Children's Acute Surgical Abdomen Programme
This is a big study called the Children's Acute Surgical Abdomen Programme (CASAP). It's looking at emergency stomach operations for children aged 1 to 16 in hospitals across the UK. The main goal is to understand the type and quality of care children receive and see if there are differences between hospitals. We will collect information on why children need surgery, how well current guidelines are followed, and any problems that happen after surgery. This information will help doctors understand common issues and develop new tools to predict risks and guide treatment decisions. Ultimately, the study aims to improve care for all children having emergency stomach surgery.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine your child suddenly needs emergency surgery for a problem in their tummy. This study, called the Children's Acute Surgical Abdomen Programme (CASAP), is designed to understand this very situation. It's a big project that will look at children (between 1 and 16 years old) who have unplanned operations because of problems in their stomach area, like their appendix or other gut issues, in hospitals all across the UK.
The main idea is to understand the care these children receive. We want to see what kind of treatments are given, how well hospitals follow the best care advice, and if there are differences in care from one hospital to another. By collecting information from around 5000 patients, we can get a clear picture of what's happening now.
Why does this matter? Well, this information will help doctors understand what usually happens after these surgeries and spot any common problems. It will also help create new tools that doctors can use to predict how a child might recover and make the best decisions about their care. The study will also follow children for up to 10 years using existing NHS records, which means we can see how they get on in the long term. This is all about making sure children get the best possible care when they need it most.
Key takeaways
- Looks at emergency tummy operations for children aged 1-16.
- Aims to understand current care provided in UK hospitals.
- Hopes to find ways to improve treatments and outcomes for children.
- Collects information from medical records, no extra procedures.
- Follows children's health for up to 10 years using existing NHS data.
- Will help doctors make better decisions for future patients.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for children aged between 1 and 16 years old. To be included, they must be having an unplanned (emergency) operation for problems in their stomach area. This includes issues with their bowels, appendix, liver, or spleen that aren't caused by an injury.
There are some reasons why a child might not be able to join the study. If parents don't agree to their child taking part, then they won't be included. Also, children under 1 year old or over 16, or those having planned operations, won't be part of this study. If the surgery is for an injury, or for kidney, bladder, or female reproductive organ problems, then they won't be included either. Operations like organ transplants or straightforward hernia repairs that don't involve going deep into the stomach area are also not part of this study.
- Is your child aged between 1 and 16 years old?
- Is the surgery an unplanned, emergency operation?
- Is the surgery for a problem in their stomach or gut area (not an injury)?
- Are you happy for information from their medical records to be used for research?
This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.
What does participation involve?
If a child takes part in this study, parents won't need to do anything extra or attend special appointments. The study will simply collect information about the child's care during their emergency stomach surgery and recovery from their hospital notes. There are no new treatments or medications involved. After the hospital stay, the child's progress will be followed for up to 10 years by linking their information with existing NHS health records. This means the study will automatically get updates from the NHS about their health without anyone needing to fill in forms or go to extra check-ups.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Nottingham Children's HospitalNottingham, United Kingdom
Common questions
What kind of children are included in this study?
This study includes children between 1 and 16 years old who need emergency surgery for problems in their stomach area, like their appendix or gut issues.
Will my child receive any new treatments if they are in this study?
No, your child will not receive any new treatments or medicines. The study only collects information about the care they are already receiving.
How long will my child's information be used?
Information about your child will be followed for up to 10 years using existing NHS health records, but no extra visits or forms are needed from you.
Is my child's personal information safe?
Yes, all personal information will be made anonymous so that your child cannot be identified, ensuring their privacy is protected.
What is the main goal of this study?
The main goal is to understand and improve the quality of emergency stomach surgery care for children across the UK.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
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