Surgery Complications

Heart rate variability reflects the autonomic nervous system on the intrinsic activity of sinus node cells. Sympathetic hyperactivity is an adaptation to stress, while parasympathetic hyperactivity is present at rest. Thus, any variability in the heart frequency rate reflects variations in sympathetic and parasympathetic components in the autonomic nervous system. Failure to return to normal or a reduction in the variability of the heart rate in the postoperative period is correlated with complications in colorectal surgery.

The proportion of noncardiac surgeries performed as same-day surgery is increasing worldwide, with more complex surgeries being performed on higher risk patients in the outpatient setting. Little is known on the risk factors, incidence and prognosis of patients undergoing same-day noncardiac surgery. The main objective of this study is to inform on the incidence and risk factors of cardiovascular and other adverse events after same-day surgery and to develop risk prediction tools to better inform on the risk and selection of patients undergoing same-day surgery.

Patients undergoing routine surgery in the Department of Dermatology for any indication on non-scalp skin and closed in linear fashion with scar greater than or equal to 4.5cm in length will be invited to participate in this split scar, head to head study comparing zinc oxide and petrolatum. Patients will apply respective ointments to each half of scar daily for one month and maintain a log of these activities. They will be seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operatively for photographic scar assessment and to complete the patient portion of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), a quantitative objective assessment of scar appearance. Trained observers (board-certified dermatologists) will score the observer portion of the scale. POSAS outcomes, post-operative infections, linear density of epidermal seal will be assessed at the 1 week, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months post-operative periods and compared between the two groups. Participants will have parking validated for all visits and upon completion of all portions of the study will receive a standardized skin care gift bag containing samples for hypoallergenic skin care products (washes, moisturizers, etc.).

STUDY SUMMARY Incisional hernias, or swellings of the abdominal scar after surgery, remain problematic especially after transplant surgery. This is because they can cause complications, including trapping of bowel or the transplant. This can cause life threatening emergencies but is at the very least unsightly and uncomfortable for the patient. Transplant patients are especially likely to develop hernias because of the diseases causing the renal failure and the drugs that they take to dampen the immune system. There is evidence from other surgery that the stitching methods that are used to close the wounds might decrease the risk of surgical hernias. This is achieved by placing smaller and more numerous sutures (stitches) in the wound to increase the strength of the repair. However, this has never been tested formally in transplant where it may provide significant benefit. We intend to do some initial investigation of whether using the smaller stitches may provide benefit over more traditional methods that are currently being used. We will look at early complications after surgery but also the rate of hernia formation later. We hope to improve outcomes and reduce complications for our transplant patients by doing this. In addition we will collect blood and tissue samples from both live kidney donors and the recipients to microscopically analyse their collagen to identify potential factors which may indicate risk of hernia formation.

Advanced pelvic cancers are uncommon, with treatment being challenging. Around 4000 patients every year need treatment in the UK. Cancers can involve multiple organs and often need radiotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery. Surgery usually requires removal of multiple pelvic organs, including muscles, bone, and skin around the anus (the perineum). This can lead to complications relating to both the empty pelvis syndrome and closure of the perineal defect. Reconstruction is challenging, with frequently occurring complications, reducing speed of recovery and quality of life. This study investigates complication frequency, quality of life and expenses following different reconstruction techniques. The investigators hope to improve patient and doctor decision-making in this area and find the best methods of reconstruction to improve outcomes. REMACS has three work packages: 1. Maintenance of a database of patients undergoing colorectal surgery at Southampton and Salisbury Hospitals, including those undergoing extra-levator abdominoperineal excision and pelvic exenteration. This includes all routinely collected clinical data, imaging, health resource use, and patient reported outcome measures. 2. A collaborative national prospective cohort study investigating morbidity, health resource use, longitudinal quality of life outcomes (EORTC QLQ-C30 and disease-specific modules) and quality adjusted life years. The investigators will also assess financial toxicity using the comprehensive score for financial toxicity. 3. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to undertake a more complex evaluation of quality of life and patient experiences in patients that have recovered from their surgeries. The last two work packages have now been funded by an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Grant

There is considerable morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac surgery. Currently little effort is made to quantify how well the immune system of an individual can cope with inflammation or infection to which they are exposed during surgery. The investigators have previously demonstrated that having higher pre-operative antibody levels is associated with a lower risk of infection and a shorter stay in hospital after cardiac surgery. The investigators aim to study 150 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement and explore their dynamic immune responsiveness. The investigators will determine if this response is correlated with the post-operative outcome (development of post-operative infection or increased length of hospital stay). The investigators will compare this response with the previously measured static markers of immune competence and also with a novel device that may give a more rapid measure of dynamic immunity. The investigators will approach patients in the cardiac surgical pre-assessment clinic to see if they are willing to participate in the study. Immediately once under anaesthetic blood will be taken for testing and then again at the end of surgery, 24h after surgery, at discharge from hospital, and at follow-up clinic approximately 4 weeks later. There will be no additional needle insertions on top of those routinely performed. The investigators will collect data from the routine observations as far as 1 year after surgery. If the investigators can show an association between immune function and subsequent post-operative outcome it may be possible to determine ways to improve outcomes for patients undergoing heart surgery. This might include better information on risks and benefits of surgery, actively boosting immune function (vaccination, immune-nutrition), passively improving immunity (administering antibodies), or consider current alternatives to open heart surgery where the threat of infection or inflammation may be markedly reduced (eg trans-catheter aortic valve implantation)

Background: Recommendations for peri-operative management in patients with implanted cardiac electronic devices (CIED) are often based on older data from case reports and small collectives. Objective: To evaluate the peri-operative management and outcome of patients with implanted CIED undergoing non-CIED related surgery or catheter-interventional procedures in clinical routine. Study design: bi-center, non-randomized, observational registry, retrospective data-collection, on-going prospective patient enrollment, descriptive statistics Primary endpoint: number and type of peri-operative adverse device related events (ADE) Secondary endpoints: pre-interventional data (patient characteristics, data from CIED interrogation); peri-interventional data (type of surgery/intervention, anesthesiology techniques, any AE), postinterventional data (data from post-interventional CIED interrogation, need for reprogramming / device revision). Inclusion criteria: implanted CIED, non-CIED related surgical or catheter-based intervention, peri-procedural CIED interrogation, age \>18 years Exclusion criteria: no implanted CIED, no data from any peri-procedural CIED interrogation available Patient enrollment: retrospectively beginning from 2008, further on-going prospective inclusion Sample size: For the observational study, there is no pre-specified sample size. Data from more than 500 patients undergoing \> 700 interventions are expected.

The project aims at analysing prognostic and predictive factors involved in diagnostics and surgical treatment of cysts and tumors in the pancreas and periampullary region using both clinical data and blood and tissue samples for biomarker development and validation.

The study aims to find out if complications after surgery for large bowel (colon) cancer can be reduced or avoided in the most frail and elderly by letting them go through an exercise- and diet regime prior to the surgical procedure.

The main objective of this investigator initiated study is to study if preoperative intravenous iron is effective in reducing need for allogenic blood transfusion in patients with gastric cancer who will undergo a standardized gastrectomy including both total and subtotal gastrectomies. The hypothesis is that intravenous iron reduces the need for perioperative blood transfusions.