Protocol for a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study of variation in practice in perioperative analgesic strategies in elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery: the LapCoGesic Study.
Laparoscopic surgery combined with enhanced recovery programmes has become the gold standard in the elective management of colorectal disease. However, there is no consensus with regard to the optimal perioperative analgesic regime in this cohort of patients, with a number of options available, including thoracic epidural spinal analgesia, patient-controlled analgesia, subcutaneous and/or intraperitoneal local anaesthetics, local anaesthetic wound infiltration catheters and transversus abdominis plane blocks. This study aims to explore any differences in analgesic strategies employed across the North East of England and to assess whether any variation in practice has an impact on clinical outcomes.



All North East Colorectal units will be recruited for participation by the Northern Surgical Trainees Research Association (NoSTRA). Data will be collected over a consecutive 2-month period. Outcome measures will include postoperative pain score, postoperative opioid analgesic use and side effects, length of stay, 30-day complication rates, 30-day reoperative rates and 30-day readmission rates.



Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the National Research Ethics Service. The protocol will be disseminated through NoSTRA. Individual unit data will be presented at local meetings. Overall collective data will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at relevant surgical meetings.
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Phillippa
P
Burnell
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Rachael
R
Coates
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Steven
S
Dixon
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Lucy
L
Grant
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Matthew
M
Gray
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ben
B
Griffiths
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Mike
M
Jones
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Anantha
A
Madhavan
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Iain
I
McCallum
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Ross
R
McClean
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Karen
K
Naru
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Lydia
L
Newton
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Paul
P
O'Loughlin
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Fadlo
F
Shaban
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Anisha
A
Sukha
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Sameer
S
Somnath
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Syed
S
Shumon
Department of Academic Surgery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Deena
D
Harji
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000379:methods*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid