Clinical Research Directory

Depth of Anaesthesia and Long-term Survival: The Balanced Anaesthesia Follow-up Study

Anaesthetic depth and complications after major surgery: an international, randomised controlled trial - The BALANCED trial. In this large, international, randomised controlled trial that enrolled patients aged 60 years and over with significant comorbidity and at increased risk of complications after major surgery, we found no evidence that light general anaesthesia (bispectral index 50) was superior to deep general anaesthesia (bispectral index 35) in reducing 1-year mortality. The BALANCED long term follow up study will look at whether depth of anesthesia affects long term (beyond 1 year) survival. The primary hypothesis is that targetting BIS 50 will result in superior long term survival compared to targetting BIS 35. The two secondary hypotheses are that BIS titration to BIS 50 will 1. reduce local cancer recurrence or metastatic spread and consequently improve long-term survival 2. reduce postoperative delirium and associated cognitive impairment and consequently improve long-term survival Both these mechanisms would be expected to take longer to manifest as reduced survival than 1-year all-cause mortality primary outcome in the Balanced trial. Trials of cancer outcomes often use 5-year survival or similar timeframes to determine evidence of clinical benefit. A steeper cognitive trajectory due to intermediate outcomes such as delirium and cognitive impairment may take longer than 1 year to produce a clinically important difference in survival 30. The 10.6% relative risk reduction seen in the Balanced trial could translate to a statistically and clinically meaningful survival difference in this high-risk population. This population may have 5-year survival of \~80% translating to an absolute survival difference of \~2% potentially (if the \~10% RRR is maintained beyond 1 year). The alternative is that there is no long-term mortality difference which would provide continuing clinical guidance of the safety of current practice in patients who are not at high risk of delirium. This study could provide a rationale for trials in larger populations (such as the total Balanced trial population) or targeted subgroups such as cancer and delirium to provide further mechanistic insights. Long-term survival is an important patient-centred outcome. The mechanisms described above may manifest in longer-term outcomes providing a clear rationale for the current trial.

Vascular Events In Patients Undergoing Same-day Noncardiac Surgery (VALIANCE) Study

The proportion of noncardiac surgeries performed as same-day surgery is increasing worldwide, with more complex surgeries being performed on higher risk patients in the outpatient setting. Little is known on the risk factors, incidence and prognosis of patients undergoing same-day noncardiac surgery. The main objective of this study is to inform on the incidence and risk factors of cardiovascular and other adverse events after same-day surgery and to develop risk prediction tools to better inform on the risk and selection of patients undergoing same-day surgery.

The Role of Wearable Devices in Cardiothoracic Surgery: Predicting and Detecting Early Postoperative Complications

The overarching goal of this research is to use machine learning analysis of high-resolution data-collected by wearable technology-of cardiothoracic surgical patients to assess recovery and detect complications at their earliest stage

Tumescence in HNC Skin Graft Reconstruction

Our primary objective is to determine if the use of tumescence has a meaningful effect on STSG uptake at the recipient site. This is an important outcome because poor graft uptake results in the need for prolonged local wound care, additional clinic visits for patients and increased risk of infection. A prospective, randomized comparison of the tumescence to our current standard of care will allow us to definitively evaluate any benefits to this technique. Tumescence is commonly used in the treatment of burn patients to minimize blood loss during both tangential excision of eschar and during harvest of split-thickness grafts for reconstruction. This is considered the standard of care in burn surgery as using tumescence has been clearly demonstrated to reduce intraoperative blood loss during harvest of large skin grafts and excision of large burns when compared with the application of topical epinephrine as was the historic standard practice.4-6 Tumescence also creates a firm and uniform surface from which to harvest the skin graft, which the investigators believe may improve the quality of harvest and rate of skin graft take.

Zinc Oxide Versus Petrolatum Following Skin Surgery

Patients undergoing routine surgery in the Department of Dermatology for any indication on non-scalp skin and closed in linear fashion with scar greater than or equal to 4.5cm in length will be invited to participate in this split scar, head to head study comparing zinc oxide and petrolatum. Patients will apply respective ointments to each half of scar daily for one month and maintain a log of these activities. They will be seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively for photographic scar assessment and to complete the patient portion of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a quantitative objective assessment of scar appearance. Trained observers (board-certified dermatologists) will score the observer portion of the scale. POSAS outcomes, post-operative infections, linear density of epidermal seal will be assessed at the 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operative periods and compared between the two groups. Participants will have parking validated for all visits and upon completion of all portions of the study will receive a standardized skin care gift bag containing samples for hypoallergenic skin care products (washes, moisturizers, etc.).

Quality of Life, Aesthetic Result and Health Economy in Breast Reconstruction

A randomized clinical trial with two arms: irradiated women and non-irradiated women. Irradiated women are randomized to reconstruction with a latissimus Dorsi flap and an implant or a deep inferior epigastria perforator flap. Non-irradiated women are randomized to reconstruction with a thoracodorsal flap with an implant or with an expander and later a permanent implant in two stages.

The Impact of Abdominal Wall Closure Technique on Incidence of Incisional Hernia in Kidney Transplantation

STUDY SUMMARY Incisional hernias, or swellings of the abdominal scar after surgery, remain problematic especially after transplant surgery. This is because they can cause complications, including trapping of bowel or the transplant. This can cause life threatening emergencies but is at the very least unsightly and uncomfortable for the patient. Transplant patients are especially likely to develop hernias because of the diseases causing the renal failure and the drugs that they take to dampen the immune system. There is evidence from other surgery that the stitching methods that are used to close the wounds might decrease the risk of surgical hernias. This is achieved by placing smaller and more numerous sutures (stitches) in the wound to increase the strength of the repair. However, this has never been tested formally in transplant where it may provide significant benefit. We intend to do some initial investigation of whether using the smaller stitches may provide benefit over more traditional methods that are currently being used. We will look at early complications after surgery but also the rate of hernia formation later. We hope to improve outcomes and reduce complications for our transplant patients by doing this. In addition we will collect blood and tissue samples from both live kidney donors and the recipients to microscopically analyse their collagen to identify potential factors which may indicate risk of hernia formation.

Reconstruction in Extended MArgin Cancer Surgery

Advanced pelvic cancers are uncommon, with treatment being challenging. Around 4000 patients every year need treatment in the UK. Cancers can involve multiple organs and often need radiotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery. Surgery usually requires removal of multiple pelvic organs, including muscles, bone, and skin around the anus (the perineum). This can lead to complications relating to both the empty pelvis syndrome and closure of the perineal defect. Reconstruction is challenging, with frequently occurring complications, reducing speed of recovery and quality of life. This study investigates complication frequency, quality of life and expenses following different reconstruction techniques. The investigators hope to improve patient and doctor decision-making in this area and find the best methods of reconstruction to improve outcomes. REMACS has three work packages: 1. Maintenance of a database of patients undergoing colorectal surgery at Southampton and Salisbury Hospitals, including those undergoing extra-levator abdominoperineal excision and pelvic exenteration. This includes all routinely collected clinical data, imaging, health resource use, and patient reported outcome measures. 2. A collaborative national prospective cohort study investigating morbidity, health resource use, longitudinal quality of life outcomes (EORTC QLQ-C30 and disease-specific modules) and quality adjusted life years. The investigators will also assess financial toxicity using the comprehensive score for financial toxicity. 3. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to undertake a more complex evaluation of quality of life and patient experiences in patients that have recovered from their surgeries. The last two work packages have now been funded by an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Grant

Immune Responsiveness and Outcome After Aortic Valve Surgery (Measure)

There is considerable morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac surgery. Currently little effort is made to quantify how well the immune system of an individual can cope with inflammation or infection to which they are exposed during surgery. The investigators have previously demonstrated that having higher pre-operative antibody levels is associated with a lower risk of infection and a shorter stay in hospital after cardiac surgery. The investigators aim to study 150 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and explore their dynamic immune responsiveness. The investigators will determine if this response is correlated with the post-operative outcome (development of post-operative infection or increased length of hospital stay). The investigators will compare this response with the previously measured static markers of immune competence and also with a novel device that may give a more rapid measure of dynamic immunity. The investigators will approach patients in the cardiac surgical pre-assessment clinic to see if they are willing to participate in the study. Immediately once under anaesthetic blood will be taken for testing and then again at the end of surgery, 24h after surgery, at discharge from hospital, and at follow-up clinic approximately 4 weeks later. There will be no additional needle insertions on top of those routinely performed. The investigators will collect data from the routine observations as far as 1 year after surgery. If the investigators can show an association between immune function and subsequent post-operative outcome it may be possible to determine ways to improve outcomes for patients undergoing heart surgery. This might include better information on risks and benefits of surgery, actively boosting immune function (vaccination, immune-nutrition), passively improving immunity (administering antibodies), or consider current alternatives to open heart surgery where the threat of infection or inflammation may be markedly reduced (eg trans-catheter aortic valve implantation)

Perioperative Management Evaluation in Patients With CIED

Background: Recommendations for peri-operative management in patients with implanted cardiac electronic devices (CIED) are often based on older data from case reports and small collectives. Objective: To evaluate the peri-operative management and outcome of patients with implanted CIED undergoing non-CIED related surgery or catheter-interventional procedures in clinical routine. Study design: bi-center, non-randomized, observational registry, retrospective data-collection, on-going prospective patient enrollment, descriptive statistics Primary endpoint: number and type of peri-operative adverse device related events (ADE) Secondary endpoints: pre-interventional data (patient characteristics, data from CIED interrogation); peri-interventional data (type of surgery/intervention, anesthesiology techniques, any AE), postinterventional data (data from post-interventional CIED interrogation, need for reprogramming / device revision). Inclusion criteria: implanted CIED, non-CIED related surgical or catheter-based intervention, peri-procedural CIED interrogation, age \>18 years Exclusion criteria: no implanted CIED, no data from any peri-procedural CIED interrogation available Patient enrollment: retrospectively beginning from 2008, further on-going prospective inclusion Sample size: For the observational study, there is no pre-specified sample size. Data from more than 500 patients undergoing \> 700 interventions are expected.

The PREPARE Trial: Exercise Before Surgery to Improve Recovery in Older People With Frailty

This study evaluates whether participating in a home-based exercise program leads to lower levels of complication rates and patient-reported disability after surgery. Half of the participants will be randomized into the exercise group, while the other half will be randomized into the control group.

The PreQ-20 TRIAL, a Prospective Cohort Study of Patients Undergoing Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction

The investigators conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the safety, quality of life and cosmetic sequelae of prepectoral breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer and high risk. The study's main objective is to assess the safety of prepectoral breast reconstruction in terms of postsurgical complications and the feasibility of reconstruction (loss of implants). The secondary objectives are to evaluate oncologic safety (local relapses, residual glandular tissue) and to identify factors related to quality of life and cosmetic sequelae. The evaluation of residual tissue will be conducted by magnetic resonance imaging 12 to 18 months after the surgery, and the quality-of-life assessment will be performed using the BreastQ questionnaire. An initial patient evaluation will be conducted 12-18 months after the surgery, and a second evaluation will be performed at 5 years. The estimated sample size is 81 patients.

Mechanical Bowel Preparation and Oral Antibiotics Versus Mechanical Bowel Preparation Only Prior Rectal Surgery

MOBILE2 is a randomized controlled trial comparing mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation to mechanical bowel preparation only in patients undergoing anterior rectal resection with primary anastomosis. Primary endpoint is Comprehensive Complication Index within 30 days from surgery.

Prognostic Factors in Periampullary Tumors and Cysts

The project aims at analysing prognostic and predictive factors involved in diagnostics and surgical treatment of cysts and tumors in the pancreas and periampullary region using both clinical data and blood and tissue samples for biomarker development and validation.

Continuously Iterative Perioperative Holistic Evaluation of Risk and Hypotension Prediction Index

The investigators would like to explore whether Hypotension Prediction Index during and immediately after surgery can be used to improve the accuracy of scores that predict postoperative problems.

Does Prehabilitation Improve Outcome in Coloncancer Surgery?

The study aims to find out if complications after surgery for large bowel (colon) cancer can be reduced or avoided in the most frail and elderly by letting them go through an exercise- and diet regime prior to the surgical procedure.

Preoperative Intravenous Iron Therapy in Patients With Gastric Cancer

The main objective of this investigator initiated study is to study if preoperative intravenous iron is effective in reducing need for allogenic blood transfusion in patients with gastric cancer who will undergo a standardized gastrectomy including both total and subtotal gastrectomies. The hypothesis is that intravenous iron reduces the need for perioperative blood transfusions.