Postoperative Electrical Muscle Stimulation Two

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM · Apr 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to help patients maintain their muscle strength and mass after major surgery for colorectal cancer. After surgery, many patients lose muscle quickly, which can make it harder to move around and recover. The researchers want to see if a special type of electrical stimulation applied to both thighs can help prevent this muscle loss. They are also exploring whether taking a protein supplement at the same time can provide even more benefits.

To participate in the trial, you need to be an adult (18 years or older) who has been diagnosed with colorectal or gastric cancer and is planning to have surgery. You'll also need to be able to move around and follow the recovery plan after surgery. If you join the study, you'll receive this electrical stimulation in the days following your surgery, and the team will monitor how well it helps you keep your muscle and regain your strength. This trial will provide valuable information that could help improve recovery for future patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adult patients (age 18 or over at the time of diagnosis made at MDT (multi-disciplinary team meeting)
• • MDT outcome of colorectal or gastric cancer or non-invasive neoplasia (tissue-proven, or radiologically diagnosed and clinically suspected) with the intention to treat with curative abdominal surgery
• • Agreed management plan for open or minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robot assisted) segmental abdominal (colonic or gastric) resection at the Royal Derby Hospital
• • Sufficient mobility and fitness to complete normal ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) protocols following surgery
• • Basic conversational spoken English language
• • Ability to give informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Upper GI (gastrointestinal) cancer requiring thoracotomy/thoracoscopy
• • Pre-existing neuromuscular disease (including Parkinsons disease)
• • Pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillator or other implanted nerve stimulator device
• • Metal prostheses or other metal-work in either upper legs (hip/knee/femur)
• • Dementia or other cognitive problem or language barrier causing an inability to follow instructions and operate NMES machine
• • Inability to give informed consent
• • Disability preventing completion of ERAS after surgery (requiring Zimmer frame/wheeled frame/wheelchair to mobilise or bed-bound)
• • Peripheral vascular disease
• • Epilepsy
• • Pre-existing diagnosis of chronic kidney disease or estimated glomerular filtration rate \<60 on screening visit
• • Pre-existing diagnosis of liver disease
• • Intubation or intensive care admission during study period (between day 0-5 post-op); (surgical high dependency unit patients will be included)
• • Return to theatre for surgical complication within first 5-days post operation
• • History of rhabdomyolysis
• • Pregnancy
• • Deep vein thrombosis within past 6-months
• • Allergy to whey protein
• • Patient refusal of whey protein products on grounds of dietary requirements or intolerance
• • Participating in another clinical trial concurrently or within the last 6 months
• • Known infection with blood borne virus