Participate in research study as part of RALP?

[gamma909]

I have my surgery coming up in a few weeks and the hospital would like me to participate in a research study on anesthesiology's impact on memory (this can be a short-term and longer-term issue for older patients). Participation won't be too difficult and I certainly support doing studies like these in order to help patients in the future. My concern is that I already have a lot on my plate. Has anyone here agreed to do a study as part of their surgery and did everything work out OK?

[dentaltwin]

Nothing like the study you're being asked to participate in. I was just one arm of a study comparing different ways of documenting postop symptoms day by day in a questionnaire. Obviously if they're studying the effects of anesthesia on memory, it doesn't sound particular to prostate surgery. It MAY be comparing different anesthetic agents.

Not that it isn't a legitimate area of study--in fact I'd be surprised if something like this hasn't been done for anesthetics. (Incidentally, my brother had some sensory defects after his open-heart surgery--specifically altered taste sensation. The surgeon blamed the anesthetic; the anesthesiologist blamed the time on cardiopulmonary bypass. So it would be really good to know this stuff. But I'd guess this would be a considerably bigger time commitment for you than the little study I was enrolled in--and I'd ask them how time-consuming this study would be for you).

[Hidden in reply to dentaltwin]

I had a robotic mitral valve repair 9 years ago and involved the use of the bypass machine.

The "pump head" is real and in my case, it gradually faded away. It think that is common. I also had some strange taste bud reactions but it was pretty short term. Hope your brother is feeling better.

[dentaltwin in reply to Hidden]

My brother's was laparoscopic, but not robotic (mitral annuloplasty). He had a rough postop. course, with major (something like 7 or 8 units) transfusion, re-entry to try (unsuccessfully) to find the source of the bleeding. He's OK and functional, but has never felt the same (wild goose chase looking for obscure infectious disease, rheumatologist, etc.). Probably just a matter of time for me (I have a "significant" mitral regurg.). I've heard of surgeons taking time off surgery because of "pump head".

[Hidden in reply to dentaltwin]

Your brother’s situation is rough.

My regurgitate was classified as severe. It’s now mild. Now that’s on the back burner, as I focus on the prostate.

[dentaltwin in reply to Hidden]

...as life gets more and more...interesting.

[jimreilly]

I was not asked to participate in a study like that, but having had some odd short term memory things happen after surgery I hope you and some other good people can participate--I think there are some things they do need to study that would be helpful for future patients

[gamma909 in reply to jimreilly]

That is exactly the point. The study is about POCD (post operative cognitive disorder) which can range from mild and short-term to more severe and permanent. Currently, there are a number of theories - is the major surgery itself that impairs brain pathways or is it the anesthesia, or both, or something else. Interestingly, POCD is not typically discussed with patients as one of the risks/side effects of surgery.

[Jeff85705]

I haven't been asked to participate in a study, but why not? Go ahead. If you don't like it, you can always drop out. Of course you have enough on your plate! This surgery is major, and the aftereffects can be complicated (but worth it--I went through it). By the time you start in with the study, you should be past all the commotion. Go for it! I would, because I think it is an important subject: memory in older folks after anesthesia.

[Hidden]

That's interesting. If it isn't that time consuming and depending what's involved, I'd think about it.