Research
The HOPE Fund supports a range of research projects within hepatobiliary and upper gastrointestinal surgery at various Melbourne hospitals.
HIIT Cancer project
RCT of High Intensity Interval Training in the Immediate Post-Operative Period in Patients Undergoing Major Foregut Surgery (HIITCancer).
Recent studies over the years show that bed-rest after surgery may not be the best remedy after all. In this study, we investigate the effects of an in hospital high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program immediately on patients undergoing major foregut cancer surgery.
HIIT workouts are suitable for any fitness level. Exercise programs are individually designed for patients during cancer treatment and during recovery.
Exercise has been shown to help cancer patients cope with many of the common side effects that occur during treatment, including fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia, depression and anxiety, weight changes and loss of muscle tone
Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMN) are known precancerous lesions occurring in the pancreas and can change over time to become pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a rapidly progressing cancer that exhibits an extremely poor prognosis, with most cases diagnosed at an advanced stage. While there have been rapid advances in our understanding of the prevalence of pancreatic cancer at diagnosis and risk of recurrence following resection, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge of the progression of these neoplasms.
This led us to set up a database following patients diagnosed with IPMN which will allow us to identify risk factors that may lead to the development of pancreatic cancer in order to allow early detection, investigation and management. For patients without risk factors and are unlikely to develop pancreatic cancer from IPMNs, minimizing the need for surveillance may also reduce anxiety, medical imaging costs and subsequent overtreatment.
IPMN - Australian Pancreatic Cyst Registry (MAPS Registry)
A Prospective Pilot Study of Body Composition in Gastric and Oesophageal Cancer
Throughout the treatments for stomach and oesophageal cancers, patients can undergo a combination of surgery, radiation therapy,and chemotherapy, either pre and/or post-operatively. Weight loss is common when undergoing any cancer treatment and while previously it was thought that it was mostly a loss of fat, newer information suggests that people with cancer lose muscle and fatty tissue.
Body composition refers to the amount of muscle, fat, fluid and other tissues you have in your body. This study aims to determine those with stomach and oesophageal cancers' body composition before, during and after treatment, and what changes occur over time. This study aims to characterize body composition in patients with stomach and oesophageal cancers, and its impact on treatment delivery and survival; and compare body composition at multiple time points from diagnosis and throughout treatment.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Surgery
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the computer simulation of intelligent behaviour and critical thinking and the performance of complex cognitive tasks such as object and word recognition, decision-making and learning. AI and machine learning has growing application in medicine and surgery and has significant potential to improve surgical outcomes.
A Prospective Pilot Study of Body Composition Assessment in Bariatric Patients
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery results in a significant fat mass loss over a long period of time, with some evidence suggesting this continues for several years after the initial surgery. Fat free mass (lean body mass) also shows an early post surgery loss which is like to slow down after six months. Bone mineral density has not been as extensively investigated, but is likely to have a small but significant loss following bariatric surgery, although no adverse health problems have been noted.
This study will contribute to patient care, surgical education, and will promote awareness and understanding for both patients and surgeons about the expected body composition impact of bariatric surgery.
A Randomised Controlled Trial of Akynzeo® (Netupitant/Palonosetron) versus Standard Treatment for the Prevention of Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting after Bariatric Surgery
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is common in the setting of bariatric surgery and can be detrimental to patient recovery. Multimodal antiemetic strategies have been shown to be more effective than monotherapy to target the high incidence of PONV after laparoscopic surgery. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of Akynzeo® (netupitant/palonosetron) to prevent PONV in patients with morbid obesity following bariatric surgery. This study aims to: determine if Akynzeo® is more effective than standard treatment for preventing PONV after laparoscopic bariatric surgery; and assess the cost-effectiveness and safety of Akynzeo® as a preventative treatment strategy.
Prebiotic and probiotic therapy for preventing surgical infection
Reducing infectious complications after surgery can improve recovery and outcomes. This is the first randomised control trial in Australia to investigate the impact of preoperative synbiotics on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery. Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics, types of ‘good’ bacteria, and prebiotics, non-digestible fibres the good bacteria use as food. The prescription of synbiotics a few weeks before surgery has been associated with a reduced risk of infectious complications for patients who have undergone general surgery.