Exercise training in patients awaiting liver transplantation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The feasibility of a structured individualised exercise training programme for patients with cirrhotic liver disease awaiting transplantation surgery
IRAS ID
195883
Contact name
Daniel S Martin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 5 days
Research summary
We aim to conduct a study involving patients with liver disease awaiting a liver transplantation, to see whether exercise training prior to transplantation is feasible and whether it leads to an improvement in fitness.
Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for patients with liver failure and over 900 operations are performed each year in the UK. Unfortunately these patients frequently suffer complications after surgery, which can lead to failure of the transplanted liver, reduced quality of life and even death. One factor that may significantly contribute to this frequent occurrence of complications after surgery, is the poor level of fitness observed in these patients prior to surgery.
Fifteen patients with liver cirrhosis (a common form of liver disease) on the liver transplant waiting list at the Royal Free Hospital, will be selected for a prescribed in-hospital schedule of validated training on a specialised bike.
The purpose of this study will be to determine if exercise training is possible in this group of medically complex patients (it has never before been attempted) and whether or not it leads to an improvement in their physical fitness.Fitness levels will be measured using CPET (cardiopulmonary exercise testing), which involves exercising on a static bike and provides assessment of heart and lung function. We will perform this at baseline and at weeks 3, 6 and 12. Results be compared to a group of 15 patients (matched for gender and age), also awaiting liver transplantation, who will not undergo the exercise intervention. The latter will enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the training regimen.
This study will provide essential data that will form the basis of a larger application involving collaboration with other transplant centres, to evaluate exercise ‘prehabilitation’ as a robust method of reducing postoperative complications and improving survival after transplantation.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0762
Date of REC Opinion
29 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion