Short- and long term morbidity and quality of life after pancreatic cancer surgery

Aim

To evaluate post-operative and long-term outcomes for patients after pancreatic cancer surgery, after adding a nurse intervention to standard practice.

Study design

A cohort study.

About the project

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, as less than 10% of the patients are alive five years after diagnosis. Surgery in combination with oncological treatment is the only curatively intended treatment, when possible.

Poor preoperative status, and postoperative complications and stress may negatively impact on the patient’s ability to receive oncological treatment. This may be due to poor nutrition status, impaired bowel function or other complications postoperatively.

Also, the risk of long-term sequelae and negative impact on quality of life is significant. Knowledge of determinants of these impairments after pancreatic cancer surgery is therefore essential. A small number of individuals are also living with long-term sequelae after pancreatic cancer surgery, negatively impacting on quality of life.

In our treatment center, we have added a simple intervention to standard care, in terms of a clinical visit at a nurse specialist, including systematic screening for and handling of symptoms and potential complications postoperatively. Relevant action is taken according to a cross-specialist algorithm, with particular focus on nutritional problems and bowel function.

The aim of this research study is to evaluate short-term treatment adherence and outcomes, and to perform descriptive analyses of long-term morbidity and quality of life.

All patients planned for pancreatic cancer surgery will be invited to the cohort preoperatively, and data will be collected at baseline, and at 1 – 3 – 6 – 9 and 12 months after surgery. Start of inclusion to the cohort is planned for medio 2025.

Publications:

Sort by: Date | Author | Title

Research area:

Nursing research

Project Investigator (PI)

Ida Hovdenak

Assistant Lecturer

Project participants:

Jakob Kirkegård

Funding: