Clinical Research Directory

Early and Objective Assessment of Neurological Prognosis in Cardiac Arrest Patients

Cerebral lesions are responsible for two thirds of deaths in patients admitted to intensive care following cardiac arrest. Patients with neurological lesions should be the priority target for neuroprotective interventions, which are the cornerstone of post-cardiac arrest care (allowing a reduction in the burden of care for patients without this type of lesion). Furthermore, these interventions must be based on a precise assessment of the severity of these brain lesions: carrying out neuro-protective interventions in patients without brain lesions exposes these patients to unnecessary treatment potentially associated with adverse effects without any possible benefit. However, the early assessment of neurological prognosis, particularly on admission to intensive care, is an area where there is little research and where it is not possible to obtain a precise and reproducible assessment. Several tools can be used to assess this prognosis at an early stage: anamnesis and characteristics of the cardiac arrest and the patient's comorbidities, imaging, electrophysiology and biomarkers. To assess the predictive value of early biomarker testing in patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest, whatever the cause, the investigators plan to conduct a prospective observational multicentre trial. It is important to bear in mind that the aim of this study is not to assess the long-term prognosis of patients suffering cardiac arrest in order to take measures to limit or discontinue active therapies, but simply to provide a reliable tool, simple and quick to use, in order to be able to identify a sub-population of patients who should be the subject of preferential neuro-protection measures, and conversely to simplify management (moderate temperature control, early cessation of sedation, early extubation) for patients with no neurological lesions.

The Swiss Neurodevelopmental Outcome Registry for Children With CHD

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most frequent birth defect. As survival has significantly improved, attention has turned to neurodevelopmental outcomes of children undergoing heart surgery in early infancy. Since multiple risk factors contribute to neurodevelopmental alterations, a nationwide registry collecting data on medical characteristics, interventions, clinical course and neurodevelopment until school-age is needed to improve the quality of management, identify risk- and protective factors affecting neurodevelopment, and facilitate multicenter trials. Methods and analysis: The Swiss Outcome Registry for CHIldren with severe congenital heart Disease (ORCHID) is a nationwide, prospective, population-based patient registry developed (1) to collect baseline characteristics and clinical data of CHD patients operated with bypass-surgery or hybrid procedures in the first 6 weeks of life in Switzerland, (2) to monitor long-term neurodevelopment, and (3) to relate clinical characteristics and neurodevelopment to identify risk and protective factors in these children. This registry started data collection relating to pregnancy, birth, preoperative course, catheter-based and surgical treatment, postoperative course and reinterventions in 2019. The primary outcome includes standardised neurodevelopmental assessments at 9 to 12 months, 18 to 24 months and 5.5 to 6 years. Investigators expect to include 80 to 100 children per year. Correlation and regression analyses will be used to investigate risk- and protective factors influencing neurodevelopment. Ethics and dissemination of results: Swiss ORCHID received support by the Accentus Charitable Foundation, the Anna Mueller Grocholoski Foundation, the Swiss Society of Pediatric Cardiology, and the Corelina - Foundation and was approved by the cantonal ethics committees. Findings will be presented at national and international scientific meetings, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Results will also be shared with patient organizations, primary health care providers, and public health stakeholders to ensure a widespread dissemination of the results.