Major elective cancer surgery in the abdomen is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality risk despite optimized anesthesia and surgical techniques.Thus, it is estimated that severe morbidity occurs in 25-35% after abdominal cancer surgery within the first 30 days.
Postoperative acute mortality is similarly unacceptably high, evidenced by national data showing 8-9% in-hospital mortality after upper abdominal surgery, and also significant 90-day mortality. The high morbidity and mortality rates after abdominal cancer surgery are in discrepancy with the fact that these procedures are performed with a curative or life prolonging aim.
Using spectral analysis of a wide range of continuously measured physiological parameters, we will seek to develop an algorithm for prediction of severe postoperative complications after abdominal cancer surgery and define a set of criteria for intervention against severe postoperative events.
Hence, the aim is to achieve continuous patient surveillance with a ’wear and forget’ device, for early intervention to prevent the development of a number of postoperative complications, with reduced morbidity, mortality and health care costs, increasing overall survival after cancer treatment.
This project is co-funded by the Knæk Cancer Foundation.