REmLap
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Recovery after Emergency Laparotomy (REmLap): A prospective observational feasibility study
IRAS ID
203050
Contact name
Julian Sonksen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Dudley Group NHSFT
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT02791633, ClinicalTrials.gov
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Emergency Laparotomy is a major operation that often requires a long stay in hospital followed by considerable further time after discharge for recovery. The operation involves a large incision (cut) so the surgeon can access the problem area (often stomach or bowel (guts)). Patients who require this operation are often already unwell with a risk of further deterioration if the problem isn’t fixed quickly; they are also often elderly. We already know this is a high risk operation with, on average 15% of patients dying within 30 days of surgery (25% in patients over 80yo). However much less is understood about the details of recovery, especially after discharge . \nThis longer term recovery is a path which extends to a point where the individual has ‘returned to normal life’. There are many elements to this process but each fits into one of four broad themes. These themes progress in parallel and are \n1. A decrease in physical symptoms (eg pain, sickness, bloating)\n2. A regaining of functions (eg eating, drinking and return of bowel function)\n3. Reaching emotional well-being\n4. Re-establishment of activities\nThis is a small pilot study to assess if a larger definitive study is feasible and practical. It is questionnaire based and aims to capture the patients’ perspective of recovery across all four themes. We wish to describe what proportion of patients make a full recovery to the quality of life they had before the onset of the illness that precipitated the need for their emergency operation. For those who don’t make a full recovery we wish to describe the details of the ’gap’ that has developed. This is an important area of research, identified as a priority by the Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Priority Setting Partnership in a process facilitated by the James Lind Alliance (JLA).
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0003
Date of REC Opinion
28 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion