Use of Beetroot Juice to Protect Against Postoperative Ileus Following Colorectal Surgery: BEET IT Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GHENT · Nov 12, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The BEET IT study is a clinical trial that is exploring whether drinking beetroot juice before undergoing colorectal surgery can help patients recover better and prevent a condition called postoperative ileus, which is a temporary slowdown of bowel function after surgery. In this study, adult patients who are scheduled for laparoscopic colorectal surgery will be randomly assigned to drink either concentrated beetroot juice or a similar drink without the active ingredients (placebo) for a week before their operation. Researchers will collect various samples from participants before and after surgery to learn more about how this juice might affect inflammation, stress in the body, and overall gut function.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be adults who are having certain types of planned colorectal surgery that involves connecting parts of the intestine (anastomosis). However, there are some reasons that might exclude someone from joining, such as being under 18, having certain medical conditions, or if they have had previous surgeries or treatments that could affect the trial's results. Participants can expect to be monitored from the week before their surgery all the way through three months after, helping researchers gather valuable information about recovery following colorectal procedures. The study is currently recruiting participants across five hospitals in Flanders, Belgium.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult patients undergoing elective colonic and upper rectum laparoscopic surgery requiring an anastomosis, without the need of conversion
• Exclusion Criteria:
• General:
• • \< 18 years of age
• • Pregnancy or breast feeding
• Medical:
• • Psychiatric pathology capable of affecting comprehension and judgment faculty
• • History of inflammatory bowel disease
• • Chronic vascular disease affecting the intestines
• • Chronic constipation (\<= 2 bowel movements/week)
• • Previous abdominal or pelvic radiation treatment
• • Recent (\< 3 months before inclusion) or current intra-abdominal infection or inflammation (e.g. diverticulitis, appendicitis, cholecystitis)
• • Use of gut motility influencing agents (e.g. tricyclic antidepressants, chronic use of laxatives)
• • Use of nitrates (e.g. isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin), including daily consumption of beetroot juice (unless stopped for a month prior to the intervention period)
• • Hypotension (\< 100/60 mmHg)
• • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• • Renal or hepatic insufficiency
• • Known allergies or intolerances to beetroot, nitrates/nitrites
• • Enrollment in other clinical trials/experiments, unless approved by the Ethics Committee(s)
• Surgical:
• • History of prior colorectal surgery
• • Emergency surgery
• • Open surgery
• • Colorectal surgery not requiring an anastomosis (e.g. colotomy, wedge resection)
• • More than 1 bowel anastomosis planned
• • Concomitant surgical procedures required (e.g. resection of liver or lung metastases)
• • Protective stoma planned