Vascular Changes During Colorectal Surgery

Overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether increases in the blood flow from the heart (the cardiac output), induced by the administration of intravenous fluids, lead to an increase in the blood flow to the vital organs, in patients undergoing bowel surgery. This study will involve 2 phases. Firstly, potential volunteers will be invited to meet the research fellow (medical doctor) undertaking this study, who will check their suitability to participate in the study and who will obtain informed consent. The second phase is the study itself which will take place whilst volunteers are having their bowel operation. They will attend theatre in the normal way, but once they have been anaesthetised (put to sleep), a special monitor called an oesophageal doppler probe will be placed into their oesophagus (food pipe) via the nose. This monitor is frequently used in bowel surgery to help assess how much intravenous fluid to administer to a patient by measuring the cardiac output (the amount of blood pumped out of the heart each minute). Using the cannula (drip) already inserted in the arm to allow administration of the anaesthetic, a special fluid, called an ultrasound contrast agent, will be injected into the drip, to allow a contrast enhanced ultrasound scan of the abdominal organs to be performed, to measure the blood flow to these organs. A small sample of blood will be taken from the earlobe to allow us to measure a chemical in the blood called lactate. After this, intravenous fluid will be administered in order to increase the amount of blood pumped out of the heart. Once the oesophageal doppler monitor suggests that an adequate amount of fluid has been given, a second ultrasound scan will be performed to measure whether blood flow to the abdominal organs has also increased. A further blood sample will be taken from your earlobe to measure any change in lactate level. At the completion of the operation, a third ultrasound scan will be performed and another sample of blood taken from the earlobe, to help assess blood flow to the organs.

Potential participants (patients with colorectal cancer offered an operation) will be highlighted from the Derbyshire NHS trusts colorectal multidisciplinary team meeting. All patients who fulfil entry requirements will be seen by the research fellow after their outpatient meeting with their particular surgeon (if they agree). Information packs containing details of the study (information sheet and consent form) will be given and any questions answered. Patients will be allowed to take the packs away with them and decide whether they would be keen to participate. Interested patients will be consented by the research fellow during their subsequent pre-operative clinic appointment. The study will take place intra-operatively. Monitoring will be instituted as determined necessary by the attending anaesthetists, but as a minimum will consist of pulse oximetry, ECG and non-invasive blood pressure recording. Intravenous cannulae will be sited and general anaesthesia induced by the anaesthetist responsible for the patient, as would be normal for this type of surgery. Once the patient has been transferred to the operating theatre, the research fellow will insert an ODM probe via either the nasal or oral route and the CO and SV will be measured; this constitutes normal care. A sterile Phillips iU22 USS probe will be placed on the patient's abdomen and the research fellow will administer SonoVue contrast agent intravenously via the cannula already sited to facilitate anaesthesia, up to a maximum dose of 2.4ml. Visceral MVBF will be measured using this CEUS technique. Capillary blood samples will be taken from earlobe for measurement of blood lactate levels by the research fellow. At this stage, as would typically occur during an operation of this nature, the research fellow will administer intravenous colloid suspension in boluses of 3ml/kg, up to a maximum of 15ml/kg, until the CO has been maximised, as judged by the ODM. At this stage, the research fellow will perform a further CEUS of the abdominal viscera by administering Sonovue contrast agent (2nd dose of up to 2.4ml) and measuring MVBF with the Phillips iU22. Repeat samples of capillary blood will be drawn to measure the lactate level by the research fellow. At the end of the operation, a 3rd CEUS of the abdominal viscera, along with further SV \& CO readings, will be made.