Mucous fistula refeeding to speed up recovery after enterostomy closure

A Randomized Multicenter Open-label Controlled Trial to Show That Mucous Fistula Refeeding Reduces the Time From Enterostomy Closure to Full Enteral Feeds (MUCous FIstula REfeeding ("MUC-FIRE") Trial)

Not applicable Interventional University of Leipzig · NCT03469609

This study is testing if a special feeding method can help infants recover faster after surgery to close their enterostomy.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
AgesN/A to 12 Months
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Leipzig Academic / other
Locations17 sites (Graz and 16 other locations)
Trial IDNCT03469609 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) in infants who have undergone enterostomy creation. By comparing MFR to standard care, the researchers seek to determine if MFR can reduce the time it takes for infants to achieve full enteral feeds after their enterostomy is closed. The study will involve a randomized, prospective design to gather high-quality evidence on the benefits of this approach, which may also help minimize the side effects associated with parenteral nutrition. The ultimate goal is to improve postoperative care and recovery times for these infants.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are infants under 366 days old who have undergone ileostomy or jejunostomy with a mucous fistula.

Not a fit: Patients who may not benefit from this study include those with colostomies, small bowel atresia, or other significant gastrointestinal abnormalities.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly shorten the time to full enteral feeding for infants after enterostomy closure, improving their recovery and reducing reliance on parenteral nutrition.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been case reports and retrospective analyses suggesting benefits of mucous fistula refeeding, this study represents a novel, high-quality prospective evaluation of the approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Infants \< 366 days,
2. Ileostomy / Jejunostomy,
3. double loop enterostomies and split enterostomies (with mucous fistula)
4. Signed written informed consent obtained by parents/legal guardians and willingness of parents/legal guardians to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures of their child

Exclusion Criteria:

1. resection of ileocecal valve,
2. colostomy,
3. small bowel atresia,
4. multiple ostomies (more than just an enterostomy and a mucous fistula),
5. chromosomal abnormalities (if known at the time of randomization),
6. Hirschsprung's disease,
7. participation in another drug-intervention study
8. Intestinal perforation due to a hemodynamic heart defect

Where this trial is running

Graz and 16 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Enterostomyinfantsnecrotizing enterocolitisfocal intestinal perforationenterostomy creationbowel reanastomosisenteral feedingcaloric intake
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.