Welcome to the ESPriT2 Trial

A welcome and summary to the ESPriT2 trial

Trial title:

A multi-centre randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of laparoscopic removal of isolated superficial peritoneal endometriosis for the management of chronic pelvic pain in women

 

Our objective?

To determine whether laparoscopic excision/ablation is of clinical benefit to women with chronic pelvic pain where the only finding is superficial peritoneal endometriosis.

 

Why we are doing this research?

Endometriosis (where cells similar to the womb-lining are found outside the womb) affects~176 million women worldwide and can lead to debilitating pelvic pain. Three subtypes of endometriosis exist, with ~80% of women having ‘superficial peritoneal’ endometriosis (SPE). Endometriosis is diagnosed by keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) and, if SPE is found, gynaecologists usually remove it surgically. However, many women get limited pain relief from surgical removal of SPE. We therefore plan to undertake a multi-centre trial across the UK where women who have only SPE found at laparoscopy are randomly allocated to have surgical removal or not to have it removed. We want to determine whether surgical removal improves overall SPE symptoms and quality of life, or whether surgery is of no benefit, exacerbates symptoms, or even causes harm.

 

Who is doing this research?

The trial is being run by Dr Lucy Whitaker and  Professor Andrew Horne at the University of Edinburgh and is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

 

 We are supported by the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and NHS Lothian.

 

Co-investigators are;

Professor John Norrie, ECTU, University of Edinburgh

Dr Jacqueline Stephen, ECTU, University of Edinburgh

Dr Linda Williams, ECTU, University of Edinburgh

Professor Jane Daniels, University of Nottingham

Professor Kevin Cooper, University of Aberdeen

Professor Justin Clark, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Jim Thornton, University of Nottingham

Professor Ying Cheong, University of Southampton

Professor Abha Maheshwari, NHS Grampian

Associate Professor Christian Becker, University of Oxford

Associate Professor Katy Vincent, University of Oxford

Dr Louise Jackson, University of Birmingham

Ms Lone Hummelshoj, Endometriosis.org

Ms Emma Cox, CEO, Endometriosis UK

Ms Kathleen King, Endometriosis Association of Ireland

Dr Tom Holland, Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust

 

 

Meet the trial management team

Mrs Ann Doust (Research Manager), Mr Jordan Doust (Data Manager), Ms Lauren Sutherland (Trial Co-ordinator), Ms Priscilla Fernandez (Specialist Research Nurse).

Click here to find out more about our research team.