Clinical Research Directory

Value of the Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and Cerebral Oximetry (rSO₂) as Predictors of Postoperative Tissue Perfusion Impairment in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Neurological problems after heart surgery are common and include confusion, memory loss, and difficulty thinking clearly. These issues may appear hours or days after surgery and can negatively affect recovery. During heart surgery, blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain may decrease, causing changes in blood pressure and cerebral oxygenation. Previous studies suggest that prolonged drops in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or cerebral oxygenation (rSO₂) are linked to worse postoperative outcomes. Continuous monitoring of blood pressure and cerebral oxygenation is standard in cardiac surgery. This study aims to evaluate the duration and severity of intraoperative drops in MAP and cerebral oxygenation. These measures may provide a more accurate assessment of neurological risk than isolated measurements. The primary objective is to determine whether decreases in MAP and cerebral oxygenation, as well as their duration and intensity during surgery, are associated with postoperative neurological complications. This is a prospective, observational study in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB diverts blood through a machine that performs the work of the heart and lungs while the heart is operated on. All patients will receive standard monitoring, including continuous MAP and cerebral oxygenation measurements. No additional interventions will be performed. Neurological status will be assessed using validated clinical scales before and after surgery. Other outcomes include kidney function, ICU and hospital stay length, postoperative complications, and in-hospital mortality. Validating these measures as a predictive tool could enable early identification of patients at higher risk of neurological injury and allow more individualized intraoperative management to reduce morbidity, hospital stay, and healthcare costs.

Awareness Neuraxial Versus General Anesthesia in Frail Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic or Robotic Abdominopelvic Surgery.

This is a bicentric, prospective, non-pharmacological, randomized study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of awake neuraxial anesthesia with sedation versus general anesthesia in frail patients undergoing elective major laparoscopic or robotic abdominopelvic surgery. A total of 100 frail patients aged over 60 years, with ASA physical status \>2 and evidence of frailty and/or cognitive vulnerability, will be randomized to receive either standard general anesthesia with mechanical ventilation or thoracic neuraxial anesthesia combined with non-GABAergic sedation while maintaining spontaneous breathing. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility in terms of recruitment of a RCT conducted in a population of frail or cognitively impaired patients undergoing major laparoscopic abdominal surgery, randomized to a neuraxial or general anesthetic approach in which the effects on the onset of postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) will be determined. Secondary outcomes include the occurrence of postoperative organ dysfunction (respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic), length of hospital stay, time to recovery after surgery, and postoperative mortality. Patients will undergo comprehensive perioperative clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound assessments, including lung and renal ultrasound evaluations. Neurological and functional status will be assessed during hospitalization, at 1 month, and via telephone follow-up at 1 year after surgery. The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of performing two different anesthetic techniques on fragile patients.

Prediction Model for Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Elderly Cardiac Patients: A Special Disease Cohort Study

This is a prospective cohort study aiming to construct a prediction model for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly cardiac patients. We plan to enroll elderly patients aged ≥65 years undergoing cardiac surgery. Peripheral blood samples and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data will be collected at baseline and key time points post-surgery. The primary objectives are to identify novel peripheral blood protein biomarkers for POCD, explore the correlation between fMRI characteristics and POCD, and establish a reliable early prediction model to improve perioperative management and reduce the incidence of POCD in elderly cardiac surgical patients.

Effect of Perioperative IV Ibuprofen on Cerebral Oxygenation and Postoperative Cognition During One-Lung Ventilation

This study compares the effects of ibuprofen administered during surgery and within the first 24 hours after surgery, versus no ibuprofen, on cerebral oxygenation, postoperative changes in consciousness (postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction), length of stay in the intensive care unit, and the incidence of postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting, and pruritus in patients undergoing lung lobectomy or segmentectomy using a closed (video-assisted) method (VATS - video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery), in whom one-lung ventilation is applied. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of ibuprofen on cerebral oxygenation, postoperative cognitive changes, and delirium in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation.