Improving Health-related Quality Of Life In Patients Receiving Home Mechanical Ventilation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$121,793.00
Summary
Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a treatment that assists someone to breathe using a machine. People may need HMV when their breathing has failed due to conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neuromuscular disease (NMD) or severe obesity. This project will examine the quality of life of patients receiving HMV in Australia and Canada. It will also determine if we can improve the treatment by using a sleep study to monitor breathing when patients first start HMV.
The Role Of Oxygen Therapy As Second-line Treatment For Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Who Are Intolerant Of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy, And Characterising Ventilatory Loop Gain As A Predictor Of The Success Of Therapy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,198.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an increasingly common condition in Australia. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the _gold-standard� in OSA treatment, but a majority of sufferers are unable to tolerate this for the period required to treat their condition. We will be conducting a large Australian multi-centre, randomised, placebo controlled trial to investigate the utility of nocturnal oxygen therapy alone, in those people with OSA who are unable to tolerate CPAP.
Nasal Highflow For Paediatric Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,627,819.00
Summary
The burden of respiratory disease in children requiring intensive care admission is increasing despite better quality care in hospitals. This study investigates a new method, called nasal high flow, to support the breathing of children, that can be provided in regular children's wards in regional and metropolitan hospitals. The study anticipates to demonstrate that early intervention with nasal high flow reduces the need for intensive care admission.
A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of Selective Decontamination Of The Digestive Tract In Critically Ill Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,113,393.00
Summary
Sepsis is the most common cause of death in intensive care patients. Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) is a treatment to reduce the risk of infection and improve survival for these patients. Many trials suggest SDD works but there has not been widespread uptake due to concerns that SDD will increase antibiotic resistance.rates. This trial will provide a definitive answer. If SDD reduces mortality without increasing antibiotic resistance, the study will have a global impact.
A Multi-centre RCT Of An Open Lung Strategy Including Permissive Hypercapnia, Alveloar Recruitment, And Low Airway Pressure In Patients With ARDS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,041,070.00
Summary
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe inflammatory condition of the lungs that complicates many critical illnesses and is associated with high mortality. Inappropriate settings of the mechanical ventilator can lead to a worsening outcome. The aim of this Phase II study is to compare the clinical efficiency of a novel ventilation strategy to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in survivors, including several lung protective settings, to that of current standard care.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Non-invasive Ventilation In Stable, Hypercapnic Chronic Airflow Limitation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,622.00
Summary
Chronic airflow limitation is a major cause of illness and death in Australia. Long term oxygen therapy is well established as one means of assisting people with chronic lung disease. Survival is still poor particularly when an individual is hypercapnic. Non-invasive ventilation used at night with a mask has been used in chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure from other causes with very good results. This study looks at whether non-invasive mask ventilation improves survival, improves clinical ....Chronic airflow limitation is a major cause of illness and death in Australia. Long term oxygen therapy is well established as one means of assisting people with chronic lung disease. Survival is still poor particularly when an individual is hypercapnic. Non-invasive ventilation used at night with a mask has been used in chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure from other causes with very good results. This study looks at whether non-invasive mask ventilation improves survival, improves clinical outcome measures and reduces health costs in people with chronic airflow limitation. The ventilatory support will be used at night during sleep and will be a bilevel positive airway pressure device. Apart from measuring the cost-benefit of home ventilatory support, this study will examine the relationship between the time of commencement of home ventilatory support and outcomes. In addition the relationships between daytime awake PaCO2, lung function, and body mass in CAL patients and the likely response to home ventilatory support will be examined.Read moreRead less
Breathing Easier: Optimising Non-Invasive Ventilation Of Preterm Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$266,623.00
Summary
Every year in Australia more than 6000 premature babies need breathing support after birth. My research focuses on improving the application of ‘non-invasive’ breathing supports for premature babies. These therapies can avoid the baby needing to be connected to a mechanical breathing machine, thus reducing the risk of damage to the baby’s fragile lungs. My vision is to better understand the way non-invasive breathing supports work, and to provide world-first evidence for their use.
Assessment Of Physical Therapies To Improve Secretion Clearance In Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,310.00
Summary
People with cystic fibrosis (CF) produce thick mucus that is not cleared normally from the lungs. This retained mucus often becomes infected, which progressively damages the lungs. Various physical therapies which may help clear secretions are being used in CF. These include several types of devices which provide positive pressure to the airways. However, it is not known to what extent these devices, or other interventions such as manual chest physiotherapy and exercise, enhance mucus clearance. ....People with cystic fibrosis (CF) produce thick mucus that is not cleared normally from the lungs. This retained mucus often becomes infected, which progressively damages the lungs. Various physical therapies which may help clear secretions are being used in CF. These include several types of devices which provide positive pressure to the airways. However, it is not known to what extent these devices, or other interventions such as manual chest physiotherapy and exercise, enhance mucus clearance. As a result, it is not currently possible to scientifically prescribe intervention(s) to enhance mucus clearance in CF. This is partly because much of the research that has been performed in this area has been poorly-designed or has used inaccurate measures. Also, recent research has shown that these therapies may have significant effects beside their effect on mucus clearance. For instance, bacterial infection and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood supply and air in the lung may all be affected by these interventions. Notably, the extent of benefit or detriment seen in these parameters does not always correlate with the effect on mucus clearance. We therefore believe a series of experiments is necessary to provide evidence upon which the scientific selection of mucus clearance therapies may be based. We have developed a new technique which allows clearance of mucus from the airways to be objectively measured in three-dimensions (3D). We intend to use the 3D technique to examine the effects of three different positive pressure devices, exercise, and manual chest physiotherapy on mucus clearance. Based on the outcomes of this research, we intend to compare the most appropriate therapy to performing no mucus clearance therapy in a short term trial. This trial will assess changes in the following: bacterial infection, mucus plugging in the airways, how well the lungs move air and exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the patient's quality of life.Read moreRead less
Improving Neonatal Transition For Compromised Infants And Minimising Lung Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,226.00
Summary
The projects in this proposal are designed to improve the health of newly born infants before they are born (fetal lactate blood test to assist in decision making), at birth (randomized clinical trials to provide evidence for future resuscitation guidelines) and in the first few hours following preterm birth by studying alternative methods of providing existing therapies for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. These studies may prevent harm and allow a “Healthy start to life”.