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Cirrhosis is a form of advanced liver disease that can lead to serious complications, especially when combined with severe obesity. Many patients with cirrhosis also develop a condition called clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), which is increased pressure in the veins of the liver. CSPH raises the risk of life-threatening events like internal bleeding and liver failure. Unfortunately, treatment options for people who have both cirrhosis and severe obesity are very limited, especially when portal hypertension is present. This study, called the OPTIMAL Trial, is a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate whether combining two procedures improves health outcomes in this high-risk population. The first procedure, called TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt), is a minimally invasive treatment that reduces pressure in the liver by creating a pathway for blood to flow more easily. The second procedure is sleeve gastrectomy, a form of metabolic (bariatric) surgery that helps patients lose weight and improve related conditions like diabetes. The study will compare two groups: 1. One group will receive TIPS followed by sleeve gastrectomy (TIPS+SG). 2. The other group will receive medical weight management (standard non-surgical care, including diet, lifestyle changes, and weight loss medications). All participants will have severe obesity and cirrhosis with CSPH but will not have decompensated liver disease (such as large amounts of fluid in the abdomen, a history of variceal bleeding, or recent liver failure). Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups. The main goal of the study is to determine whether the combination of TIPS + SG improves quality of life and leads to greater weight loss compared to medical therapy alone. The study will also monitor for any complications from either the procedures or the medical treatment. Participants will be followed for 6 months after their treatment starts, with periodic assessments of their physical health, liver function, and overall well-being. Some participants may also be followed for a longer period to assess long-term outcomes. This study hopes to provide high-quality evidence for a novel, stepwise treatment strategy that may help people with obesity and liver disease live longer, healthier lives. If successful, it could change how advanced liver disease and obesity are managed together, especially in patients who currently have few safe and effective options. All study care is provided at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
During a TIPS procedure, a shunt or stent (mesh tube) is passed down the jugular vein (the vein above the collarbone in the neck) using fluoroscopy (real time x-rays) guidance. Then, a stent is inserted between the portal vein (vein that carries blood from the intestines into the liver) to a hepatic vein (vein that carries blood away from the liver back to the heart). This means that blood that would usually gets filtered through the liver is now bypassing the liver and going directly to the heart. Because more blood will be flowing to the heart, the heart needs to be strong enough to handle the extra volume. This study is being done to determine the impact of the TIPS procedure on cardiac (heart) function by collecting data (heart pressures) during the TIPS procedure. Immediately after TIPS and at standard follow-up time points, labs and transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE or echo) will also be collected. The device(s) used in this study are neither the intervention studied nor the experimental variable of interest. Devices are commercially available and used, and procedures are performed, in accordance with the institution's standard of care.
A novel radiofrequency (RF) wire created by Baylis Medical (Montreal, CAN) is an FDA cleared device commonly used for percutaneous recanalization procedures. This wire has an active tip that delivers focused RF energy and has been applied for many procedures such as percutaneous transseptal left heart access, recanalization of central vein occlusion, recanalization of arterial occlusion, and recanalization of bile duct occlusion. There has been no study investigating the use of the RF wire for TIPS creation in clinical practice with humans. Having promising results of an experimental feasibility investigation in swine, the investigators are seeking to assess the feasibility and safety of the RF wire to cut through tissue in the liver while creating TIPS in the clinical setting.
The primary purpose of this project is to determine if acute monitoring of shunt patency via ultrasound elastography measurements of splenic stiffness before and after TIPS placement results in reduced morbidity and mortality from shunt failure.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is the first-line therapy for patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. However, mental changes known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE) frequently occur after TIPS. There is no effective method to predict HE after TIPS. Oral glutamine challenge (OGC) and psychometric tests have been used to assess the risk for HE, but never in patients undergoing TIPS. Severe muscle loss may also predispose patients to HE. The aim of the present study is to assess if both the OGC and psychometric tests can accurately predict the development of overt HE after TIPS. Patients will be studied before TIPS and followed after TIPS for the development of HE. The role of muscle loss in favoring HE, as well as is possible reversibility after TIPS will also be investigated.
The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the level of comfort adult patients with cirrhosis of the liver and ascites presenting to Northwestern Memorial Hospital experience during a bedside abdominal paracentesis by numbing the skin with a needle-less device (the J-Tip), instead of using a needle to numb the skin. The main questions it aims to answer are the J-Tip effect upon: 1. Pain during intra-dermal local anesthetic administration 2. Pain during subcutaneous local anesthetic administration 3. Pain during paracentesis 4. Procedure-related anxiety Participants will be randomly assigned to have their skin numbed either in the usual way with a needle or with the J-Tip. Participants will be responsible for having a paracentesis done in their hospital room and answering the survey questions regarding pain experienced during the procedure and how they would feel if they needed to have this procedure performed again. There is also a telephone follow-up survey 2 days after the procedure to ask the participant about their experience post-procedure. We will also collect data about any procedure complications.
This prospective observational post-market clinical study will collect data in the United States to primarily support the re-launch of the re-designed Beacon Tip Sizing Catheter and Slip-Catheter Beacon Tip Catheter \& Shuttle Select Slip-Catheter (Visceral and Cerbral) for a Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark application in the European Union (EU). Additionally, the data from this study may be used to support regulatory approval in other countries/regions. The purpose of this clinical study is to evaluate the safety and performance of these catheters in accordance with the Intended Use through the end of index procedure, and through 30 days post procedure, (as applicable as data is available) to ensure an acceptable benefit:risk ratio.
The purpose of this study is to compare the tolerability and comfort of 3 different prototype anesthesia-free tonometer tips with the standard tonometer tip in conjunction with anesthesia. The best-tolerated prototype anesthesia-free tonometer tip will be identified for further development for home tonometry.
This proposed study aims to fill this gap by investigating whether needle tip movement during catheter advancement is affected by whether the individual performing the insertion pushes the catheter off the needle themselves or if it is done by another person.
Non-inferiority trial comparing the recurrence rate of adenomas in non-pedunculated colonic lesions following endoscopic mucosal resection with margin marking (EMR-MM) and endoscopic mucosal resection with thermal margin ablation (EMR-STSC)