Enhanced Recovery Versus Standard Care After Emergency Abdominal Surgery in Patients Requiring Em… (NCT07650461) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Enhanced Recovery Versus Standard Care After Emergency Abdominal Surgery in Patients Requiring Emergency Laparotomy
Pakistan102 participantsStarted 2025-05-01
Plain-language summary
This study aims to compare an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol with conventional postoperative care in adults undergoing emergency laparotomy for intestinal obstruction or intestinal perforation.
The main question this study aims to answer is:
• Does the ERAS protocol reduce surgical site infections compared with conventional care after emergency laparotomy?
Researchers will also compare other recovery outcomes between the two groups, including length of hospital stay, occurrence of paralytic ileus (temporary loss of bowel function), time to first bowel movement, and time to start taking fluids by mouth after surgery.
A total of 102 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive postoperative care according to the ERAS protocol, while the other group will receive conventional postoperative care. All participants will undergo emergency laparotomy using standard surgical and anesthetic techniques.
Participants will:
* Undergo emergency laparotomy for intestinal obstruction or intestinal perforation.
* Receive either ERAS-based postoperative care or conventional postoperative care.
* Be monitored during their hospital stay for recovery and postoperative complications.
* Be assessed for bowel function recovery, ability to tolerate oral fluids, and length of hospital stay.
* Be followed for 30 days after surgery to determine whether a surgical site infection develops.
The researchers hypothesize that patients managed with the ERAS protocol will have a lower frequency of surgical site infections and improved postoperative recovery compared with those receiving conventional care.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* acute intestinal obstruction or intestinal perforation
* planned for emergency laparotomy
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pregnant women
* Patients on chronic steroids
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
* Malignant ulcers confirmed by histopathological examination
* laparoscopic surgeries
* Acute abdominal trauma
* Patients who require postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) care
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial compared an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol to standard care specifically for emergency laparotomy — do you think the ERAS approach could realistically apply to my situation, or is it mainly suited to patients who had planned surgeries?
2Since this trial is already completed and was focused on measuring surgical site infection rates, has any data been published yet, and if so, does it suggest the ERAS protocol reduced infection risk compared to standard care in emergency cases like mine?
3Emergency laparotomies can involve very different underlying causes like bowel obstruction or perforation — does it matter which of those conditions a patient had when interpreting what this trial found?
4Given that this study was categorized as 'Phase NA,' meaning it wasn't testing a new drug but rather a care pathway, how confident can my care team be about the safety and real-world benefit of applying ERAS protocols after emergency abdominal surgery?
5Would adopting the ERAS approach this trial studied change anything specific about my recovery process — like how soon I could eat, how pain is managed, or how long I might stay in the hospital — and is that something worth discussing for my own surgery plan?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Surgical Site Infection
Timeframe: From enrollment within 30 days postoperatively