SQUEEZE UK: Postoperative vasopressor usage: Relation to AF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Postoperative vasopressor usage: a prospective observational study. Relation to Perioperative Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
IRAS ID
279114
Contact name
Ingeborg Welters
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT03805230, www.clinicaltrials.gov
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: Some patients that undergo surgery develop a syndrome called vasoplegia, which occurs when the function of blood vessels become impaired, the blood pressure falls to abnormally low levels and additional medications (vasopressors) are required to maintain it. Where vasoplegia persists after surgery, it often necessitates admission to the intensive care unit for management of vasopressors, resulting in prolonged hospital stays and leading to a greater potential for complications including the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular heart rhythm that increases the risk of stroke and death.
Aims: To identify factors in variation of care (patient, condition, surgery and intraoperative management) that are associated with receipt of vasopressor infusions, the development of perioperative AF and resulting patient outcomes (organ dysfunction, survival).
Methodology: This will be a two-part study; firstly collecting data from all patients undergoing surgery as hospital in-patients to determine what proportion develop vasoplegia and AF and to identify any risk factors that predicts the development of vasoplegia. In phase two, we will follow in detail thirty patients in each centre that develop vasoplegia. SQUEEZE-UK will be conducted in at least 40 UK centres.
Expected Outcomes: The prevalence of postoperative AF in a non-cardiac surgical population. The data collected in this study will be analysed as part of the worldwide study to understand the impact of vasoplegia on outcomes.
Implications: SQUEEZE-UK will provide a unique insight into post-operative vasoplegia and perioperative AF in the UK. Whilst complications such as vasoplegia occur in a small proportion of patients, because of the large number of people undergoing surgery, this potentially affects thousands of patients each year in the UK alone. Understanding the relationship between vasoplegia, new AF and outcome is vital to developing new ways to improve the patient journey through surgery and reduce complications.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
21/WA/0276
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion