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The Effects of Prolonged Head-Down Tilt Lithotomy Position on Lower Limb Haemodynamics

NCT06036641 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 26

Last updated 2026-05-01

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

During certain bowel surgeries for cancer (colorectal surgery), individuals frequently have to be placed in a head-down position to enable surgeons have optimal access to the cancer site. This position usually also involves bending the hips and knees while supporting the legs in stirrups. However, lying in this position for long periods of time can lower the flow of blood to the legs, which can potentially cause injury. This rare but severe consequence is called Well-Leg Compartment Syndrome (WLCS). If WLCS is not diagnosed quickly, it can lead to other difficult complications and a significant delay in recovery. Unfortunately, because the individual is under anaesthesia, diagnosis is delayed in many cases. There is very little information in the medical literature about how this damage to the legs progresses over the course of the surgery. To better understand how WLCS, how well blood vessels work during surgery will be assessed. The flow of blood and oxygen in the calf muscle will be assessed in 25 individuals placed in a head-down position during colorectal surgery. Likewise, blood samples will be obtained in order to measure the biological markers that may contribute to the development of WLCS.

Conditions

  • Compartment Syndrome Nontraumatic Lower Extremity

Interventions

DEVICE

NIRS monitoring

All participants will undergo NIRS monitoring of muscle and cerebral tissue oxygenation intraoperatively.

DEVICE

Laser Doppler flowmetry

Cutaneous blood flow will be assessed intraoperatively via Laser Doppler flowmetry in all participants

OTHER

Inflammatory and Oxidative stress biomarkers

Blood samples will be taken to measure biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress at specific time points

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • University of Portsmouth

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Chukwuemeka C Uzoma, MBBS · University of Portsmouth

  • Maria C Perissiou, PhD · University of Portsmouth

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-07-22
Primary Completion
2025-11-03
Completion
2025-11-03

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06036641 on ClinicalTrials.gov