The Australasian Resuscitation In Sepsis Evaluation - Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,424,807.00
Summary
Patients with severe infections often present to Emergency Departments and early treatment with particular fluids, blood transfusions and stimulants, may improve survival rates. To determine whether early treatment is safe and effective in reducing deaths, the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group, in conjunction with the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, plan to perform a large trial of early goal directed therapy in patients with severe infections.
IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS - FROM OUTPATIENT CLINIC TO INTENSIVE CARE.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,891.00
Summary
Pleural effusions (PE) are collections of fluid around the lung. They are common in patients in intensive care (ICU) and in patients with metastatic cancer. Some pleural effusions resolve with medications, others require drainage procedures which have risks including lung damage, bleeding or infection which can be dangerous, especially in critically ill (ICU) patients. This proposal aims to optimise treatment decisions for PE in the ICU and cancer settings.
I am an intensive care physician, clinician and researcher, interested in studying new therapies to improve outcomes in patienst with acute trauma, sepsis and lung injury. A main focus is independent phase 111 clinical trials in critically ill patients
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Prophylactic Hypothermia In Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,061,506.00
Summary
Patients who suffer from a severe head injury (traumatic brain injury) have a 50% chance of having severe long term neurological disability or death. Some of this damage occurs after the initial injury and may be reduced by artificially lowering the body termperature for up to 7 days to protect the brain from further damage. This project will determine if early, sustained cooling is safe and if it can improve the long term neurological outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury.
Towards An Improved Understanding Of The Effect Of A Speaking Valve On Lung Volumes And Communication In The Critically Ill Tracheostomised Patient
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$45,795.00
Summary
Patients that require life support in intensive care often have breathing tubes in their neck. This means they are generally left without a voice for days, weeks, even months. Speaking valves meant for talking are not used much due to fears of harm to the lungs. Our study is looking at how much air is in the lungs when using this valve. Data so far suggest that the valve is in fact helping the lungs. The outcomes of this study may lead to most of these critically ill patients having a voice.
Early Identification Of Disability To Inform Better Care And Outcomes In High Risk Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$97,000.00
Summary
Australia has achieved marked improvement in hospital survivorship. We face the challenge of an ageing population, and healthcare resources need to prioritise good value care, clearly identifying high-risk patients who will not benefit from invasive and expensive interventions. This proposal takes the required next step to enable health providers to predict patients at risk of ongoing disability, optimise discharge planning, and to measure long-term health outcomes.
How Does Activated Protein C Create Intact, Non-leaky, Stable Blood Vessels?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,644.00
Summary
Vascular dysfunction is a common feature of many diseases, including sepsis, diabetes, atherosclerosis, tumours and asthma. These vessels have compromised structural and functional integrity, leading to leakage of blood components and causing inflammation in tissues. Based on our recent findings, this project aims to discover how activated protein C creates normal, healthy non-leaky blood vessels and prevents vascular dysfunction in disease.
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.
Re-EValuating The Inhibition Of Stress Erosions (REVISE): Gastrointestinal Bleeding Prophylaxis In ICU
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,955,164.00
Summary
Around 50,000 patients in Australian Intensive Care Units receive a drug called pantoprazole each year with the aim of preventing bleeding from the gut. Recent research suggests this practice is ineffective and may harm patients by increasing their risk of serious infections. We will perform a definitive study to determine whether the widespread use of pantoprazole is beneficial or harmful.