Postoperative Respiratory Rate monitoring

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  An Observation Study of Respiratory Rate Abnormalities Utilising Continuous Respiratory Rate Monitoring Postoperatively in Patients Aged 60 Years and Above

• IRAS ID

  153242

• Contact name

  Ravi Mahajan

• Contact email

  ravi.mahajan@nottingham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Research summary

  Respiratory rate is an important indicator of ventilation. Abnormal respiratory rate, either too high (Tachypnoea), too low (bradypnoea), or absent (apnoea), is an important sign of when a patient needs immediate help with their breathing. In a study by Kluger & Bullock they found that problems with breathing accounted for 43% of adverse events in the recovery area, previous studies have found respiratory problems ranging from 9% to 55%. The lack of a reliable respiratory rate monitoring has been suggested as a major contributor to avoidable adverse events in the postoperative period, including the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).
  Current clinical practice for measurement of respiratory rate, in the postoperative recovery unit, is predominantly by periodically counting chest wall movements or by listening for breath sounds with a stethoscope. However, manual spot checks of respiratory rate have been found to be unreliable at recognising clinically significant respiratory rate changes. This study is a pilot study within a larger programme around POCD. In the older population, duration of anaesthesia and respiratory complications have been found to be risk factors for post-operative delirium and early POCD. This study aims to evaluate the use of continuous respiratory monitoring. This method of monitoring is more effective at identifying respiratory rate abnormalities earlier, compared to intermittent respiratory rate counting and/or the use of pulse oximetry, which is the current method of monitoring respiratory rate in clinical practice.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/EM/1037

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Jul 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion