Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Cognitive Assessment And Post-Operative Complications After Surgery: Linking Anaesthesia And Risk

This study, called CAPSULAR, is investigating why some older people experience memory problems or confusion after major surgery. These problems, sometimes called 'PND', can affect how well someone recovers and their ability to live independently. We're running a small 'feasibility study' to find the best ways to research this. We want to see if asking patients to do memory tests and give blood samples before and after their operation is practical. We'll also look at details of their anaesthetic. The main goal is to compare memory test results and blood markers related to brain health, linking these to anaesthetic information. The results will help us plan a much bigger study in the future, ultimately hoping to make surgery safer for the brain.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jul 2026

Estimated completion

01 Mar 2028

Cognitive Impairment Cognitive Impairment, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Progressive Anesthesia Anesthesia Brain Monitoring Anesthesia Depth Monitoring

What is this study about?

Many older people can sometimes feel confused or have trouble with their memory and thinking after big operations. These difficulties are sometimes called 'postoperative neurocognitive disorders' (PND for short). They can make it harder for a person to get back to normal after surgery and sometimes affect their independence.

This study, called CAPSULAR, is a first step to understanding these problems better. We're doing a small 'feasibility study' to work out the best ways to research this thoroughly. This means we're testing our methods – for example, checking if it's practical to ask patients to complete memory tests and give blood samples before and after their operation. We hope to involve about 40 patients over two years.

We’ll compare how well people do on memory tests before and after their surgery. We'll also collect information about their anaesthetic, including the types of medicines used, how long the operation lasts, and special brain monitoring during surgery. Additionally, we'll look at markers in blood samples that can tell us about brain health. By putting all this information together, we hope to find links that will help us understand why these problems happen and how to prevent them in the future. The results from this study will be very important for planning a much larger study, with the main goal of making surgery safer for the brain.

Key takeaways

This study aims to understand why some older people experience memory or thinking problems after surgery.
It's a 'feasibility study' to ensure the research methods are practical for a larger future study.
Participation involves memory tests and blood samples before and after surgery, within a week.
Researchers will look at connections between anaesthesia, brain health markers, and thinking abilities.
The ultimate goal is to make surgery safer for the brain in older patients.
All blood samples are taken during routine blood tests to minimise inconvenience.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for older patients aged 70 or over. To take part, you would need to have already attended a special clinic for older people having surgery (called the POPS clinic) and be scheduled for specific types of surgery on your bowel (colorectal) or waterworks (urological) that are expected to last more than one hour.

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if your surgery only uses local anaesthetic (a regional anaesthetic), or if you're having day surgery and expect to go home within 24 hours. You also wouldn't be able to take part if you are expected to need a breathing machine for more than 24 hours after surgery. The study also requires that you would still wish to be involved even if your ability to make decisions changes during the study.

Quick self-check

Are you aged 70 or older?
Have you attended the POPS (Perioperative Medicine for Older People undergoing Surgery) clinic?
Are you scheduled for bowel or waterworks surgery lasting over one hour?
Are you NOT having only local anaesthetic, or day surgery where you go home fast?
Are you NOT expected to need a breathing machine for more than 24 hours after surgery?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you would first have some memory tests before your surgery. These are simple tests, like puzzles or remembering lists, to see how your thinking abilities are doing at the start. You would also give blood samples at the same time as any routine blood tests you're already having for your surgery. We would also gather general information about your health, such as how active you are, and details about the anaesthetic you receive during your operation, including some standard brain monitoring.

After your surgery, within seven days (or before you leave the hospital, if that's sooner), you would have the memory tests again to see if there have been any changes. More blood samples would also be collected at this time, again, alongside any routine blood tests. The total duration of the study involvement for each person would be up to about a week after surgery.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study might not directly benefit you, but the information we gather will be very valuable for planning future research. This research aims to improve care and make surgery safer for older people's brains. The main risks involve giving extra blood samples and spending a little more time completing the memory tests. All blood samples would be taken at the same time as your routine blood tests to avoid extra needle sticks. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this would not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Western General Hospital
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'PND'?

PND stands for Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorder. It's the medical term for problems with memory or thinking that can sometimes happen after surgery.

Will taking part alter my surgery or anaesthetic?

No, taking part in this study will not change how your surgery or anaesthetic is planned or carried out. Your medical care will be exactly the same.

What are 'biomarkers'?

Biomarkers are special substances found in the body, like in blood, that can give us clues about your health or how your body is working, including your brain.

Do I need to do anything special before or after surgery for the study?

Apart from the extra memory tests and blood samples, you do not need to do anything special. Just follow your usual pre- and post-operative instructions.

What happens if I change my mind about taking part?

You can decide to leave the study at any time, for any reason, and it won't affect the medical care you receive.

How to find out more

Kieran P Nunn, MB BS, BSc(h), FRCA, FFICM

kieran.nunn@nhs.scot +441315371652 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.