POLO
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Psycho-Social Outcomes Following Emergency Laparotomy
IRAS ID
301310
Contact name
Julie Cornish
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
CVUHB
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 26 days
Research summary
"research summary"
An emergency laparotomy (EmLap) is a life-saving operation; but the aftermath for those that do survive can be life-changing. Each year, in excess of 25,000 EmLaps are performed in UK. A national effort, through the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA), has managed to improve peri-operative care, and reduce 30 day mortality from 1 in 4 to less than 1 in 10. Whilst this reduction should be commended, it also means that more patients are surviving with some form of new infirmity.
This infirmity may be short-lived and reversible in some, and yet others may transition into a permanent chronic disease state. The impact of EmLap on those individuals that “do not fully recover” is far-reaching and often inter-linked, covering biological, social and psychological domains. This makes it difficult to describe the true problem, i.e. holistic morbidity and suggest an intervention to improve it.
The primary aim of this work is to describe the holistic morbidity of EmLap throughout the first year of a patient’s recovery."Summary of results"
This study aimed to explore the recovery journey of patients undergoing Emergency Laparotomy (EmLap) surgery. A holistic approach was taken, with an attempt to measure patients physical, mental and social health over the 12-months following emergency surgery. A combination of questionnaires and patient interviews were used to collect data. Most patients who have emergency surgery struggle to recover their physical health by 1 year post-operatively. This is reflected in reduced mental health, both as a result of physical health difficulties and also as a direct consequence of their illness. Social network plays an important part in patient recovery and there appears to be a link between social interactions and improved recovery. Those who develop hernia have a poorer recovery than those who do not.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
21/WA/0297
Date of REC Opinion
4 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion