiological success but without disappearance of the collection (ie. CTMD reduction from 14 cm to 6cm), precluding the removal of the stent, a new CTMD will be performed at 4 weeks (8w) to assess removal of the stent. Therefore, the removal of a stent is contemplated when there is disappearance of the collection or a decrease <5cm.
Patients will remain in the hospital for a minimum of 24 hours for clinical observation, under medical supervision.

Data collection
The collecting of clinical information on the patients will begin at the outset (baseline) and will continue with follow-up as established and defined in the study.
AEs will be noted from the beginning of the test until the conclusion of follow-up by means of scheduled controls.

Calendar
The following time-points and data items will constitute the data collection from the beginning through successive controls: The collecting of data for purposes of documentation will be carried out using a CRF, which will serve as an easily accessed source of information. After collection, the data will be introduced into an electronic database by the participating investigator of each center.

Follow-up
Patients will be assessed (visit, telephone call) on days 1 and 7, at 4, 8, and 16 weeks, and at 6, 8, and 12 months by personnel participating in the study, with the aim of obtaining information regarding signs and symptoms pointing to possible stent obstruction or migration, recurrence, or other AEs.
Any instances of death during the follow-up will be investigated to rule out possible relation to the endoscopic procedure. Such occurrences will also be recorded in the CRF.
If there is clinical suspicion of obstruction or migration of the stent, an upper endoscopy will be carried out. Based on the findings of this procedure, the problem will be resolved in accordance with the directives of the intervening endoscopist.
Any additional procedure or endoscopic intervention will be duly documented.
Complications will be handled and treated in accordance with the directives of the patient's medical team. All additional tests and interventions will be duly documented.

Definitions
The term WON is in accordance with the literature (latest revision of Atlanta, Recurrence is defined as a symptomatic pancreatic collection diagnosed with imaging test during the follow-up of prior procedure with initial clinical success. AEs are defined as undesirable situations suffered by patients during the study, whether related or not to the EUS-guided transmural drainage with a stent (plastic or metal). All AEs referred by patients or observed by the medical team will be duly documented. All serious AEs will be detailed, and the study promoter/principal investigator will be notified within seven days. In the event of a death, notification will be made within 24 hours. AEs will be recorded in both the clinical history of the patient and the CRF, with appropriate medical terminology.
Whenever possible the diagnosis rather than the symptoms will be recorded. These guidelines are to be followed from the time of the signing of informed consent until 30 days after the final visit in the study calendar. AEs will be classified as mild,

Outcomes
The primary outcome is the short-term (4 weeks) clinical success (metal vs. plastic) determined by the reduction of the collection (to <50% or < 5cm in size), along with clinical improvement.
The secondary outcomes are long-term (4 months) clinical success (metal vs. plastic) determined by total resolution or 5cm, along with clinical improvement.
Technical: to assess the duration of the procedure and the level of difficulty. Safety: to assess AE (early and late). Hospital length of stay. Recurrences. Financial: evaluate the relative costs of the two strategies.

Sample size calculation
The sample size calculation is based on the primary hypothesis of detecting statistically significant differences in the percentage of clinical success in the LAMS and plastic stents groups at four weeks after the intervention. Published data suggest that the clinical success rate at 4 weeks in the LAMS group is expected to be 0.75 and in the plastic stent group it is expected to be 0.5. Fifty-seven patients will be recruited in each group to reject the null hypothesis that the proportion of clinical success in the LAMS group is equal to that of the plastic group with an 80% power. The type I error associated with this test will be 5%. To evaluate the hypothesis, the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test will be used depending on of the application criteria. For the calculation, a planned interim analysis will be made for half of the recruitment using O'Brien-Fleming's type I error expense function and a global loss rate of 5%. http://www.stat.ubc.ca/~rollin/stats/ssize/b2.html

Statistical analysis
All study variables will be presented for stent groups and in total, using descriptive statistics consistent with the nature of the variable. The continuous variables will be described indicating the number of non-missing observations, the mean, the standard deviation, the minimum, the first quartile, the median, the third quartile, and the maximum. Categorical variables will be described indicating the number of non-missing observations and the percentages of the different categories by column.
Main analysis: main outcome is the percentage of patients' radiological (morphological) success between transmural drainage of the collection, measured at four weeks from intervention. The null hypothesis suggests that there are no differences between proportions of the intervention group and the control group.
14 The level of statistical significance has been set at 5%. To test the hypothesis, use the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test depending on the application criteria. To quantify the magnitude of the difference, the relative risk of success will be estimated, in the metal stent group with respect to the plastic stent group and its confidence interval will be calculated at 95% Secondary variable analyses: To determine which factors are associated with clinical-radiological success in the short term, a multivariate logistic regression will be carried out. The variables of age and sex, and factors predicting the location of the disease, treatments received, size, and characteristics of the collection, previous ASA, etc. will be taken. In addition, the appearance of clinical recurrence will be considered by means of an analysis of Kaplan-Meier survival. The factors associated with clinical recurrence will be explored through a multivariate Cox proportional risk model and adjustment variables will also be taken.
Subgroup analysis: The main analysis will also be carried out in the following subgroups: ASA patients I-II vs III-IV.
Data Management: Throughout the study the promoters will monitor the quality of the trial with special attention to protocol deviations and the quality of the data entered in the database. At the end of the trial, a meeting will be held to consider the data management report. This report will describe the different deviations from the protocol identified in each of the patients. These deviations will be classified as major or minor, and those patients with major deviations will be excluded from the protocol analysis. After the meeting, the suitability of the database for analysis will be considered, and the database will then be closed.
Statistical analysis plan: The statistical analysis plan will be finalized before the close of the database. This plan will include all the analysis described and others, mainly on the sensitivity of the results and the management of the missing data. In the event that in the plan of statistical analysis there is some deviation in the analysis of the main variable, an addendum to the protocol will be made. No changes will be made to the original analysis plan once the database is closed.

Cost analysis
The procedure for determining the cost of the diagnostic test is made up of several steps: calculation of the unit cost, and accounting for all the costs associated with the test, both direct and indirect. In all these cases, the follow-up of the patients will be maintained until the end of the study according to protocol. Alternatively, if a cross-over treatment or technical variant is not possible, percutaneous surgical or radiological treatment will be offered.
Withdrawal: AE or other clinical condition of the patient which, at the clinician's discretion, warrants withdrawal of the patient from the study e; pregnancy; or expressed wishes of the patient. Withdrawal from treatment will not mean suspension of the study, given that follow-up will be maintained until the end of the study in accordance with the protocol.
Need for surgical intervention for [under study ??]: in these cases, patient follow-up will be ended.

Ethical aspects and confidentiality
The protocol will be approved by the CEIC of each participating hospital as well as that of the coordinating center (HUB). The study researchers will carry out their Before inclusion of the patient in the trial, a written informed consent will be requested. In relation to the study data we will follow the provisions of Organic Law 15/1999 of December 13 on "Protection of Personal Data".

Publication of results
There is a commitment to publish the results of this study in high impact international journals, should the results be of sufficient scientific interest.
However, no patient names will appear in any article, and no one, with the exception of the researchers in this study and the members of the hospital ethical committees, will have access to the data, in accordance with the Law on the At present, endoscopic transmural drainage plus endoscopic necrosectomy represents a viable technique that is reasonably safe and effective when carried out in centers that have experience in doing so. Although each of these is a minimally invasive endoscopic technique, they are not entirely free of complications, the most common of which are bleeding, perforation, post-procedural infection, and stent migration [7,24]. Additionally, with the continuous technological advances being made and the appearance of new materials for endoscopic use, doubts have arisen as to which devices are best to use. One clear example of this uncertainty is the choice of stent. To date, most published studies on guided transmural drainage with endoscopy have involved double pigtail plastic stents, with the number and diameter varying depending on the collection type [23,24]. In the past years, some reports have been published on the use of self-expanding covered metal stents offering greater diameter, and therefore greater volume in the drainage of the collection [25][26][27]. However, both types of stent are intended for bile drainage and are not expressly designed for transmural drainage of abdominal collections, so more dedicated stents were investigated [8].
Recently, LAMS designed for the drainage of pancreatic collections have appeared with demonstrated efficacy in a number of studies but they are also more costly [16][17][18][19][20]. These stents are totally covered and offer a maximum caliber of 15-20 mm, thereby allowing for endoscopic necrosectomy in repeated sessions without the need for replacement. In our experience, they permit transmural drainage of pancreatic collections and endoscopic necrosectomy if it is needed, they are safe and effective, and they reduce the duration of the procedure [10,28].
However, with the increasing use of these stents, significant LAMS-related AEs (ie. severe delayed bleeding, buried stent syndrome, obstruction, migration) have been reported in several papers.
To date there is only one comparative prospective study of self-expanding LAMS type metal stents, versus plastic stents in the endoscopic treatment of WONtype pancreatic collections, and it concluded that there were no significant differences in treatment outcomes between the two. In order to minimize LAMSrelated AEs, they recommend follow-up imaging and LAMS removal at 3 weeks if collection is resolved [29].
The PROMETHEUS trial is supported by the Spanish Society of Digestive Endoscopy and includes nine tertiary centers, as well as experts in the management of WON. Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge has the leadership and main role in centralizing the decisions in case of doubts and controversies, and in limiting heterogeneity.
In conclusion, this randomized multi-center trial is necessary and essential in the effort to clarify the safety and theoretical superiority of LAMS in the To Nuria Pelaez, Claudia F Consiglieri, and Albert Garcia-Sumalla of Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, who will assist in the enrolment of patients.