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ESAIC seeks 2 patient representatives for guidelines on patient safety

Major surgery carries some risk of heart-related (cardiac) complications, such as post-surgery heart attack or heart failure. New technologies are being developed to better detect and monitor these risks and increase patient safety.

The European Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care (ESAIC) is now looking for 2 patient representatives for a working group that will develop new guidelines on use of cardiac biomarkers in surgery. They are looking for patients who can bring in their personal experience of major surgery and (possibly) heart-related complication after surgery. 

What is the project about?

New guideline on the use of cardiac biomarkers in the management of patients submitted to non-cardiac surgery, inlcluding better communication with patients around preventative and safety measures (using biomarkers). The guidelines are being developed by a working group of the ESAIC.

What is the role of the patient representatives?

Patient feedback will be important to ensure that recommendations on communication, information and patient safety are as patient-relevant as possible

For example: shaping recommendations on how risk is communicated to patients, and how potential prophylactic and treatment interventions are proposed and delivered to patients in the most sensitive, comfortable and stress-free manner.

Many cardiovascular complications after surgery are asymptomatic (i.e. the patient feels no pain) and would go unnoticed without laboratory measurements of biomarkers.

What kind of patient representative?

  • This is not a disease-specific project but rather relates to major (non-heart) surgery.
  • The ESAIC would welcome 2 patient representatives to join their working group
  • The patient representatives would ideally be persons who have experienced major surgery, and possibly suffered a cardiovascular complication (e.g. heart attack) after surgery.
  • The working language will be English.
  • The role is voluntary (not paid).

More detailed information about the project and the workload involved is available from ESAIC.

Interested in this? Please email policy@eu-patient.eu by 15 January 2021 and we will connect you with ESAIC for more information.