Optimising drinking following colorectal surgery: a feasibility study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study to inform the design of a blinded, randomised controlled trial to test the efficacy of consuming an ELectrolyte drink compared to placebo on GAstrointestinal Recovery following colorectal resection (ELGAR-Feasibility)
IRAS ID
247996
Contact name
Gabrielle C Thorpe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Bowel surgery can make the bowel 'go on strike', causing sickness and inability to eat or drink. Patients may need a ‘drip’ and a tube inserted through their nose and into their stomach to release gas and fluid. This problem can cause patient discomfort, longer hospital stays and extra tests. Eating early following surgery encourages the bowel to work again, but many patients do not feel ready to eat immediately and start by drinking water, squash or tea (dilute drinks). Electrolyte drinks, combining salt, sugar and water, make it easier for the body to absorb fluid from the stomach and small bowel. We sometimes use these drinks following bowel surgery, but not routinely in the immediate postoperative period. We think that drinking electrolyte-balanced drinks instead of water straight after surgery could help the bowel to recover faster. In order to test out this suggestion, this study aims to help us to understand: if patients can tolerate drinking an electrolyte drink straight after surgery, how much they drink compared to people who are drinking dilute drinks, if the drink can be administered as planned and if we can collect the information we need to measure bowel function following surgery. This information will be gathered by talking to patients and those caring for them, asking patients to record some simple information each day in a diary and by collecting information from the patient's clinical records.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0224
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion