Optimising Treatment Pathways for Older Patients Facing GI Surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the Care and Treatment Pathways for Older Patients Facing Major Gastrointestinal Surgery.
IRAS ID
277161
Contact name
Sarah Daniels
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
The UK population is ageing. Whilst many people remain active and in good health as they get older, getting older is associated with the onset of many common medical conditions, as well as memory and mobility problems. There is a natural decline in heart and lung fitness with age, although this may be slowed by regular exercise. The majority of digestive system problems that require operations (such as bowel cancer) are more common in older people. These operations can lead to long-term disability. In some cases there is a trade-off between major surgery and a smaller operation or procedure with a lower chance of cure, but a faster rate of recovery and fewer problems immediately after the procedure. Some patients may choose not to undergo any form of treatment.
Deciding whether a person is fit enough to undergo a major operation is difficult and depends on patient factors (e.g. other medical conditions, patient choice) and technical factors (e.g. spread of disease, availability of other treatment options). In the outpatient setting there are a number of tests that can be used to try to work out what the risks of a major operation will be for a particular person. These can then guide different approaches to try to lessen these risks. Examples include exercise programmes, dietary supplements and anxiety management programmes before major operations if there is time or early meeting with a physiotherapist and planning for discharge needs after an operation.
This study aims to explore whether patients who have poor outcomes after surgery can be identified at the start of their surgical journey, whether similar patients are offered the same treatments and what patients feel about different support measures that may be used to try to improve recovery.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SC/0076
Date of REC Opinion
4 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion