Reduction Of Oxygen After Cardiac Arrest: The EXACT Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,891,021.00
Summary
We aim to conduct a Phase 3 multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial to determine whether reducing oxygen administration to target a normal level as soon as possible following successful resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, compared to current practice of maintaining 100% oxygen, improves patient survival at hospital discharge.
The RINSE Trial: The Rapid Infusion Of Cold Normal SalinE By Paramedics During CPR
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$708,241.00
Summary
Sudden cardiac arrest is a common event in the community. Therapeutic hypothermia decreases the brain injury caused by the cardiac arrest and is currently used in the hospital after successful resuscitation. However, there may be better outcomes if the brain is cooled by paramedics during resuscitation. We will compare survival rates for those patients cooled early by paramedics using an infusion of ice-saline during cardiac arrest with those patients who are later cooled by the hospital.
Improving Rapid Decision-Making In The Face Of Uncertainty: A Randomised Trial Of A 1-hour Troponin Protocol In Suspected Acute Coronary Syndromes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,095,320.00
Summary
Chest pain patients are a large burden of emergency department demand. Their effective care requires timely risk assessment. High-sensitivity assays for heart muscle damage (troponin) increases the ability to detect patients at low risk for heart attack but treatment rules based on these tests have not been fully validated. This randomised trial of clinical decision making based on new troponin tests will provide a guidelines for their efficient and effective use in emergency department care.
The Australasian Resuscitation In Sepsis Evaluation - Randomised Controlled Trial - Continuation Funding Request
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,938.00
Summary
Early treatment with fluids, blood transfusions and stimulants, may improve survival rates of patients with severe infections. To determine whether this is safe and effective in reducing deaths, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group and the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine are performing a large trial of early goal directed therapy in patients with severe infections. This grant will extend the study for an additional 2 years.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Interventional Versus Conservative Treatment Of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,315.00
Summary
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is a collapsed lung that occurs in otherwise healthy people without underlying lung disease. Current standard treatment is to insert a chest drain into the chest to remove the air around the collapsed lung so that the lung re-inflates rapidly ("interventional treatment"). We will determine whether doing nothing, i.e. letting the lung re-inflate slowly on its own over several weeks ("conservative treatment"), is just as good or even better for patients.
Is Highly-sensitive Troponin Testing Advancing Clinical Practice, Improving Outcomes And Cost-effective In The Investigation And Management Of Chest Pain In The Emergency Department?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,193,966.00
Summary
Expensive next generation blood tests offer the promise of more efficient detection of heart muscle damage in people with chest pain presenting to the Emergency Department. We aim to evaluate the treatment, management, cost and outcome at 1 year before and after these new blood tests were introduced in a national multi-hospital study.
The Prophylactic Hypothermia To Lessen Traumatic Brain Injury-randomised Controlled Trial : Continuation Of Funding Request
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,321.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and long term disability. About half with severe TBI will die or have a poor outcome. The social and economic costs to the community are high. Treatment focuses on optimising oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Cooling may protect the brain. POLAR is a randomised trial of early cooling in patients with TBI. Cooling is started within 3 hours of injury. Data about the injury management and safety is collected. Recovery is measured at 6 months.
Stroke is a medical emergency. Admission to a stroke unit; administration of clot busting therapy to eligible patients; and treatment of fever, raised blood sugar and swallowing difficulties are therapies with demonstrated evidence to reduce death and disability. Our study will rigorously evaluate an organisational intervention to deliver these initiatives in Emergency Departments. We hypothesise this will deliver further significant improvements in 90-day health outcomes and patient recovery.
Improving Outcomes For People With Acute Mental Illness In The Emergency Department: A Data Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,470.00
Summary
Currently, there is a lack of integration between emergency and mental health information systems. This means it is difficult for clinicians to comprehensively understand a patient’s interaction with other services – an important aspect when making treatment decisions. Our study will link 5 years of information from health, police and national death databases. This will identify areas where emergency services can be improved for vulnerable people seeking help for their mental health problem.
Use Of Emergency Departments By Vulnerable Groups During Their Last Year Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Vulnerable people in their last year of life who attend Emergency Departments (EDs) could often be better cared for elsewhere. Our severely overcrowded EDs, and the staff who work in them, are poorly equipped to provide appropriate end-of-life care. This research describes how these groups use the ED, the impact of this use upon ED services and how the provision of adequate community care may be a more appropriate and economically viable option for people at the end-of-life.