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.

Assessment of the Feasibility and Organisational Impact of a Care Pathway Incorporating the MultiSense® Medical Device for Post-operative Home Monitoring of Elderly Patients.

Assessing the clinical and organisational impact of a home-based post-operative monitoring strategy incorporating the MultiSense® device involving 80 patients aged 65 years and over who have undergone major surgery.

A Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating Bariatric Surgery as a Treatment for Severe NASH With Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Non-severe Obese Patients

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the superiority of bariatric surgery on the disappearance of NASH without worsening of fibrosis in comparison to medical standard treatment in obese patients (35 kg/m² \> BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) with NASH complicated of advanced fibrosis (F3 and F4 fibrosis grade according to Brunt score).

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Fixed-rate Basal Infusion Mode and Time-programmed Decremental Background Infusion Mode of Intravenous PCA Following Mixed Surgery

Perioperative pain management affects patient recovery. However, the rate of moderate to severe postoperative pain is as high as 73.8%, which hinders recovery and increases the risk of complications. Although opioids are the first-line analgesics, excessive use leads to adverse reactions. The traditional fixed-rate PCA mode is difficult to match the changes in postoperative pain. This study will compare different PCA mode optimization strategies, assuming that they can reduce opioid dosage, improve analgesic effect, and reduce adverse reactions, providing high-quality evidence-based basis for postoperative analgesia and promoting individualized and intelligent management.

Perioperative Sleep Quality and Postoperative Pain Outcomes

This is a prospective, observational cohort study that will examine how sleep quality impacts postoperative pain and opioid consumption for pediatric patients. The investigators will administer a questionnaire preoperatively to determine which patients have poor or good sleep quality. They will then compare postoperative pain and opioid use between groups for two weeks following surgery. For a secondary aim, investigators will use electronic medication vials (eCAP) to monitor participants' medication use at home and compare to self-reporting.

An Evaluation of the Neuromuscular Junction in Neonates Using the TetraGraph

The goal of this study is to use electromyography-based train-of-four monitoring (TetraGraph™ Neuromuscular Transmission Monitor) as a means of evaluating differences in neuromuscular transmission between infants ≤ 3 months of age and adolescent and older patients (≥ 12 years of age).

Neuralert Stroke Monitor Trial

The Neuralert monitoring system, a non-invasive device worn on each wrist, is designed to provide continuous monitoring and expedited recognition of stroke by identifying asymmetry in the extremities, facilitating patient treatment and improving outcomes. This study is designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Neuralert Monitor. This study aims to show that the device produces fewer than 2 false alarms per patient per day on average, and that the device detects stroke with a sensitivity significantly greater than a device producing 2 random alerts per day.

Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Lidocaine Versus Placebo in Patients Receiving Morphine-rachi Analgesia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the superiority of IV lidocaine combined with morphine spinal anesthesia versus placebo combined with morphine spinal anesthesia, in reducing postoperative morphine consumption at 48 hours, in patients undergoing major digestive or abdominal surgery by laparotomy.

INCLUDE Program: A Perioperative Wellness Program Tailored for Black Surgical Patients

In this study, the investigators will evaluate the feasibility of the Wellness Program, including patient recruitment, screening and outcome measures, and feasibility of adapting the intervention with older Black surgical patients who endorse clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

GRACE: Evaluating Compression Stockings in Patients That Require Extended Duration Pharmacological Thromboprophylaxis

Individuals attending the hospital to undergo operations are at risk of developing blood clots in the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). A clot in the leg can cause swelling, pain, and other long-term problems. If a clot in the leg breaks off and travels to the lungs, it can cause problems with the lungs' ability to move oxygen from the air into the blood and may be life-threatening. This is known as pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT and PE are known collectively as venous thromboembolism or VTE. The importance of preventing VTE in surgical patients is widely recognised, with two main strategies used: thinning the blood with regular injections and/or tablets and wearing elastic stockings to help stop blood from sitting in the leg veins where it can clot. Evidence for using elastic stockings to prevent VTE has recently been challenged. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence for the additional benefit of stockings over and above that of blood thinning medications. If stockings were to reduce VTE over and above blood thinning medication, these benefits need to be weighed against the risks and disadvantages of stockings, including discomfort, restricting blood flow to the leg causing blisters and wounds in addition to the cost. If stockings were found not to reduce the risk of clots, they would no longer need to be used in these patients, thus reducing the disadvantages of stockings, and saving the NHS millions of pounds per year. Certain types of operations (300,000 per year in the UK) are linked with a particularly high risk of VTE, including cancer surgery, surgery in the abdomen and pelvis, and bone (orthopaedic) surgery. In these cases, patients are offered blood thinning medications both during their hospital stay and for a period after they have left the hospital. Furthermore, these patients are offered stockings to wear while in the hospital. It is not known if, in patients who receive blood thinning medications both in hospital and after discharge, the addition of wearing stockings whilst in hospital reduces their risk of VTE any further. The purpose of this study is to investigate if it is worthwhile using stockings, in addition to blood thinning medication, to reduce blood clots after surgery. People enrolled in the study will be those at the highest risk of VTE and require an extended period of medication to reduce the risk of a blood clot. A computer will randomly choose one of the below treatments by chance to make the trial fair: A) Extended duration clot-reducing medicine in addition to stockings B) Extended duration clot-reducing medicine alone The surgery and all the other medical care will continue as normal. Everyone in the study will get an ultrasound scan at 21 - 35 days after their operation to check if they have developed a blood clot. This is an additional scan, not routinely performed in the NHS, to make sure that all blood clots are detected at an early stage. Participants will receive a phone call at 7, 21-35 and 90 days after their treatment to see if they have developed a blood clot or had any problems with the treatment.

Bleeding Reduction in Acute and Chronic Kidney Patients Having Surgery (BRACKETS) Pilot Trial

The BRACKETS pilot study is a multicentre, prospective, randomized controlled trial of prophylactic preoperative tranexamic acid (TXA) versus placebo and, using a partial factorial design, of prophylactic preoperative desmopressin versus placebo.

Evaluation of Resection Techniques for Pancreatic Tumors

The objective of this study is to compare open and minimally invasive pancreatic and liver resection techniques and analyze the different outcome variables from the clinical standpoint. The plan is to investigate patient survival, length of stay, complication rates, operative time, transfusion rate, 30 and 90-day readmission rate, and hospital charges.

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.

French Achilles Tendon Surgery Cohort Study

This 20-year prospective cohort study monitors patients following Achilles tendon repair to assess re-rupture rates, long-term functional outcomes, return-to-sport rates, and procedure-related complications. The aim is to better understand the long-term durability and clinical effectiveness of Achilles tendon repair techniques to optimize patient outcomes.

Implementation Pilot of Preoperative CGA Before Major Surgery

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a new implementation package can help older adults prepare for major surgery. The main question it aims to answer is: Can the implementation package help give more people access to this resource? Participants will be in two groups: older adults who are planning a major surgery and their medical and surgical healthcare providers. The results will be compared to a historic baseline.

Mannitol Versus Nitroglycerin for Kidney Injury Prevention in Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy or Cystectomy

Laparoscopic and minimally-invasive robotic access has transformed the delivery of urological surgery. While associated with numerous desirable outcomes including shorter post-operative stay and faster return to preoperative function, these techniques have also been associated with morbidity such as reduced renal blood flow and post-operative renal dysfunction. The mechanisms leading to these renal effects complex are multifactorial, and have not been fully elucidated. However they are likely to include direct effects from raised intra-abdominal pressure, and indirect effects secondary to carbon dioxide absorption, neuroendocrine factors and tissue damage from oxidative stress. It is well documented that pneumoperitoneum places profound stress on the cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems; it also places strain on the renal system. During robotic surgery, continuous pneumoperitoneum and continuous rising of intra-abdominal pressure causes transient oliguria. Moreover, kidney function, estimated by the GFR, deteriorates during elevated intra abdominal pressure (IAP), and most of the studies identified decrease in renal blood flow (RBF) and renal cortical perfusion. Studies conducted to assess the contribution of the nitric oxide (NO) system to the renal hemodynamic/function alterations during pneumoperitoneum, concluded that these adverse effects are probably related to interference with the NO system, and could be partially ameliorated by pretreatment with nitroglycerine. Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic and a renal vasodilator that promotes tubular flow, prevents intratubular cast formation, decreases postischemic cellular swelling, and might serve as a free radical scavenger. Mannitol has traditionally been administered before renal surgeries to minimize perioperative renal dysfunction according to preclinical animal studies and clinical experience with renal transplantation. However, high-level clinical data in support of this belief are not available. The aim of this study is to characterize the effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure on renal perfusion and function in cases undergoing robotic lower tract urologic surgeries, and to assess the contribution of either mannitol or nitroglycerin infusion to the renal hemodynamic/function alterations during pneumoperitoneum.

Optimal Depth for Esophageal Stethoscope

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the optimal insertion depth of an esophageal stethoscope with a thermistor for core temperature monitoring.

Anesthesia Maintenance With Target-controlled Infusion of Propofol and Remifentanil at Fixed Ratio

The impact of anesthesia depths on early postoperative neurocognitive complications after total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) remains controversial. In some studies investigating TIVA, anesthesiologists mainly achieve the target depth of anesthesia by adjusting the dose of propofol, whereas the doses of opioids remains comparable between different anesthetic depth groups, possibly resulting inadequate analgesia. This study is aimed to investigate the impact of different anesthesia depths maintained by target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil at a fixed ratio on the incidence of early postoperative neurocognitive complications in older patients undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Lung US for PEEP Optimization in Robotic Radical Prostatectomy or Cystectomy Patients

There is an increasing trend in the use of robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy or cystectomy (RARPC). Preventing lung atelectasis without inducing overdistention of the lung is challenging. Many studies tried to optimize PEEP titration by using methods such as dead space fraction guided and static pulmonary compliance directed techniques, or by using electrical impedance tomography. However, the use of these methods is limited by inaccuracy and the need for sophisticated devices. Bedside Lung ultrasound is fast, easy and economic technique that is gaining interest in the operating room. Ultrasound-guided PEEP titration has been used in bariatric surgeries (different position and usually shorter procedure time) and proved effective in improving oxygenation, compliance and reducing the incidence of postoperative pulmonary atelectasis and hypoxia without causing hemodynamic instability. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative individualized lung ultrasound-guided stepwise PEEP optimization in patients undergoing RARPC on oxygenation, intraoperative and early postoperative pulmonary complications.

Erector Spinae Block Versus Combined Pecto-intercostal and Recto-intercostal Fascial Plane Block in Cardiac Surgery

The aim of this study is to compare the analgesic effects of ultrasound-guided bilateral erector spinae plane block versus ultrasound-guided bilateral combined Pecto-intercostal fascial plane block and recto-intercostal fascial plane block in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Redesigning Surgical Care for Patients in Wisconsin

This study evaluates strategies to train surgeons to use Better Conversations, an evidence-based communication framework designed to improve informed consent by helping patients understand the goals of surgery, the downsides of treatment, and what to expect. Better Conversations supports deliberation, patient preparation, and alignment of decisions with patient goals, addressing known shortcomings in traditional informed consent. The purpose of this study is to compare two methods of surgeon training: (1) training delivered by an education specialist using audit and feedback, and (2) training supported by computerized automation that identifies elements of Better Conversations in de-identified transcripts of surgical consultations. The central question is whether the automated training program is non-inferior to the specialist-delivered program. Approximately 60 surgeons from two academic health systems will be randomized to one of these training approaches. Each surgeon will complete a didactic session, have outpatient surgical consultations audio-recorded for feedback, and complete assessment recordings after training. Patients of enrolled surgeons will complete surveys before and after their surgeon's training to evaluate patient-reported communication outcomes. Findings from this study will assess the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of automated training and support the development of a larger pragmatic study to evaluate the broader effects of Better Conversations on patient outcomes.

Terumo Aortic Global Endovascular Registry

Multi-arm, multi-center, open label, prospective observational registry designed to obtain safety and performance data on the use of CE marked and custom Terumo Aortic endovascular grafts.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Injection With Median Nerve Decompression Surgery in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The aim of this study is to compare ultrasound-guided perineural injection of the median nerve with classic minimal incision surgical technique for median nerve decompression in patients diagnosed with mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods for Effective Disposal of Surplus Analgesics to Facilitate Elimination

The primary objective is to evaluate the difference in outcomes for mail-in vs. in-home disposal methods for leftover prescription opioids after discharge from surgery.