Sublingual Microcirculation and Postoperative Ileus

Correlation Between Sublingual Microcirculation and Postoperative Ileus Symptoms in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery - a Pilot Study

The aim of this pilot study is to establish if a correlation between sub-lingual microcirculation measured by Orthogonal polarization spectral (OPS) imaging and symptoms of postoperative ileus exist in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

AIM OF THE STUDY This observational study will assess whether perioperative microcirculatory changes can be correlated with symptoms associated with primary POI.

PRIMARY RESEARCH QUESTION Is there a correlation between peri-operative microcirculatory flow measurements and the incidence of symptomatic primary POI?

SECONDARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Is there a correlation between peri-operative microcirculatory flow measurements and the duration of symptomatic primary POI?
2. If any correlation is observed, which anatomic location (sublingual mucosa vs bowel serosa) yields microcirculatory flow measurements that are more strongly associated with the incidence and/or duration of symptomatic primary POI?
3. Can either intraoperative sublingual mucosa or intraoperative bowel serosa microcirculatory flow measurements predict symptoms of primary POI? Are these two anatomic locations equivalent in their ability to predict this complication?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients older than 18 yo undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery with an Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) at the Montreal General Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any patient who refuses enrolment