Exercise training in patients awaiting complex aortic surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The feasibility of a structured, individualised exercise training programme for patients awaiting complex fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair at the Royal Free Hospital
IRAS ID
204021
Contact name
Daniel Martin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 22 days
Research summary
Aneurysm repair, both open and endovascular, carries a high risk and patients with complex aortic aneurysms (AAA), generally have poor exercise capacity due to deconditioning and comorbidity (incidence of comorbid disease is higher than other age-matched surgical populations). Hence, patients may benefit from a structured, individualised exercise training programme preoperatively. We aim to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a six week exercise training programme in patients awaiting complex fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair at the Royal Free Hospital (RFH). The purpose of this study will be to determine if exercise training is possible in this group of medically complex patients and whether or not it leads to an improvement in their physical fitness.
We will use CPET (Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing) for objective assessment of cardiopulmonary fitness at baseline and after 3 and 6 weeks of exercise training. These CPET-derived variables will be used to guide prescription of the exercise training intervention. CPET parameters at baseline and at 6 weeks, will be compared to a group of matched patients also awaiting aneurysm surgery, who have not undergone the exercise intervention. The latter will enable an assessment of the effectiveness of the training regimen. We will also look at day-to day physical activity of patients in both groups using pedometers and at the presence of sarcopenia (the degenerative loss of core muscle mass and function) as a surrogate marker of frailty.
The information from the study will be used to structure a subsequent larger randomized controlled trial that will fully test the effectiveness of exercise training in complex aortic aneurysm patients across a number of different hospitals, with specific outcome measures. If successful, we would aim to integrate exercise training into the perioperative management of this patient cohort.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0788
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion