MedPath

The Impact of Prehabilitation Bundle on Perioperative Outcome for Frail Elderly Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery

Not Applicable
Conditions
Perioperative/Postoperative Complications
Complication, Postoperative
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Ensure, Resource 2.0 and Glucerna
Other: Cognitive Training, Memory Card Game
Device: 'Threshold' Inspiratory Muscle Trainer, Respironics of New Jersey Inc
Registration Number
NCT02921932
Lead Sponsor
Singapore General Hospital
Brief Summary

This study aims to study the efficacy of a preoperative "bundle" of interventions, which consists of preoperative physiotherapy, nutritional support and cognitive exercises on elderly frail patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, and evaluating their outcomes. There will be two arms, intervention and control.

Detailed Description

Frailty is a geriatric syndrome, defined as an increased vulnerability to stressors leading to a state of decreased physiological resistance. It is characterised by a "constellation of symptoms and signs that describe the heterogeneous response of older adults to physiological and metabolic challenges." While frailty is not necessarily synonymous with chronological age, it is more prevalent among the older adult population and is associated with up to a threefold increased risk of mortality or major morbidity postsurgery. Thus, it has become critically important for healthcare systems to develop strategies designed to improve clinical outcomes in this high-risk population when undergoing surgeries.

Currently there is no clear intervention that has been proven to modify the syndrome of frailty or its impact on postoperative outcomes. This study investigates a novel multidisciplinary approach that can be implemented within a short time frame prior to surgery.

We plan to study the efficacy of a preoperative "bundle" of interventions, which consists of preoperative physiotherapy, nutritional support and cognitive exercises on elderly frail patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, and evaluating their outcomes based 1) length of hospital stay 2) Functional recovery from surgery 3) post-operative complications.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
62
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Patients attending the Preoperative Evaluation Clinic, SGH at least 11 days prior to his/her elective major abdominal surgery. Major abdominal surgery is defined as an intraperitoneal surgery with expected length of stay beyond 2 days. For patients who attended the clinic more than 11 days prior to surgery date, they will be informed to start their prehabilitation bundle 10 days prior to surgery.
  2. Aged 65 and above
  3. Diagnosed as frail based on Fried criteria score 3and above
  4. Able to understand and follow the prescribed cognitive and physical exercise
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Patients with Parkinson disease, previous stroke, neuromuscular disorders and those taking carbidopa/levodopa, donepezil hydrochloride or antidepressants as previous studies have found that these medications may cause symptoms that are similar with domains of frailty.
  2. Patients who are not able to communicate

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionEnsure, Resource 2.0 and GlucernaIn the interventional arm, patients will be given: 1. A 'Threshold' Inspiratory Muscle Trainer 2. A nutritional assessment: if needed, dietary supplements prescribed (i.e Ensure, Glucerna). 3. Cognitive exercise in the form of the 'Memory' card game will be taught to the patients and the caregiver (if available), to be done twice a day. Patients will be provided with a protocol activities log and a study assistant will be conducting a telephone conversation on day 1, 4 and 7 to encourage compliance to the protocol and answer any queries with regards to the research study.
InterventionCognitive Training, Memory Card GameIn the interventional arm, patients will be given: 1. A 'Threshold' Inspiratory Muscle Trainer 2. A nutritional assessment: if needed, dietary supplements prescribed (i.e Ensure, Glucerna). 3. Cognitive exercise in the form of the 'Memory' card game will be taught to the patients and the caregiver (if available), to be done twice a day. Patients will be provided with a protocol activities log and a study assistant will be conducting a telephone conversation on day 1, 4 and 7 to encourage compliance to the protocol and answer any queries with regards to the research study.
Intervention'Threshold' Inspiratory Muscle Trainer, Respironics of New Jersey IncIn the interventional arm, patients will be given: 1. A 'Threshold' Inspiratory Muscle Trainer 2. A nutritional assessment: if needed, dietary supplements prescribed (i.e Ensure, Glucerna). 3. Cognitive exercise in the form of the 'Memory' card game will be taught to the patients and the caregiver (if available), to be done twice a day. Patients will be provided with a protocol activities log and a study assistant will be conducting a telephone conversation on day 1, 4 and 7 to encourage compliance to the protocol and answer any queries with regards to the research study.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Length of Hospital StayWill be compared between the intervention and control arms for up to 1 year
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Post operative complicationsDuration of hospital admission for up to 30 days

mortality, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay, reintubation and ventilation days in ICU, Acute Myocardial Infarction, new arrhythmia.

Functional Post Operative RecoveryDuration of hospital admission for up to 30 days

Postoperative Quality of Recovery Scale (PQRS) questionnaire at 4 time points (Day of surgery, Postoperative days 1, 3 and 7) throughout their surgical admissions

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Singapore General Hospital

πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¬

Singapore, Singapore

Β© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath