Effect of early administration of coagulation factor XIII on fistula after pancreatic surgery: the FIPS randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The administration of exogenous factor XIII (FXIII) is reportedly effective for fistula closure in patients with a low plasma FXIII level. This study was performed to analyze the effect of early administration of exogenous FXIII on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled, open-label, parallel group, superiority trial was conducted from October 2015 to August 2016 in Japan. Patients with POPF and a plasma FXIII level of ≤ 70% on postoperative day 7 were randomly assigned to an early replacement (ER) group or control group in a 1:1 ratio by an independent coordinator using a computer-generated random number table. The ER group received FXIII concentrate the day after randomization, and the control group received no FXIII concentrate within 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the duration of drain placement from randomization (DDPR). RESULTS: Fifty patients were randomized (ER group, 24; control group, 26), and all were analyzed with an intention-to-treat approach. There was no significant difference in the DDPR between the two groups (18 vs. 16 days; hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.813-2.583). No serious harm was reported in either group. CONCLUSION: Early administration of exogenous FXIII does not facilitate the healing of POPF. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Center (UMIN000019480, http://www.umin.ac.jp ).