Research News

Patients with advanced liver disease who are being treated at UHP are being given the chance to take part in a study which is exploring how the use long-term drains impacts their quality of life. 

Patients with liver disease often experience a build-up fluid in their abdomen which can cause discomfort and in some cases be debilitating. Often, this fluid needs to be drained which means a visit to the hospital. For patients with advanced liver disease, who are not eligible for a liver transplant or a shunt in the liver, the aim of the treatment is to improve the symptoms of the disease and improve their quality of life. However, the fluid often builds back up, resulting in the patient needing to return to hospital every 2 to 3 weeks. This can be distressing for patients and impacts on their valuable time with their loved ones. 

The REDUCe 2 Study, which has been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is investigating if a long-term abdominal drain can improve the quality of life for these patients, reducing the need for frequent hospital appointments and allowing them to stay at home. UHP has now recruited the 100th patient to be part of the study, working alongside the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and the Brighton and Sussex Clinical Trials Unit at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The study is now in its second phase of testing with UHP involved from stage one.

Patients who sign up to take part are being supported by the Research and Development team who will be exploring the impact on their quality of life, as well as a team of healthcare professionals who will regularly monitor their physical parameters such as carrying out blood tests and looking for signs of infection. 

Kelly Bowers: “We hope that the lived experience of all REDUCe2 participants throughout the study will help to develop a very clear set of guidelines which will ensure that all patients can receive drainage of ascitic fluid, in a way that works for them and that they prefer at the end of their lives.”

Study participants either receive a standard drain which needs to be regularly repeated, or a long-term drain, which can be drained at home and monitored by the Research and clinical support team. All participants will be referred to a palliative care team, providing additional support to these patients and increasing the holistic care available. 

There are several criteria that advanced liver disease patients need to fulfil to be part of the study, so it is recommended that patients speak to their clinical team about being part of the study. In addition, the decision regarding which participants get the long-term drain is random and participants are randomised by a central electronic system. However, after 3 months, if the participant is still receiving treatment for advanced liver disease, they will get the opportunity to move onto the long-term drain.

 

Research at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has a well-established reputation for high quality research and our Research and Development team has been supporting research for more than 25 years. 

Patient participation in research studies is a vital part of healthcare development. It can help to provide new treatments, diagnostic aids or services which could later be adopted across the NHS to improve patient care.

Our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population by conducting high quality research, which is relevant to the needs of our communities, by embedding research as part of our core business. The Trust is well respected for its capacity to offer the widest variety of research studies in the Peninsula and continues to provide research in all clinical areas.

To find out more about research opportunities at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust either as a researcher or participant, ask your health care professional or  contact the Research and Development team .

If you are interested in taking part in research at UHP, you can find the studies we are currently running on the  Be Part of Research website .