Abstract

High risk surgical patients undergoing major surgery in the NHS are known to have a disproportionately high mortality. The field of perioperative medicine hopes to tackle this issue by delivering integrated, multidisciplinary and patient centred care for patients throughout their surgical journey. A regional study day was organised and delivered by a small group of motivated junior doctors, with the support of a consultant intensivist, to promote perioperative medicine with the aim of tackling this important issue.

Ten influential primary research papers on a variety of topics within the field of perioperative medicine were summarised by the team. The theme of the day was quality improvement driven through measuring clinically important outcomes. Each paper was presented in an interesting, informative and engaging format that could be digested by the multidisciplinary audience.

The study day was attended by 22 doctors from around the North West Deanery and consultant anaesthetists and surgeons who worked locally. By providing an open forum, empowering the audience and delivering overwhelming evidence for the benefits of perioperative medicine it was agreed by the attending consultant body that anaesthetists will start attending colorectal multidisciplinary team meetings.

This important change will allow high risk patients to be identified earlier in their surgical journey. This will ensure there is more time to fully investigate and better medically optimise them prior to surgery thereby giving them the best chance for a full recovery. This change, brought about through this study day, will help to achieve the Royal College of Anaesthetist’s vision of a more integrated and patient centred approach to surgical care.

Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback and achieved tangible changes to the patient care pathway we hope to make this study day an annual event to build on the success of 2018.