COVER: COvid-19 Vascular sERvice Study [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The COVID-19 Vascular sERvice Study\n
IRAS ID
282224
Contact name
Ruth Benson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN80453162
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 2 days
Research summary
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the postponement and cancellation of routine and urgent vascular work in favour of disaster-mitigation. Emergency work is ongoing, but national guidance has been provided by vascular organisations recommending endovascular treatments rather than open where possible, alternative follow up regimes and increasing use of non-clinician teams. The aim is to reduce reliance on general anaesthetic and high-dependency care post-operatively. This is a significant deviation from pre-COVID practice. It will create a backlog of work, or lead to treatments with less evidence base. \n\nAll this is vital to adapt to current circumstances, but will have a major impact on vascular clinicians and patients in the coming months. The majority of patients with vascular disease are elderly and co-morbid making them the highest risk group for COVID-19-related mortality. \n\nThere is an urgent need to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the provision of vascular and endovascular surgery and the adjustments made to standard vascular practice. The COvid-19 Vascular sERvice (COVER) study is a three-tiered study designed to capture global data on vascular practices during the pandemic.\n\n1. Evaluation of structure, processes and interventions at a unit level during the pandemic. We will report results ‘live’ using web-hosting, and feedback to those creating relevant guidelines. Results are anonymous, and will be reported on a regional level. No patient data will be collected. \n \n2. Collect prospectively, all vascular operations/procedures undertaken during the COVID-19 crisis. We will capture early, mid and late outcomes for these patients. \n \n3. Information regarding the fate of consecutive vascular referrals (limb ischaemia, carotid disease, aneurysmal disease, acute aortic syndromes) during the pandemic. This is to see how patients cope with delayed procedures, and the effect on their condition and late outcomes.\n
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0196
Date of REC Opinion
2 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion