In patients with Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS), significant external compression of the coeliac artery (CA) by the median arcuate ligament (MAL) increasing mucosal ischemia (1,2) is assumed to cause chronic disabling postprandial abdominal pain, weight loss, and consequently lethargy and social deprivation (3,8). The majority of these patients have had a long medical journey before the diagnosis MALS is considered resulting in a substantial burden of disease and high healthcare and societal costs.
Although a Systematic Review have shown a sustainable symptom relief of 68% and a significant and durable improvement of quality of life after surgical treatment for MALS (4), there is still no (inter)national consensus on the existence and treatment of MALS (1, 5, 6, 7).
Two recent guidelines (3, 8) concluded that patients with MALS might be considered for surgical CA release (Recommendation 25 GRADE 2D; expert agreement 96%, Terlouw 2020). To end the ongoing debate and to enable the development of evidence-based guidelines for the management of MALS, both guideline committees recommend to perform a blinded, randomised controlled trial comparing a CA release with a sham operation. The proposed Coeliac Artery Release or Sham Operation study will either underline the usefulness of eCAR as a minimal invasive (cost)effective treatment for MALS or it will prohibit a meaningless intervention in patients with disabling abdominal symptoms.
If the CARoSO study proves that the treatment of MALS by eCAR is effective, to 490 patients with chronic disabling abdominal symptoms per year can be treated in the Netherlands. Effective treatment of MALS is expected to result in mean health gain of 6.05 Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)/patient and has the potency to reduce the substantial productivity loss and healthcare consumption caused by MALS, resulting in a saving up to M€4.3/year. The outcome of the CARoSO study will be translated into strong recommendations in the coming updates of the relevant (inter)national multidisciplinary guidelines and will be adapted in daily practice.
Patients with a consensus diagnosis of MALS based on a multidisciplinary discussion in the two Dutch expert centers for Mesenteric Ischemia (Medisch Spectrum Twente and Erasmus Medical Centre). The multidisciplinary team contains of a vascular surgeon, gastroenterologist, radiologist as recommended in the guidelines.
Typical complaints: post-prandial pain and at least two of the following: dietary modification, unexplained weight loss, unexplained diarrhea.
Eccentric stenosis of ≥70% of the AC at the medial arcuatum ligament, demonstrated by two imaging techniques (duplex, MRA, CTA or DSA), including at least an inspiration and expiration CTA with 1mm sections. (Definition percent stenosis according to ECST 1998 formula: % stenosis = (1 - [diameter at the site of stenosis/estimated original diameter at the site of the stenosis]) x 100).
Ultrasound Abdomen without other more common abnormalities.
Patient not suitable for endoscopic AC release (e.g. previous surgery in the operating area).
Pregnancy.
Previous (endovascular) intervention of the visceral arteries.
A significant stenosis in the superior or in the inferior mesenteric artery.
Parallel
Endoscopic Coeliac Artery Release (eCAR)
Procedure/SurgeryEndoscopic Coeliac Artery Release (eCAR); The Median Arcuate Ligament will be cleaved via an endoscopic retroperitoneal approach using a 4 trocar technique described in detail by van Petersen (12). To rule out learning curves and procedural variation all the procedures will be performed by two experienced eCAR surgeons in the MST-Dutch Expert Centre of Gastrointestinal Ischemia. All procedures will be videotaped. Both eCAR surgeons will not be involved in the follow up procedures.
Sham Operation
Procedure/SurgeryThe sham operation consists of making 4 incisions up to the fascia similar to endoscopic AC release (eCAR). After 60 to 75 minutes of general anesthesia, in accordance with the average operating time of eCAR, the sham operation is ended. This study design allows for patient and observer blinding and for the sham group the eCAR approach is still feasible if the CARoSO outcome support this without applying additional scar tissue.
The number of patients with significant reduction in abdominal symptoms on a VAS scale
The change in abdominal symptoms is measured with a composite primary end point (CPE) at 6 months after randomization existing of o the daily visual analogue scale (VAS) for abdominal pain * every day for seven days, the patients is asked to indicate the average abdominal pain of the past 24 hours on a VAS, this calculates the average VAS for that week. * The PGI-I consists of one question about the change in symptoms compared to before surgery indicated on a 7-point Likert scale with the possible answers: "very much improved", "greatly improved", "somewhat improved", " no change", "slightly deteriorated", "greatly deteriorated" and "very much worse". - A significant reduction in abdominal symptoms at 6 months after randomization is defined as an o a reduction in mean abdominal pain VAS (0-100) of ≥50% compared to baseline
The number of patients with significant reduction in abdominal symptoms.
The change in abdominal symptoms is measured with a composite primary end point (CPE) at 6 months after randomization o "much improved" or "very much improved" symptoms on the PGI-I (12) (7-point Likert Scale). The PGI-I consists of one question about the change in symptoms compared to before surgery.
Abdominal pain measured with mean abdominal pain VAS endpoint)
Visual Analogue Scale from 0-100
Change in complaints measured with the PGI-I
PGI-I on a 7-point Likert Scale
Abdominal pain measured with worst abdominal pain VAS
HR-QoL measured with the EQ-5D-5L
Visual Analogue Scale from 0-100
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Medisch Spectrum Twente
Lead sponsor
Medical School Medisch Spectrum Twente
Collaborator
Techmed University of Twente
Collaborator
Erasmus Medical Centre
Collaborator
