Clinical Research Directory

The Million Anesthesia Cases Study (MACS) - a Cohort Study of Preoperative Fasting and Perioperative Outcomes

Perioperative fasting has historically been viewed as a low-risk intervention. However, preliminary data indicate that perioperative loss of nutrition and fluids is likely harmful. This study intends to characterize perioperative fasting practices and their potential effects on clinical outcomes through possible effects on patient well-being (anxiety, hunger, thirst), physiology (hypovolemia, hypotension), perioperative aspiration, etc. The research team hypothesized that in addition to known adverse effects on patients' well-being, prolonged preoperative fasting adversely affects circulating blood volume-related (hypotension, decreased urine output etc.) and glucose metabolism-related (e.g., hypo/hyperglycemia) perioperative physiology. The investigators will also test for an association between the duration of preoperative fasting and the risk of perioperative pulmonary aspiration. Additional knowledge on the potential adverse effects of preoperative fasting will inform preoperative fasting policies and research interventions that are relevant to hundreds of millions of patients subjected to preoperative/preprocedural fasting worldwide each year.

qNOX Response to Nociceptive Motor Events During Procedural Sedation

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate whether the CONOX monitor can detect pain during sedation in patients undergoing urological procedures. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the qNOX index respond to pain-related motor responses during urological procedural sedation? Does the qNOX index show greater responsiveness to painful episodes compared to blood pressure and heart rate? Participants undergoing urological procedures (such as cystoscopy) under sedation as part of their regular medical care will have continuous brain activity monitoring with the CONOX device. All monitoring displays (CONOX monitor, vital signs monitor, and target-controlled infusion pump) will be video-recorded throughout the procedure to capture synchronized data including qCON, qNOX, EMG, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and drug concentrations. Researchers will analyze the relationship between these indices and spontaneous movements triggered by painful stimulation to evaluate the monitor's performance compared to traditional vital signs.