Recovery after Aortic Aneurysm Surgery Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Recovery after Aortic Aneurysm Surgery Study

• IRAS ID

  191570

• Contact name

  Adrian Jennings

• Contact email

  adrian.jennings@dgh.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 8 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Postoperative recovery is a complex and multidimensional process that involves multiple
  domains, including physical, physiological, psychological, social, and economic aspects. Aortic aneuysm surgery presents a choice to the patient: a stent (endovascular aneurysm repair [EVAR]), open surgery (OAR) and conservative treatment. Shared decision making describes the process of helping the patient make an informed choice. This is traditionally based on explaining the risk of major complications and death from the surgeries, versus the aneurysm rupture risk.

  However, evidence suggests what also matters to patients is not just their chances of survival with surgery, but also quality of life after surgery. Functional outcomes emerge as most important during qualitative analysis of patients’ experiences of aneurysm repair. Perceived differences in recovery time are an important consideration for aneurysm patients in deciding between open and EVAR surgery.

  The time it takes to recover from aneurysm surgery in these functional domains is unclear. Validated questionnaires can be used to assess recovery. It is likely to vary based on the patient's preexisting fitness level. This is evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) which measures validated variables of aerobic fitness. It is likely that aerobic fitness is associated with how patients recover from surgery.

  We intend to assess the recovery of all elective aortic aneurysm patients coming through the Black Country Vascular Hub using several validated questionnaires. Patients currently undergo a CPET preoperative assessment with a Consultant Anaesthetist prior to embarking upon surgery. This will be an opportunity to introduce the study, seek consent, and establish baseline function. Patients will then be assessed using the questionnaires at baseline, post surgery, 30 days, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year to allow the pattern of recovery to be mapped.

  This outcome will be informative for future patients and clinicians.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/EM/0169

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 May 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion