Are Healthcare Interventions Exacerbating Alzheimer's Disease (AHEAD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,803.00
Summary
The AHEAD Study will assess the impact of anaesthesia and surgery on cognitive function in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild Alzheimer's Disease. Such effects have not been established. With an ageing population being increasingly exposed to healthcare procedures requiring anaesthesia or sedation, any negative impact needs to be identified so that therapeutic decisions may be informed and future research appropriately targeted.
Cash Transfers And Behaviour Change Communications To Reduce Child Undernutrition In Rural Bangladesh: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial To Determine The Most Effective Combination Of Interventions.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,415,801.00
Summary
Under-nutrition of children remains a major global public health problem. Tackling this problem will require more evidence about what combination of nutrition-specific and nutrition sensitive interventions is most effective in reducing child undernutrition. We plan a large scale trial in rural Bangladesh to compare the effects of communications about nutrition with mobile phones and cash transfers in preventing child malnutrition.
The Influence Of Anaesthetic Depth On Patient Outcome After Major Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,893,795.00
Summary
Millions of high-risk patients have general anaesthesia for major surgery worldwide every year, but the optimal depth of anaesthesia for these patients is not known. The aim of this large randomised trial is to determine the impact of light versus deep general anaesthesia on survival at one year postoperatively in 6,500 older patients. If light anaesthesia is associated with better survival, this result will be immediately implementable, will save lives and will reduce the costs of care.
Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Recovery From General Anaesthesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,983.00
Summary
Even though general anaesthesia is an extremely common and safe procedure, doctors do not really know how it works. We have found that general anaesthetics might work in two steps, by first promoting natural sleep, and then by impairing communication between all nerve cells in the brain. It is this second step that makes surgery possible, but also makes recovery difficult – especially among patients with brain disorders. Understanding these mechanisms will promote better anaesthesia procedures.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Effects Of Early Life Exposure To General Anaesthesia On Neurobehavioural Outcomes In Children With Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$587,240.00
Summary
Anaesthesia permits surgeries and other interventional procedures that benefit the health of children to be performed painlessly and non-traumatically. This study will provide critical information about whether the drugs used commonly for general anaesthesia represents a risk to very young children in terms of their neurobehavioural development.
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.
Reduction Of Chronic Post-surgical Pain With Ketamine - ROCKet Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,823,395.00
Summary
Chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication of major surgery, and a significant burden on quality of life and ongoing health costs. Ketamine is a drug used by anaesthetists to treat severe acute surgical pain. Various small studies suggest that it may be unique in its ability to reduce the risk of CPSP. We propose a large trial of ketamine during & after anaesthesia for major surgery to test this. Demonstration of effectiveness would promote widespread change in clinical practice.
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.
Risk Assessment And Prevention Of Respiratory Complications In Paediatric Anaesthesia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,253.00
Summary
Respiratory problems account for more than three quarters of all critical incidents and a third of all cardiac arrests in healthy children undergoing anaesthesia for surgical procedures. It is therefore vital to identify high risk children early to be able to adapt the anaesthesia regimen accordingly. This series of studies will study new prediction and prevention strategies to minimise respiratory problems and therefore improve the safety for our children when undergoing anaesthesia.
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