An observational study in Outcomes Following Major Surgery in Older Adults, sponsored by University College Hospital Galway. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 60 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-26.
Sponsored by University College Hospital Galway · Observational
The Irish Perioperative OutcomeS (IPOS) Study aims to better understand the factors that influence recovery and outcomes in older adults undergoing major surgery in Ireland. As people live longer and more individuals have multiple long-term health conditions, increasing numbers of older patients require surgical treatment. These patients may be at greater risk of complications after surgery, including infections, heart problems, delirium (confusion), admission to intensive care, and death.
This study will collect information from routine medical records of patients aged 60 years and older who undergo major planned or emergency surgery in participating hospitals across Ireland. No changes will be made to patients' treatment or care, and no additional tests or procedures will be performed as part of the study.
Researchers will examine patient characteristics, health conditions, frailty, surgical factors, postoperative complications, and the level of care patients receive after surgery. The study will also evaluate whether access to critical care services and other healthcare resources affects outcomes.
The information gathered will help identify factors associated with better and worse surgical outcomes and may highlight opportunities to improve perioperative care for older patients. Findings from the study are expected to support healthcare planning, resource allocation, and quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving the safety and outcomes of surgery for older adults in Ireland.
The Irish Perioperative OutcomeS (IPOS) Study is a national, multicentre, prospective observational cohort study designed to characterize perioperative risk, resource utilization, and clinical outcomes among older adults undergoing major inpatient surgery in Ireland.
Advances in perioperative medicine and surgical techniques have enabled increasing numbers of older patients with multiple comorbidities to undergo complex surgical procedures. However, older surgical patients remain at increased risk of postoperative complications, including pneumonia, sepsis, cardiac events, delirium, unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and mortality. Despite international evidence describing these risks, there is limited contemporary national data regarding perioperative risk profiles, adverse outcomes, and healthcare capacity within the Irish healthcare system.
The IPOS Study will recruit consecutive eligible patients aged 60 years and older undergoing major elective surgery requiring hospital admission or emergency surgery at participating hospitals throughout Ireland. Patients undergoing planned day-case procedures, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, obstetric procedures, or radiological interventions will be excluded.
This is a non-interventional study. Data will be collected prospectively from routinely recorded clinical information during a 14-day enrollment period at each participating site. No study-specific interventions, investigations, or alterations to clinical care will occur.
Data collected will include:
Demographic and clinical characteristics. Comorbidities, frailty status, and cognitive status. Surgical urgency and procedure characteristics. Perioperative clinical variables. Planned and actual postoperative care location. Postoperative morbidity and complications. Delirium status. Unplanned ICU admissions. Need for additional surgical procedures. In-hospital outcomes, including mortality.
The primary objective is to assess the complexity and risk profile of older adults presenting for major surgery in Ireland. Secondary objectives include determining the incidence of major perioperative adverse outcomes, evaluating unmet needs in postoperative care provision, and identifying potentially modifiable patient-related, treatment-related, and system-related factors associated with adverse outcomes.
Approximately 500 participants will be enrolled across multiple Irish hospitals. Study findings will provide important evidence regarding perioperative care delivery and outcomes in Ireland and may inform future healthcare policy, service planning, resource allocation, and quality improvement initiatives for high-risk surgical patients.
University College Hospital Galway is the lead sponsor of 25 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Adults aged 60 years and older undergoing major elective or emergency inpatient surgery at participating hospitals in Ireland during the study recruitment period. Eligible participants will include patients admitted for major surgical procedures requiring postoperative hospital care. Patients undergoing day-case procedures, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, obstetric procedures, or radiological interventions will be excluded in accordance with the study protocol. Participants will be observed prospectively to assess perioperative risk factors, postoperative complications, healthcare resource utilization, and clinical outcomes.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Adults aged 60 years and older undergoing major elective or emergency inpatient surgery at participating hospitals in Ireland. Participants are observed prospectively during their hospital admission to evaluate perioperative characteristics, postoperative complications, critical care requirements, and clinical outcomes. No study-specific interventions are administered, and all care is provided according to standard clinical practice.
Major Postoperative Complications
Incidence of major postoperative complications within 7 days of surgery, defined as a Postoperative Morbidity Survey (POMS) score greater than 1.
Time frame: Within 7 days of surgery
Major Perioperative Adverse Outcomes by Organ System
Incidence of major perioperative adverse outcomes categorized by organ system.
Time frame: Within 7 days of surgery or until hospital discharge, whichever occurs first
All-Cause In-Hospital Mortality
All-cause in-hospital mortality occurring by Day 7 following surgery or hospital discharge if earlier.
Time frame: Day 7 after surgery or hospital discharge, whichever occurs first
Unplanned Critical Care Admission
Need for unplanned admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU), or Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Time frame: Within 7 days of surgery
Postoperative Delirium
Incidence of postoperative delirium assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) or the 4 'A's Test (4AT), depending on the patient's level of care.
Time frame: Within 7 days of surgery
Time From Decision for Surgery to Induction of Anaesthesia
Time interval between the clinical decision for urgent or emergency surgery and induction of anaesthesia.
Time frame: Perioperative period
Unmet Need for Postoperative Critical Care
Percentage of requests for postoperative ICU, HDU, or PACU care that are not provided.
Time frame: During the index hospital admission
No study locations are listed for this record.
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: Undecided
Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Feb 2027, 3 months later.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University College Hospital Galway