Is 6 weeks too long for first outpatient review after Cardiac Surgery?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The First Planned Outpatient Review After Cardiac Surgery: Is Six Weeks Too Long?
IRAS ID
203366
Contact name
Dumbor Ngaage
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
The First Planned Outpatient Review Following Cardiac Surgery: Is Six Weeks Too Long?\n\nIt is conventional practice to arrange specialist review for have undergone cardiac surgery six weeks after hospital discharge. There is, however, no evidence to support this practice. Thirty-day mortality and morbidity rates, which are used as indicators of the quality of surgical care, shows that after hospital discharge patients continue to experience complications related to surgery. We also know that not infrequently, cardiac surgery patients require unplanned hospital attendance and/or admission during the 6-week wait for outpatient review due to postoperative complications. The incidence of these complications during this period is not known. The main objective of our study is to assess postoperative mortality and morbidity in the 6-week interval between hospital discharge and the first planned specialist review after cardiac surgery. This will help in determining if the current practice needs to be revised, in order to improve the outcome of surgery for cardiac patients.\nWe intend to approach patients who will undergo elective and urgent coronary artery bypass and/or valve surgery at our institution over a 6-month period and provide them with study information. Prior to discharge after surgery, prospective participants will be consented and given a questionnaire to take home to complete themselves or by their spouse/carer. \nWe shall analyse the data to determine the rates of complications and the impact on postoperative recovery. We shall also explore the timing of the complications and the level of patient satisfaction with the current practice.\nWe shall draw appropriate conclusions either in support of current practice or, a change in practice. \nWe hope to present our study findings at local, national and international meetings. The result will be published and utilised to support a grant application which will seek to change cardiac surgery practice worldwide.\n\n
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0772
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion