Clinical trials

Heart failure is a long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump blood as well as it should. People with heart failure often need to be admitted to hospital when their symptoms suddenly get worse, which affects their quality of life and places a heavy burden on the healthcare system. In recent years, hospitals have started using home telemonitoring, in which patients measure values such as their weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms at home every day. These measurements are sent to a Medical Service Center (MSC), who can step in quickly when early warning signs appear - often before the patient feels seriously unwell. The HARMONY-HF study looks at how well this hybrid care pathway works in everyday practice. The researchers will compare heart failure patients who take part in the home telemonitoring programme with patients who receive usual care without telemonitoring, across seven hospitals in the Netherlands. Because all care is part of routine treatment, patients are not asked to do anything extra for the study; the researchers use information that is already collected during normal care. The main goal is to find out whether patients in the telemonitoring programme spend more days at home and out of the hospital. The study also looks at survival, hospital admissions, quality of life, and the use of recommended heart failure medication. The findings will help determine whether this approach should be offered more widely.

Background: Minimally invasive lung surgery, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS), has become more common for lung resections because it leads to faster recovery, less pain, and shorter hospital stays. However, pain after surgery remains a major issue. Current guidelines suggest using a combination of pain management strategies to reduce the use of opioids and their side effects. Intercostal cryo-analgesia (ICCA), a technique that uses cold to reduce nerve activity, may help lower pain and opioid use after surgery. However, there is limited research on ICCA, with most studies having small sample sizes and lacking randomized controlled trials. More research is needed to compare ICCA with standard pain management in patients undergoing minimally invasive lung surgery. Objective: The goal of this study is to determine whether ICCA improves recovery compared to standard pain management after minimally invasive lung surgery. The investigators aim to measure recovery time and quality using the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire. The investigators expect that ICCA will result in better recovery, less pain, reduced opioid use, and shorter hospital stays, without increasing the risk of nerve damage or other complications. Study Design: This will be a single-center, blinded, randomized controlled trial, along with an observational registry. Study Population: The study will include adults who are undergoing elective minimally invasive lung resections. Intervention: Patients in the intervention group will receive ICCA in addition to standard pain management after surgery. ICCA will be administered by the surgeon before closing the wound, targeting the intercostal nerves between ribs 3 and 7. Main Study Parameters/Endpoints: The primary outcome will be recovery time, measured using the QoR-15 questionnaire. The QoR-15 assesses overall recovery after surgery across several domains, with a score of 118 or higher indicating good recovery. The questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for measuring postoperative recovery. Risks and Benefits: This trial will examine the effects of adding ICCA to the standard pain management protocol. Potential risks include numbness or nerve damage, neuropathic pain (pain caused by nerve injury), or complications such as bleeding (hematoma) or lung collapse (pneumothorax) at the treatment site. The potential benefits of ICCA include improved recovery, reduced opioid use, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and fewer respiratory complications after surgery.

Rationale: The optimal technique for removal of visible dysplastic lesions in Barrett's esophagus remains controversial. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is safe, effective, easy to apply, and has been the most widely used technique since 2008. Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a more controlled dissection method with potential improved efficacy, but at the cost of higher technical complexity. Objective: The investigators aim to compare EMR and ESD for removal of visible lesions in Barrett's esophagus. Study design: Randomized clinical trial Study population: Patients with Barrett's esophagus and a visible lesion with dysplasia and/or early cancer. Suspicion for submucosal invasion is an exclusion criterion. Intervention: Patients are randomized to receive either EMR or ESD, with follow-up and no ablation during 12 months after the resection. Main study endpoint: Primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with no evidence of residual or local recurrent neoplasia during 12 months follow-up after baseline.

The POPular ATLANTIS trial aims to investigate CT-guided antithrombotic therapy compared to lifelong single antiplatelet therapy after a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure. Only patients without an indication for anticoagulants will be included in this trial. Currently, lifelong single antiplatelet therapy (mostly aspirin) is considered the standard of care for these patients. However, this approach poses a bleeding risk with only a minimal reduction in thromboembolic events. After 3 months, a CT scan will be conducted to assess the presence of thrombosis on the newly implanted TAVI valve. Based on the results of a 4D CT scan, the decision will be made whether the patient should receive no anticoagulant or antithrombotic therapy with apixaban. CT-guided antithrombotic therapy holds the potential for a greater reduction in thromboembolic events without increasing the bleeding risk.

A multicentre cross-sectional cohort study to assess the difference in bioprosthetic micro-calcification activity, detected with 18F-NaF PET-CT, as early marker of transcatheter valve degeneration, between patients with vs. without subclinical leaflet thrombosis at five years after TAVI; and between patients with intra-annular vs. supra-annular TAVI prostheses.

This study is designed as a prospective multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial comparing two surgical techniques of distal gastric bypass (DGB) in revisional surgery following failed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Patients will be randomly allocated 1:1 to A) DGB with lengthening of the BPL (DGB type I) or B) DGB with extended AL (DGB type II). Randomisation is stratified for participating center. The study will be performed in a clinical and out-patient setting with regular visits at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months post intervention. The study will be set up as a multicenter study with bariatric centers: St. Antonius hospital, Groene Hart hospital, OLVG, Rijnstate hospital, Elisabeth Twee-steden Hospital, Bravis hospital, Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, Catharina Hospital.

Rationale: The rate of postoperative complications after high-risk surgery remains high despite recent advances in perioperative management. There is a lack of objective and reliable information that can be used for risk stratification and to guide treatment decisions. Objective: To describe the perioperative biomarker response in surgical patients with and without a postoperative complication and construct a preoperative and postoperative prediction model for postoperative complications. To systematically collect perioperative blood samples and clinical data in high-risk surgical patients for the development en analysis of biomarkers. Study design: Multicenter, prospective, observational study. Study population: 4819 patients undergoing elective cardiac, colorectal, vascular and lung surgery. Intervention (if applicable): Not applicable. Main study parameters/endpoints: Main study parameters are levels of PCT, CRPhs, IL-6, GDF-15, sFLT, NT-proBNP, cTNThs, CysC and NGAL. Main study endpoint is the occurrence of a major postoperative complication which is defined as a surgical site infection, pneumonia, sepsis, acute kidney injury, major adverse cardiovascular events or death within 30 days of surgery. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: In each patient five blood samples will be drawn for analysis. Most of the blood samples are drawn simultaneously with routine perioperative laboratory testing, which is common in this study population. In case a patient is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit blood samples will be collected using an arterial line. There are no direct risks or benefits for patients included in the study.

This study looks at a new way to treat early-stage breast cancer in older adults using a freezing technique called cryoablation. Older adults with early-stage breast cancer are usually treated with surgery or primary endocrine therapy (hormone therapy). While these treatments can be effective, they may also be burdensome. Surgery can lead to pain, slow recovery, or complications, and primary endocrine therapy often requires long-term medication and may cause side effects or stop working over time. Cryoablation may offer a less invasive treatment option. The goal of this study is to find out whether cryoablation can be safely and successfully used as the main treatment for older adults with early-stage breast cancer. Cryoablation destroys the tumour by freezing it. The procedure is performed through the skin using imaging guidance and does not involve surgical removal of the tumour. Participants in this study are adults aged 70 years or older who have a small breast tumour that has not spread to the lymph nodes. All participants receive cryoablation as a single treatment. After the procedure, participants are followed closely. Researchers will collect information on side effects, recovery, whether additional treatment is needed, and how participants experience the treatment. Quality of life will also be assessed. This study is carried out in several hospitals. All participants must give written informed consent before taking part. The results of this study may help determine whether cryoablation could be a safe and practical treatment option for older adults with early-stage breast cancer and guide future research.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how well the SONAS ultrasound device can detect right-to-left shunts of adults with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) who are already scheduled for a contrast bubble echocardiogram (TTCE). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How accurately does SONAS detect right-to-left shunts compared to the standard TTCE test? 2. Can SONAS results help tell the difference between shunts in the heart and shunts in the lungs? Participants will wear a headband with the SONAS device on the head while they undergo their routine TTCE bubble test. They will receive the usual contrast (agitated saline) through a vein, and both SONAS and TTCE signals will be recorded at the same time. There will be one examination in rest, and one during a breathing exercise (the Valsalva manoeuvre).

This study looks at patients with hip fractures who are taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), a type of blood thinner. In many hospitals, surgery for these patients is delayed because of concerns about bleeding, but waiting longer can also increase risks such as complications and longer hospital stays. The purpose of this study is to find out whether operating within 24 hours is as safe as delaying surgery beyond 24 hours. Specifically, the investigators want to know if early surgery does not lead to a higher need for blood transfusions compared to delayed surgery.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel diagnostic strategy for prostate cancer, in which men with a moderate risk of prostate cancer are monitored using PSA and MRI instead of immediate biopsy,. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is it safe to delay biopsy, making sure that clinical significant prostate cancers are not often missed? * Does it reduce unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment?

The goal of this trial is to learn if listening daily to online hypnosis exercises helps to improve mental health and self-esteem in primary school children. In the future we also hope to see if it can prevent feelings of depession or anxiety when these children have become teenagers. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. can daily listening to these exercsies improve self-esteem, resilience and mental health of children 10-11 years compared to children who do not listen to these exercises? 2. can listening to these exercsies prevent future metal health problems like feelings of depression or anxiety. Researchers will compare a group of children (10-11 years) who will listen daily to the exercises for 2 months with a group who will do that 6 months later. Participants will: Listen daily to a hypnosis exercise of maximum 15 minutes. Fill out questionnaires on self-esteem, resilience and mental health before during and after the study.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of two decision aids for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on the decision-making process and the quality of the decision.

Rationale: Preoperative planning for both partial and radical nephrectomies using conventional CT imaging can be challenging due to complex renal anatomy and vascularization. 3D models in virtual reality (VR) may enhance anatomical understanding and improve preoperative planning. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the clinical impact of the use of 3D models in VR in the preoperative planning of partial and radical nephrectomies. Objective: The primary objective is to assess the impact of VR on preoperative planning and thereby on the agreement between the preoperative plan and the performed surgery in renal surgery (both partial and radical nephrectomies). The secondary objectives focus on the urologist's understanding of the anatomy and how the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes are influenced by the use of VR in the preoperative planning. Study design: The Virtual Renality study is a single-center randomized clinical trial conducted at the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein. Study population: The study population will consist of adult patients (18+) with a suspected RCC who are indicated for (partial) nephrectomy at St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein. Intervention: For the intervention group, the urologist will review a 3D virtual model of the renal anatomy in addition to the original CT scan during preoperative planning. For the control group, only the CT scan will be used for preoperative planning, according to the current standard of care. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary study endpoint is the surgical concordance score, which describes the concordance between the actual performed surgery and the preoperatively determined surgical plan. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit, and group relatedness: Participation in this study will not require any additional physical examinations, blood samples, hospital visits, or questionnaires beyond standard clinical care. The only difference for participants in the intervention group is that a 3D model will be created from the existing CT scan and reviewed in VR during preoperative planning by the urologist.

The goal of this randomized controlled care evaluation is to determine whether positively framed and concise information (PFI), compared to negatively framed and extensive information (NFI) about adverse events can reduce the number and severity of reported adverse events caused by ADHD medication in children aged 7 to 17 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does PFI reduce the percentage of children suffering from decreased appetite in the first 4 weeks after starting medication compared to NFI? 2. Does PFI reduce the total number of adverse events compared to NFI? 3. Does PFI lower the total score on the Pittsburgh Side Effects Rating Scale (PSRS) compared to NFI? 4. Does PFI lead to higher parental satisfaction with the explanation of adverse events compared to NFI? 5. Does PFI reduce the number of patients who discontinue medication due to adverse events compared to NFI? 6. Does PFI decrease the number of patients needing melatonin for sleeping problems due to the use of methylphenidate compared to NFI? 7. What is the relationship between baseline factors such as age, ADHD or ADD diagnosis, and gender on the number of adverse events? Researchers will compare children who receive positively framed, concise information (PFI) to those who receive negatively framed, detailed information (NFI) to determine if the framing of information affects the prevalence and severity of reported side effects, medication adherence, and parental satisfaction. Participants in this study will: * Be randomly assigned to receive either PFI or NFI about the side effects of methylphenidate. * Start taking methylphenidate according to standard care protocols. * Complete a Pittsburgh Side Effects Rating Scale (PSRS) questionnaire 4 weeks after starting medication to report any adverse events and their severity. * Parents will provide feedback on satisfaction with the explanation of side effects using a short questionnaire. This trial aims to inform best practices for communicating potential side effects to improve medication adherence and the overall treatment experience for children with ADHD and their families.

In the past decade the treatment of aortic valve stenosis has rapidly changed. At first, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was a last resort option for inoperable patients. Nowadays, it more and more becomes an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) - also in younger and lower risk patients. This poses important questions to clinical practise regarding the optimal life-time management of each individual patient. Which involves (durability of) treatment modality (surgical vs. transcatheter vs. conservative treatment) as well as the duration and type of the required antithrombotic treatment. Objective: to evaluate the effect of treatment modality (surgical vs. transcatheter vs. conservative treatment) and its complications on quality of life and survival in AoS patients.

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to test the safety and effectiveness of genotype-guided clopidogrel monotherapy in patients presenting with Non-ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTE-ACS) who have undergone successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is genotype-guided clopidogrel monotherapy effective in reducing ischemic risk during the first six months following successful PCI? * Is genotype-guided clopidogrel monotherapy safe in terms of reducing bleeding risk during the first six months following successful PCI? Participants will be given genotype-guided clopidogrel monotherapy after their successful PCI procedure and will be monitored for any bleeding or ischemic complications over the next six months. Researchers will compare these results to the typical outcomes associated with traditional Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to see if genotype-guided clopidogrel monotherapy provides similar or improved protection from ischemic events, but with fewer bleeding complications.

Yearly, 180 000 patients in the Netherlands are referred to a cardiologist with symptoms suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD). To assess this, multiple diagnostic tests are available. Non-invasive imaging tests, such as coronary CT-scan, are safe, relatively cheap and can effectively rule-out CAD. However, when CAD is present, coronary CT-scan cannot assess the restriction in blood flow caused by the stenosis. Cardiac angiography with invasive blood flow measurements is required to assess this restriction in blood flow. This is an invasive test, more expensive than CT and it is accompanied by certain risks. Most patients in whom CAD is present do not need treatment, and would therefore benefit from non-invasive diagnostic tests. To reduce the number of unnecessary cardiac angiography with flow measurements, new imaging techniques have been developed. These techniques use CT- or angiographic images to calculate the restriction in coronary blood flow and determine the need for treatment. This study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of these techniques when used as an addition to coronary CT-scan. Subjects are eligible if their CT-scan indicates possibly significant CAD. To determine need for treatment of a subject's CAD, the investigators will randomize subjects in three arms. One arm consists of additional CT-derived calculation of coronary blood flow, one arm consists of angiography-derived calculation of coronary blood flow and one arm consists of standard care, coronary angiography and invasive coronary blood flow measurements. After these tests, subjects are treated and followed according to routine care guidelines. Additionally, subjects are requested to complete 5 questionnaires in a 12 month follow-up period. The investigators expect that the total number of invasive cardiac angiographies with additional blood flow measurements can be reduced by half with the use of new imaging techniques. The investigators expect that this will lead to a reduction in healthcare costs, complications and a lower burden of diagnostic tests for patients. The investigators do not expect a difference in primary endpoints between the study groups.

Background: Cholecystitis is treated by in various types of hospitals by different specialists, and treatment strategy is influenced by logistical and medical reasons and personal preference. This may significantly impact hospital stay and other outcomes. Purpose: To determine the variation in treatment of cholecystitis in the Netherlands and its impact on outcome. Methods: Nation-wide cohort study of all patients diagnosed and treated for cholecystitis during a 6 month period. The primary outcome will be the proportion of patients with an acute cholecystitis in which the guideline is followed. This group will be compared to those in which the guideline is not followed, focussing on total hospital stay and complications. Secondary aims are to determine: factors related to guideline compliance; the best method of cystic duct closure; the best treatment strategy for a \>7-day existing cholecystitis; factors predictive for concomitant common bile duct stones; strategies following gallbladder drainage. Multivariable analysis and propensity score matching will be used when appropriate for the etiological study aims. The TRIPOD guideline for prediction modelling will be used for the predictive study aims. Hospitals will receive their own results, set out against the national average and best practices, thereafter subsequent changes in hospital practice will be recorded. Conclusion: This study will determine the variation in treatment of cholecystitis in the Netherlands and its impact on clinical outcome. Its results will serve as an important incentive to create optimal, uniform cholecystitis treatment in the Netherlands.

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the possible effects of tributyrin supplementation in patients with a first episode of acute pancreatitis. The main question it aims to answer is: • The effect of oral tributyrin supplementation on the plasma endotoxin level Participants will be randomized between two groups: intervention and control group. They will receive: \- three times daily 4grams of micro-encapsulated granules of tributyrin, and the control group three times daily 4 grams of micro-encapsulated sunflower oil (i.e. placebo), for a total of 14 days In total 92 adult patients with a first episode of acute pancreatitis will be included.

The optimal antithrombotic management in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. AF patients are treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) to prevent ischemic stroke and systemic embolism and patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), i.e. aspirin plus P2Y12 inhibitor, to prevent stent thrombosis (ST) and myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with AF undergoing PCI were traditionally treated with triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT, i.e. OAC plus aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitor) to prevent ischemic complications. However, TAT doubles or even triples the risk of major bleeding complications. More recently, several clinical studies demonstrated that omitting aspirin, a strategy known as dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT) is safer compared to TAT with comparable efficacy. However, pooled evidence from recent meta-analyses suggests that patients treated with DAT are at increased risk of MI and ST. Insights from the AUGUSTUS trial showed that aspirin added to OAC and clopidogrel for 30 days, but not thereafter, resulted in fewer severe ischemic events. This finding emphasizes the relevance of early aspirin administration on ischemic benefit, also reflected in the current ESC guideline. However, because we consider the bleeding risk of TAT unacceptably high, we propose to use a short course of DAPT (omitting OAC for 1 month). There is evidence from the BRIDGE study that a short period of omitting OAC is safe in patients with AF. In this study, these patients are treated with DAPT, which also prevents stroke, albeit not as effective as OAC. This temporary interruption of OAC will allow aspirin treatment in the first month post-PCI where the risk of both bleeding and stent thrombosis is greatest. The WOEST 3 trial is a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial investigating the safety and efficacy of one month DAPT compared to guideline-directed therapy consisting of OAC and P2Y12 inhibitor combined with aspirin up to 30 days. We hypothesise that the use of short course DAPT is superior in bleeding and non-inferior in preventing ischemic events. The primary safety endpoint is major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding as defined by the ISTH at 6 weeks after PCI. The primary efficacy endpoint is a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, systemic embolism, or stent thrombosis at 6 weeks after PCI.