Post-operative monitoring of tissue blood flow in plastic surgery V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the feasibility of post-operative monitoring of tissue blood flow and tissue oxygenation following free-flap reconstructive plastic surgery.
IRAS ID
207193
Contact name
Christopher Gardner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
Reconstructive plastic surgery is in the front line for the reconstruction following removal of cancerous tumours of the breast, head, neck and other sites. Reconstructions following tumour removal usually require the replacement of removed tissue with tissue from other body sites to complete the procedure. This piece of replacement tissue is called free-flap/skin flaps. The replacement tissues rely on an adequate blood supply for its survival to avoid complete or partial failure of the reconstruction.
Early identification of blood flow problem in skin flaps during post-operative monitoring following reconstructive surgery is essential to increase the likelihood in saving a skin flap with compromised blood flow. Currently, the standard clinical (non-device) post-operative monitoring of flap skin blood flow in surgery can be subjective and require experienced and specially trained staff.
Non-invasive, light based technologies such as Laser Doppler flowmetry, white light spectroscopy and Near Infrared Spectroscopy techniques have been demonstrated to have the potential to aid surgeons in post-operative monitoring of tissue survival; however their use has yet to be fully integrated into the clinical practice.
The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of applying these post-operative monitoring techniques alongside the standard clinical (non-device) flap monitoring assessments during the critical first 3 days after free-flap reconstructive surgery at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Foundation Trust. All adult patients, who are scheduled to have reconstructive plastic surgery that involved a free-flap, will be recruited into this study. Patients will be follow-up during the first 3 months post-surgery at outpatients’ appointments and from their medical records.
In the long term, the successful establishment of monitoring devices that are feasible and widely accepted by clinical/surgical staff may benefit patients to aid clinical decisions by reducing the risk of partial or complete loss of the flaps through earlier recognition of flap failure.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1374
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion