IV Iron For Treatment Of Anaemia Before Cardiac Surgery (ITACS Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,285,290.00
Summary
Our aim is to evaluate intravenous iron to treat anaemia in 1000 patients waiting for their cardiac surgery. This could reduce the risks of the operation and enable patients to recover faster and can go home earlier.
Restrictive Versus Liberal Fluid Therapy In Major Abdominal Surgery: The RELIEF Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,477,820.00
Summary
Major surgery can result in serious complications, some of which lead to permanent disability and early death. All patients undergoing major surgery require intravenous fluids to maintain a healthy circulation, but too much fluid can cause tissue swelling (oedema) and "drown" the vital organs. There are probable benefits of a restrictive IV fluid regimen. This could have major benefits to patients having surgery.
Perioperative Administration Of Dexamethasone And Infection- The PADDI Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,832,815.00
Summary
The PADDI Trial is a large (8,800 patients) international, multicentre, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority safety and effectiveness study that will run for five years. It will examine the benefits and complications of administering 8mg of a steroid drug (dexamethasone) to adult patients undergoing non-urgent surgical procedures who receive general anaesthesia. The main outcome is surgical site infection 30 days after surgery. The influence of diabetes will also be investigated.
Neurodevelopmental Outcome After Sevoflurane Versus Dexmedetomidine/remifentanil Anaesthesia In Infancy: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,787.00
Summary
Evidence in animals show that some anaesthetics affect the developing brain. Some human data also show a link between childhood surgery and poorer neurodevelopmental outcome. It is unknown if this association is due to the anaesthetic. Our recent GAS trial showed no evidence for toxicity after 1 hour of anaesthesic but many children have longer anaesthetics. We plan to enrol 420 infants in a study comparing neurodevelopmental outcome after 2 different anaesthetics for surgery lasting >2 hours ....Evidence in animals show that some anaesthetics affect the developing brain. Some human data also show a link between childhood surgery and poorer neurodevelopmental outcome. It is unknown if this association is due to the anaesthetic. Our recent GAS trial showed no evidence for toxicity after 1 hour of anaesthesic but many children have longer anaesthetics. We plan to enrol 420 infants in a study comparing neurodevelopmental outcome after 2 different anaesthetics for surgery lasting >2 hours.Read moreRead less
This study is testing two drugs in people having heart surgery, to see whether either can reduce serious complications such as heart attack, stroke or death. Aspirin thins the blood and can reduce these risks but it increases bleeding during surgery. Another drug can reduce bleeding, but it may counteract the benefits of aspirin. The study is being done at more than 20 hospitals in Australia and around the world.
‘Granny was never the same after her operation’ is a strong public perception. These reports of persistent memory and concentration loss following surgery are now supported by a body of scientific research recording an incidence of ‘postoperative cognitive decline’ (POCD) as high as 75% in cardiac surgery patients. At present the cause is unknown but recently anaesthesia has been implicated. Our research team will investigate these claims.
Outcomes From A Multi-site Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Regional And General Anaesthesia For Effects On Neurodevelopmental Outcome And Apnoea In Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$757,831.00
Summary
Animal studies suggest general anaesthetics harm the developing brain. It is unclear if these findings are relevant to humans. The aim of this international randomised controlled trial is to determine whether children exposed to general anaesthesia as an infant have a poorer neurodevelopmental outcome. A previous NHMRC grant funded the first phase of the trial along with substantial funding from overseas. The trial will tell us if general anaesthetics affect the developing brain in children.