DGE after Ivor Lewis gastro-oesophagectomy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Delayed gastric emptying after Ivor Lewis gastro-esophagectomy
IRAS ID
228439
Contact name
Ji Chung Tham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
The Ivor Lewis gastro-oesophagectomy is a complex operation that is performed to treat cancer of the oesophagus (food pipe) whereby most of the oesophagus and upper stomach are removed. Then the remaining stomach is brought up into the chest and joined to the remaining oesophagus. Delayed gastric emptying (slow emptying of food from stomach into small bowel) is a common problem after this operation (20% of patients). The situation can lead to a feeling of being full up, loss of appetite and nausea. Rarely in severe cases, patients may vomit or aspirate food causing a chest infection or develop an operative joint leak. It also prolongs hospital stay by an average of 5 days. There is currently no objective definition for delayed gastric emptying, the problem is under-reported, the mechanism unknown and treatment is uncertain.
In order to investigate the problem, the study will involve 3 tests which are a breath test, additional test performed on blood samples and completion of an abbreviated quality of life questionnaire (8 questions).
The breath test is to measure gastric emptying time (time taken for food to empty from stomach into small bowel) and it involves consuming a test meal which has been labelled with non-radioactive Carbon-13. The concentration of exhaled Carbon-13 will help identify subjects with delayed gastric emptying. The blood test will be conducted with the same test meal and may identify differences in gut hormone profile in patients with and without delayed gastric emptying. The quality of life questionnaire will help identify the morbidity that delayed gastric emptying cause.
Patients who are undergoing the Ivor Lewis gastro-oesophagectomy will be eligible for the study. The study is funded by Plymouth Hospitals Charitable Funds and recruitment will occur in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and will occur over an 18 month period from October 2017
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1759
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion