Visible Abdominal Distension
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Biofeedback, Placebo.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Dyspepsia, Functional Bloating. Basic parameters: 18 years — 80 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain +2
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Tratamiento de la distensión Abdominal Funcional
Overview
Background. Abdominal distention is produced by an abnormal somatic postural tone. The authors developed an original biofeedback technique. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial the authors demonstrated the superiority of biofeedback over placebo for the treatment of abdominal distention. However, the technique is technically complex and unpractical. Aim. To prove the efficacy of a noninstrumental biofeedback technique, transmitted by a standard training program, for the treatment of abdominal distension in different centers. Selection criteria. Episodes of visible abdominal distension. Intervention. Patients will be randomized into biofeedback and placebo groups. Three sessions of either biofeedback or placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Biofeedback: Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. In each center one operator will receive a standard training on how to deliver the noninstrumental biofeedback treatment. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period. Placebo: Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.
Interventions
- Behavioral Biofeedback
Three sessions of biofeedback intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Patients will be taught to control abdominal and thoracic muscular activity by providing instructions using an original video support. Patients will be instructed to perform the same exercises before and after breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period - Behavioral Placebo
Three sessions of placebo intervention will be performed during the first 3 weeks of the intervention period. Sham measurements of abdominal and thoracic motion will be performed, and a pill of placebo containing 0.21 g glucose will be administered; patients will be instructed to take a pill of placebo before breakfast, lunch and dinner during the 4-week intervention period.
Primary outcome measures
- Visible abdominal distension [Time frame: 4 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Sensation of abdominal pressure/fullness [Time frame: 4 weeks]
- Sensation of abdominal discomfort/pain [Time frame: 4 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- episodes of visible abdominal distension triggered by meal ingestion
Exclusion criteria
- organic cause detected by clinical work-up
- constipation
- abdominal distension not confirmed by the 7-day clinical questionnaires in the pre- intervention evaluation
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- G. Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience — Los Angeles
Canada · 1 center
- McMaster University — Hamilton
France · 1 center
- Bordeaux University Hospital — Bordeaux
Italy · 1 center
- Santa Orsola Hospital — Bologna
Spain · 1 center
- Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron — Barcelona
Sweden · 1 center
- Sahlgrenska Hospital, Gothenburg — Gothenburg
United Kingdom · 1 center
- Manchester University — Manchester
Publications
- Barba E, Livovsky DM, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Thoracoabdominal Wall Motion-Guided Biofeedback Treatment of Abdominal Distention: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Gastroenterology. 2024 Aug;167(3):538-546.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.03.005. Epub 2024 Mar 11. PMID 38467383
- Barba E, Accarino A, Azpiroz F. Correction of Abdominal Distention by Biofeedback-Guided Control of Abdominothoracic Muscular Activity in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Dec;15(12):1922-1929. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.06.052. Epub 2017 Jul 11. PMID 28705783
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06369753 · PR(AG)459/2023B