Investigation of postoperative troponin I levels
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to determine rates of postoperative troponin I elevation in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery
IRAS ID
131198
Contact name
Sarah Duff
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust
Research summary
Following surgery, a proportion of patients will experience a major vascular complication such as a heart attack, stroke or death. Heart attacks following surgery are often asymptomatic, so they go undetected. Patients who have had an asymptomatic heart attack are at increased risk of dying in the year following surgery. A widely available blood test is used in patients who have symptoms suggestive of heart attack to measure levels of troponin I, which is elevated following heart muscle damage. Detection of elevated troponin I levels in postoperative patients can identify a group of patients who have had asymptomatic heart damage and potentially allow them to have early intervention to reduce their risk of subsequent heart problems. Rates of elevated troponin levels vary in the literature and are up to as high as 39% in elderly orthopaedic patients. No studies have looked specifically at a high-risk group of general surgical patients. This study aims to determine the rates of postoperative troponin I elevation in adult patients undergoing planned and emergency, open and laparoscopic major general surgical procedures.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0495
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion