Effect of intermediate care on mortality following emergency abdominal surgery. The InCare trial: study protocol, rationale and feasibility of a randomised multicentre trial.

BACKGROUND: Emergency abdominal surgery carries a 15% to 20% short-term mortality rate. Postoperative medical complications are strongly associated with increased mortality. Recent research suggests that timely recognition and effective management of complications may reduce mortality. The aim of the present trial is to evaluate the effect of postoperative intermediate care following emergency major abdominal surgery in high-risk patients. METHODS AND DESIGN: The InCare trial is a randomised, parallel-group, non-blinded clinical trial with 1:1 allocation. Patients undergoing emergency laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery with a perioperative Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score of 10 or above, who are ready to be transferred to the surgical ward within 24 h of surgery are allocated to either intermediate care for 48 h, or surgical ward care. The primary outcome measure is all-cause 30-day mortality. We aim to enrol 400 patients in seven Danish hospitals. The sample size allows us to detect or refute a 34% relative risk reduction of mortality with 80% power. DISCUSSION: This trial evaluates the benefits and possible harm of intermediate care. The results may potentially influence the survival of many high-risk surgical patients. As a pioneer trial in the area, it will provide important data on the feasibility of future large-scale randomised clinical trials evaluating different levels of postoperative care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01209663.

[Medical emergency teams are activated less than expected]. / Mobilt akutteam brugt mindre end forventet.

Medical emergency teams (MET) are established at several Danish hospitals. We report experiences from 2010-2011 at a university hospital with 73,360 admissions in 2011. MET is activated less than expected as a systematic track and trigger system is not implemented yet. The most common trigger of MET is respiratory problems. MET have an important role of limitations of therapy or do not resuscitate orders in patients with critical irreversible illness. One in five patients seen by MET were admitted to the intensive care unit. Currently the Capital Region of Denmark covering 12 hospitals is implementing a full rapid response system at all hospitals.