The effects of time on pH and lactate levels in ascitic fluid

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The effects of time on pH and lactate levels in ascitic fluid

• IRAS ID

  197239

• Contact name

  Emma Wright

• Contact email

  emmawright8@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  NHS GGC

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 2 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The most dreaded complication following colorectal surgery is an anastomotic leak (a leakage of bowel contents into the sterile abdomen from a join created between 2 cuts ends of bowel). This complication leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Anastomotic leak is difficult to predict and detect.
  Often after surgery a drain is left in the abdomen. Recent research has looked at the measurement of 'biomarkers' from drain fluid to try and detect an anastomotic leak. In particular measuring pH and lactate from drain fluid appears to be useful. As yet there have been not studies to assess the stability of pH and lactate in drain fluid.

  By using leftover fluid that is drained when patients attend electively for drainage of ascitic fluid (excess abdominal fluid found in many liver conditions) this study aims to determine if a delay in analysing a sample of fluid would affect the pH and lactate levels giving a false reading.

• REC name

  Wales REC 7

• REC reference

  16/WA/0142

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 May 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion