Clinical Research Directory

Adapting Enhanced Recovery Programs for Low Health Literacy Patients

Low health literacy patients are a vulnerable population at high-risk for surgical disparities including longer hospital stays, more complications, and more readmissions. This study will adapt enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) to low health literacy patients with a multilevel, health literacy-based implementation strategy (called VISACT - VISuAl aids, Coach providers in communication, and Train organizations in health literacy) to improve ERP fidelity and thereby outcomes. In the final aim of this project (Specific Aim 3), the VISACT intervention will be tested in a pilot trial. Findings from this study will lay the foundation for a multi-institutional stepped-wedge trial and establish key principles for adapting interventions to eliminate disparities.

Intra-Corporeal Anastomosis Result in Quicker Return of Bowel Function/Earlier Discharge

Adult patients who are regularly scheduled to undergo a right hemicolectomy via a minimally invasive approach (robotic or laparoscopic) with the creation of an anastomosis.

Biological OviTex Versus Synthetic Graft in Robotic Prolapse Surgery

This prospective study aims to assess the efficacy of the OviTex 1S permanent mesh in pelvic floor surgery in comparison with the current standard polypropylene mesh.

Evaluation of SINGLE PORT (SP) Robotic Technology in Colorectal Surgery

Currently a multiport robotic surgery platform (Intuitive Xi) is widely available and used for colorectal surgery indications. A Single port platform (Intuitive SP) is FDA approved for Head and Neck and Urology but has not been widely used in colorectal surgery. This study seeks to evaluate the safe and effective use of the SP platform for colorectal surgery indications.

Early Detection of Advanced Adenomas and Colorectal Cancer

This study aims to develop a highly sensitive, specific, and cost-effective blood assay for early detection of colorectal adenomas and cancer, using advanced machine learning and state-of-the-art biological analyses.

Ostomy Primary Closure With 0.1% Betaine/Polyhexanide Wound Irrigation Compared to Pursestring Closure

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two types of closure in patients with ostomies that are ready for closure. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Surgical site infection rates 2. Patient quality of life 3. Time to wound healing Participants will undergo either complete ostomy wound closure after washing out the wound with Prontosan, or their ostomy wound will be closed using the Pursestring method, where the wound will be left partially open and allowed to heal from the inside out. Researchers will compare these two groups' outcomes (questions to be answered) as listed above.

Preoperative Tranexamic Acid (TXA) to Prevent Bleeding in Patients Undergoing Major Colorectal Surgery

The goal of this prospective pragmatic randomized clinical trial is to determine if preoperative administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces bleeding during and after major colorectal surgery. The primary questions are: * Does TXA reduce bleeding during and after surgery (change in hemoglobin from before surgery to lowest value after surgery within 30 days) * Does TXA reduce bleeding complications within 30 days of surgery (blood transfusion, return to the operating room or procedural intervention for bleeding, death due to bleeding) * Does TXA increase the risk of thromboembolic complications within 30 days of surgery (cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) Researchers will compare preoperative TXA to no TXA to answer the above questions. Participants who receive TXA will receive 1 g TXA IV at the beginning and end of surgery in the operating room.

Home to Stay Mobile App for Colorectal Surgery

Background: Colorectal surgery includes surgery for colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and other benign diseases such as diverticulitis. In Canada, approximately 21,000 colorectal surgeries are performed each year. Patients undergoing colorectal surgery face high rates of unplanned hospital visits including readmission to hospital and Emergency Room (ER) visits. These unplanned hospital visits lead to significant distress and anxiety for patients and increased health care costs. Research Aims: The goal is to evaluate the use of an integrated discharge monitoring system with a mobile application (app) to support colorectal surgery patients at home following discharge from hospital. Methods: The study will include 3 hospitals across Canada. Patients will be assigned to either a control group or intervention group. Control group patients will receive standard follow up care after going home following surgery. Intervention group patients will be enrolled in an integrated discharge monitoring system using an app to monitor their progress at home following discharge after surgery. The main outcomes are to measure the number of patients with unplanned hospital visits within 30 days of discharge following surgery, the quality of patient recovery and confidence managing one's own health care. Patients are eligible if they are being discharge home after having elective colorectal surgery, are 18 years or older and speak and understand English or French. At the end of the study, the outcomes between the control group and intervention group will be compared to look for important differences. Expected Outcomes: It is expected that the results of this study will show that the integrated discharge monitoring system will lead to a significant improvement in the quality of patient recovery and self-confidence with one's own health care, as well as significantly reduce the number of unplanned hospital visits for patients undergoing colorectal surgery in Canada.

Laparoscopic Approach for Emergency Colon Resection

This is a randomized, controlled, parallel, multicenter trial to compare post-operative complications and long-term results between open and laparoscopic technique in emergency colorectal surgery.

Difficult Colonoscopy and Personality Traits

The cecal intubation time (CIT) refers to the time required for the tip of the colonoscope to reach the cecum from passing through the anus. A prolonged CIT is considered a marker of difficulty in colonoscopy. CIT greater than 10 minutes is considered a difficult colonoscopy. Studies have identified factors that influence CIT, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, bowel preparation, prior abdominal surgery, etc. Personality traits have been found to be associated with the onset of many diseases, such as hypertension and A-type personality, depression and neurotic personality. According to the Big Five personality theory, personality can be decomposed into five dimensions: openness (O), conscientiousness (C), extraversion (E), agreeableness (A), and neuroticism (N). There is a lack of research on the association between personality traits and colonoscopy insertion time, and the purpose of this study is to investigate whether personality, BMI, age, gender, anxiety and depression index, metabolic diseases, and abdominal pelvic surgery history lead to prolonged colonoscopy insertion time and difficult colonoscopy, and to identify significant variables as predictors by using machine learning methods to build a clinical diagnostic model to predict colonoscopy insertion time and identify difficult colonoscopy patients.

Post-operative Complications and Smoking Habits in Colorectal Surgery

PASSAGE is a national multicenter retrospective and prospective observational cohort study in which patients who will undergo colorectal surgery will be enrolled.

Prospective Database for Colonic or Rectal Resection Surgery Patients

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men, after prostate and lung cancer. It represents 11.2% of all new cases of male cancer. In women, this cancer is the second most common after breast cancer (11.3% of all new cases of female cancer).