ENPIC (ENhanced Preparation In Colonic) Ultrasound
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ENPIC (ENhanced Preparation In Colonic) Ultrasound: a study protocol for a single centre, non-randomised, single-arm, prospective pilot study to investigate the accuracy of Ultrasound in the assessment of the colon when combined with bowel preparation.
IRAS ID
334186
Contact name
Ruth Reeve
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) against imaging tests has not been well documented. TAUS is a widely available, inexpensive and non-invasive examination. TAUS, without bowel preparation, is very often the first line imaging test used for patients with symptoms that may be attributed to bowel pathology however has limited use at detecting pathology in patients with unprepared bowel. Current limitations of TAUS of bowel pathology is poor visualisation because the bowel is filled with faecal content.
In other modalities such as Computed tomography colonography (CTC) and colonoscopy, patients are asked to prepare their colon to optimise visualisation. However this practice has not been established for TAUS with an unknown effect on the diagnostic accuracy that this could provide for TAUS detection of pathology.
The purpose of this study is to identify whether giving patients oral contrast (preparation) prior to TAUS can enhance the visualisation of and accuracy of detecting and characterising bowel pathology.
The study invites patients who are already receiving colonic preparation for CTC examinations to have an TAUS prior to their CTC scan. The findings from the TAUS and CTC will be compared to evaluate whether TAUS with patients with colonic preparation is effective at identifying pathology detected in CTC examinations.
The findings of this study will if favourable, has the potential for a significant diagnostic impact in patients unsuitable for more invasive testing of the colon (colonoscopy/CTC). On completion of this study, the results could be used to change or add to current practice in the patient pathways directed by clinicians.
REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0548
Date of REC Opinion
6 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion