CPEX prior to oesophagectomy to predict post-operative complications
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The association between preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPEX) variables and short-term morbidity following oesophagectomy. A hospital-based cohort study
IRAS ID
222793
Contact name
Stephen Lam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 16 days
Research summary
Oesophagectomy (surgical removal of cancer of the oesophagus) is a major operative procedure, which remains the only consistent way to potentially cure oesophageal cancer. However, the operation poses significant risk to the patient. Recent UK national audit figures have reported that 33% of patients suffer post-operative complications following oesophagectomy. The large majority (74%) of these complications were cardiopulmonary (involving the heart or lungs) such as pneumonia and heart attacks. These cardiopulmonary complications dramatically increase the risk of patient death as well as length of hospital stay and the likelihood of admission to intensive care. \n\nCardiopulmonary Exercise (CPEX) testing is the gold standard test to measure a patient’s cardiopulmonary fitness and has been recognised as a preoperative test to predict postoperative complications in other surgical specialities. However, its role in oesophagectomy patients is largely unknown.\n\nThe aim of this research is to determine how effective pre-operative CPEX testing is at predicting post-operative complications in patients undergoing oesophagectomy. This study, which will be the largest of its kind, will compare CPEX data of patients who have undergone oesophagectomy who did and did not develop complications. Patients will be those who have undergone oesophagectomy at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital since mid-2011 and who completed a full pre-operative CPEX test. \n\nIf this study demonstrates that CPEX testing accurately predicts risk of post-oesophagectomy complications then a new, oesophagectomy-specific, CPEX ’fitness’ score could be determined to better predict which patients will require extra supportive care after surgery.\n
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0435
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion