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.