Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 65Years +
All Genders
ID07504185

Effect of Postoperative Physiotherapy on Outcomes of Elderly Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy

Led by University of Cyprus · Updated on 2026-03-31

250

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

21 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

U

University of Cyprus

Lead Sponsor

N

Nicosia General Hospital

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Emergency laparotomy carries a high risk of complications and death after surgery, especially among older adults who often have reduced physical strength, frailty, and multiple health issues. This trial studies the impact of a structured physiotherapy program after emergency laparotomy in patients aged 65 and older, aiming to improve their recovery and overall clinical outcomes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups after surgery once they are stable. One group will receive a five-day structured physiotherapy program that includes progressively increasing mobilization, supervised therapeutic exercises, and respiratory training every two hours, supported by a booklet and family involvement. The other group will receive the usual postoperative care, which involves general mobilization and basic breathing instructions without structured progression or monitoring. During the study, participants will have their functional recovery evaluated at hospital discharge and at 30 and 90 days after discharge using validated measures. Additional assessments include handgrip strength, sit-to-stand performance, frailty, nutritional risk, postoperative complications, respiratory complications, hospital length of stay, mortality at 30 days, and quality of life via telephone follow-up. The study monitors adherence through exercise logs and family support, with the total participation lasting through hospital stay and follow-up periods.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Physiotherapy After Emergency Laparotomy in the Elderly

Who Can Participate

Age: 65Years +
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Patients aged 65 years or older
  • Undergoing emergency laparotomy surgery with or without stoma creation
  • Able to provide informed consent or have a legally authorized representative provide consent
  • Able to stand upright for at least one minute with minimal or no assistance
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Diagnosis of dementia with an Abbreviated Mental Test Score below 6
  • Severe pre-existing disabilities affecting mobility
  • Contraindications to physiotherapy such as severe heart or lung instability
  • Patients transferred postoperatively from other hospitals
  • Patients who had no surgical intervention during laparotomy (negative laparotomies)
  • Patients undergoing palliative procedures or at the end of life

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Surgery

Duration - Day 0

Participants undergo emergency laparotomy surgery.

1 visit (in-person)

Postoperative Physiotherapy

Duration - 5 days

Participants randomized to either a structured five-day postoperative physiotherapy program with progressive mobilization and respiratory exercises, or standard postoperative care with general mobilization and basic breathing instruction.

Daily visits during postoperative hospitalization

Hospital Recovery and Assessment

Duration - 6 to 15 days postoperatively

Participants remain hospitalized for recovery and undergo assessments including functional status, handgrip strength, sit-to-stand performance, and monitoring of postoperative complications.

Multiple visits during hospitalization

Follow-up

Duration - Up to 90 days after discharge

Participants are followed up to assess functional recovery, health-related quality of life, and mortality at 30 and 90 days after hospital discharge.

2 follow-up visits via telephone at 30 and 90 days after discharge

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Nicosia General Hospital

Nicosia, Cyprus, 2031

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

P

Polyxeni Michael Vargiamidou, PT

D

Dr. Nikolaos Gouvas, M.D, Ph.D

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Are the frail destined to fail? Frailty index as predictor of surgical morbidity and mortality in the elderly.

Joseph S Farhat, Vic Velanovich, Anthony J Falvo...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22695416

The five times sit-to-stand test: safety, validity and reliability with critical care survivors's at ICU discharge.

Thiago Araújo de Melo, Fernando Silva Guimarães, José Roberto Lapa E Silva

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36597159

Validation of the Greek version of the Abbreviated Mental Test Score: Preliminary findings for cognitively impaired patients of different etiology.

Dionysios Tafiadis, Nafsika Ziavra, Alexandra Prentza...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33119404

Reliability and validity of the Greek adaptation of the Modified Barthel Index in neurorehabilitation patients.

Sofia Ferfeli, Antonios Galanos, Ismene A Dontas...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37877957

Reaching consensus on the physiotherapeutic management of patients following upper abdominal surgery: a pragmatic approach to interpret equivocal evidence.

Susan D Hanekom, Dina Brooks, Linda Denehy...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22309427