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NCT Number: NCT06113068

Fistura® Procedure for the Treatment of Complex Anal Fistulas

This study aims to evaluate the healing rate of complex fistulas using radiofrequency (Fistura® procedure), in a prospective, interventional, monocenter, single-arm design.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CHIREC site Braine l'Alleud-Waterloo

Braine-l'Alleud, 1420, Belgium

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Benjamin Nebbot, Dr.

CONTACT

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with complex fistulas

Complex fistulas include trans-sphincteric fistulas involving more than 30% of the external sphincter, supra-sphincteric fistulas, extra-sphincteric fistulas, horseshoe fistulas, fistulas involving multiple tracts (according to the ASCRS) and fistulas with a curved tract or a tract presenting diverticula, for which:

Suppuration is described by the patient and/or visible by an opening in the anal margin or by anoscopy Clinical symptoms led to an MRI demonstrating the path Fistula path demonstrated in the acute phase during drainage of an abscess

  • Patient ≥ 18 years at study entry
  • Patients with a previously drained fistula, without diverticula > 10 mm, without T2 hyperintensity (assessed by MRI). Drainage is achieved by placing a seton, usually from 10 weeks to 12 months prior to the procedure
  • Patient and investigator signed and dated the informed consent form prior to the procedure

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient < 18 years at study entry
  • Patient has a known contraindication to treatment using radiofrequency (infectious anal pathologies, anal fissures, residual Longo anterior treatment staples)
  • Patient has a known contraindication to MRI
  • Simple fistulas defined as inter-sphincteric or trans-sphincteric, involving less than 30% of the total height of the sphincter apparatus (attested by MRI, ASCRS classification)
  • Patient has a fistula associated with radiation and inflammatory bowel disease
  • Patient is unable/unwilling to provide informed consent
  • Patient is unable to comply with the protocol or proposed follow-up visits and questionnaires
  • Patient is currently participating in another clinical study
  • Patient is pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Fistura® procedure

Device

The Fistura® procedure is performed using a sterile Fistura® catheter (F Care Systems), intended to be connected to an F Care Systems radiofrequency generator (MedRF4000®). The flexible Fistura® catheters used during the procedure allow it to follow the path of the anal fistula, facilitating the closure of the fistula along its entire length. As the catheter can treat fistulas involving the sphincter complex, but without cutting or damaging it, it is expected to be effective in term of continence maintenance.

Primary outcomes

  1. Healing rate, clinically and MRI-assessed, at 12 months during an in-hospital visit

    Time frame: 12 months

    MRI-assessed healing (deep healing) is defined as a fibrous tract, a scarred tract, or a tract that is not visible on MRI. If the tract is shown to be inflammatory, liquid, or showing presence of diverticula, healing is considered to be not achieved.

    Clinical healing is defined as closure of the internal and external openings without inflammation or discharge or symptoms. Internal opening closure is confirmed by the absence of discharge and external opening closure is confirmed by visual and digital examination.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Healing rate per type of fistulas treated

    Time frame: 12 months

    Include trans-sphincteric fistulas involving more than 30% of the external sphincter, supra-sphincteric fistulas, extra-sphincteric fistulas, horseshoe fistulas or fistulas involving multiple tracts

  2. Anal incontinence at 2 weeks, and 2, 6 and 12 months

    Time frame: 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months

    Measured by the standard index of Jorge and Wexner

  3. Healing rate without anal incontinence at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

  4. Mean amount of energy used per treatment

    Time frame: At procedure

  5. Duration of the procedure

    Time frame: At procedure

  6. Return to daily activities at 2 weeks

    Time frame: 2 weeks

  7. Return to work at 2 weeks

    Time frame: 2 weeks

  8. Quality of life at 2 weeks, and 2, 6 and 12 months

    Time frame: 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months

    Measured by Quality of Life Anal Fistula Questionnaire (QoLAF-Q)

  9. Rate and nature of late and immediate postoperative complications

    Time frame: At procedure, 2 weeks, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Lauren Swinnen

CONTACT

[email protected]

+32474075921

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

F Care Systems NV

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

Radiofrequency Using the Fistura® Procedure for the Treatment of Complex Anal Fistulas: Assessing Healing Rate and Anal Incontinence Up to 1 Year Follow-up

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Nov 2, 2023
Registry last updated
Feb 25, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.