Qualitative Study: Decision-making for ICU after vascular surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Healthcare Professionals and Patients Decision-Making Behind Admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after Vascular Surgery: A Qualitative Study
IRAS ID
358261
Contact name
Robert Hinchliffe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
Over 43,000 people in England undergo vascular surgery every year. Vascular diseases can cause problems that affect blood vessels including arteries and veins. Operations manage complications related to the circulation, including blocked and dilated arteries and veins and patients may have to undergo limb amputations. These are major operations with significant risks and patients are often frail and have additional co-morbidities such as diabetes, heart, kidney and lung disease. Vascular surgery is associated with high rates of complications, re-admissions, morbidity and mortality, patients are often admitted to intensive care units (ICUs)(level 3). ICUs or critical care units are specialist hospital wards with highly trained teams of HCPs providing intensive treatment and monitoring for seriously ill patients. Vascular surgery has the greatest proportion of patients with unplanned ICU admissions among all surgical specialties and are associated with increased perioperative mortality, length of stay, and healthcare costs.
Existing vascular guidelines provide recommendations for some specific groups of patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm for critical care usage but are somewhat vague. Guidelines and evidence for other procedures such as carotid surgery, lower limb revascularisation and major lower amputations are limited, and unclear which patients are best treated in ICU or can recover safely on a regular ward.
We would like to understand the complexity and variation surrounding ICU admissions and why decisions are made, from perspectives of HCPs and patients. Patients have a central role in decision-making during discussions with their health-care team particularly for vascular surgery where the risk of complications is high. Therefore, understanding the patients’ values and preferences regarding ICU admission is important for a collaborative and a shared decision-making process. Four NHS hospital sites will identify potential HCPs and patient participants. One site will identify HCPs and patients (work package 1: WP1) and remaining sites will identify HCPs only (WP2).
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
25/NS/0128
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion