Current Research
Areas of ongoing active clinical and education research include assessment of simulation in teaching, epidemiology of critical illness, patient safety and quality improvement. We are also at the forefront of the evaluation of novel innovative interventions such as point of care ultrasound and extracorporeal gas exchange techniques.
Below is a summary of the current academic ICU studies (May 2017):
ART-123 trial
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01598831
PURPOSE:
When ICU patients have a severe infection, this can cause coagulopathy (i.e., potentially life-threatening problems with both bleeding and clotting). The purpose of this study is to see if a new drug called ART-123, is safe and effective at helping patients who have both severe sepsis and coagulopathy survive a severe infection.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from ICU physician and patients’ next of kin (NOK) and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since January 2013
FUNDED BY: Asahi Kasei Pharma America Corporation
BALANCE
(Bacteremia Antibiotic Length Actually Needed for Clinical Effectiveness) Pilot
https://www.ccctg.ca/Programs/BALANCE-Bacteremia-Antibiotic-Length-Needed.aspx
Academic
PURPOSE
Patients in the ICU are often given antibiotics to treat infection. While antibiotics are helpful, there are also risks associated with giving antibiotics especially when they are not needed anymore. The purpose of this study is see if a shorter, (7 day) duration antibiotics is just as good as a longer (14 days) duration of antibiotics to help patients survive an infection.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from patients and/or patients’ NOK and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since June 2016; 1patient recruited to date.
FUNDED BY: Canadian Institute of Health Research
The Canada-Donate-National Observational study:
PURPOSE:
Every three days, at least one person in Canada dies in wait of an organ transplant. Today and most days, 4500 Canadians are registered on a transplant wait list. In 2012, 2124 (less than half) received an organ transplant, and 256 died before a transplant was possible. In 2014 the Canadian Critical Care Trials Group Launched a new national program of research in deceased organ donation. The first mandate of this research program is to develop a national research platform to support future trials in intensive care unit management of deceased organ donors. The Goal of a national observational study is to observe the ICU management of deceased organ donors at candidate sites for future trials and better outcomes.
ENROLLMENT:
This is a prospective observational study that is collecting data in 2017/2018 from 24 ICUs across Canada, including St. Paul’s Hospital.
FUNDED BY: Canadian Institute of Health Research
Concept Study:
PURPOSE
Even when patients survive a heart attack (i.e., cardiac arrest), 50% of them later die because of hypoxic brain injury (i.e., due to lack of oxygen). Of those that do survive, half of them have a brain injury. This type of brain injury after a cardiac arrest is called Hypoxemic- ischemic brain injury (HIBI). Patients with HIBI may have a different relationship between their blood pressure and blood flow levels in the brain. If we understood this better, perhaps we can tailor treatment better to help a brain recover. The purpose of this study is to use a new measurement tool called cerebral oximetry, to measure blood flow in the brain.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent or Deferred consent is secured from ICU physician and patients’ next of kin (NOK) and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since February 2016
FUNDED BY: VCHRI(Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute)
Genetech Study( GNEflu) trial:
PURPOSE
Influenza A is a lung infection that can lead to a severe lung infection and critical illness. The purpose of this study is to compare two different drug therapies (i.e., Oseltamivir versus MHAA4549A, a Monoclonal Antibody, in Combination with Oseltamivir) to see which one results in better patient outcomes.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from patients and/or patients’ NOK and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since Januray 2016
FUNDED BY: Genentech
PREVENT (Upcoming study)
(Pneumatic Compression for Preventing Venous Thromboembolism)
PURPOSE
ICU patients are at high risk of developing clots in their legs and arms known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This study compares two therapies to see which one is better at preventing DVTs. The therapies that the PREVENT study are:
- Using a drug that prevents blood from clotting (i.e., Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) or Unfractionated Heparin (UFH)) plus a device that gently squeezes and releases the limbs (i.e., the Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Device (IPC)) versus
- Using just the drug alone (i.e., Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) or Unfractionated Heparin (UFH)).
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from patients and/or patients’ NOK and/or family. Not enrolling yet. Ethics approval underway.
FUNDED BY: Canadian Institute of Health Research
PROSPECT
(Probiotics: Prevention Of Severe Pneumonia and Endotracheal Colonization Trial)
http://www.ccctg.ca/Programs/PROSPECT-Probiotics-Prevention-of-Severe-Pneumonia.aspx
PURPOSE
Patients that need a ventilator (i.e., breathing machine) are at higher risk of getting a lung infection called a ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). The purpose of this study is to see if probiotics, a live bacteria thought to have health benefits, can reduce the risk of VAP. In this study the probiotic used is called L. rhamnosus GG and it will be giving through the stomach.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from ICU physician and patients’ next of kin (NOK) and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since February 2016
FUNDED BY: Canadian Institute of Health Research
STARRT-AKI
(STandard vs Accelerated initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury)
http://www.ccctg.ca/News-Events/The-STARRT-AKI-Research-Program.aspx
PURPOSE:
Many ICU patients experience acute kidney injury as a result of their critical illness. One therapy to treat kidney injury is renal replacement therapy (RRT). While this is effective at helping patients recover from a kidney injury, there are risks associated with this therapy. The purpose of this study is to see what is better, starting RRT as early as possible at the first sign of kidney injury, or waiting to see if the acute kidney injury is severe enough that it won’t recover on its own.
ENROLLMENT:
Informed consent is secured from patients and/or patients’ NOK and/or family.
- Actively recruiting since April 2016
FUNDED BY: Canadian Institute of Health Research
Acceptability and Feasibility of a Palliative Screening Tool in ICU
(Frequency of Screening and SBT Technique)
PURPOSE:
When the health care team uses the palliative approach, they help people live well until death, across the lifespan, in all practice settings, including the ICU. The purpose of this study is to develop a palliative screening tool and evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of this tool as it is used in daily ICU care. The intent of the screening tool is to aid the early identification of ICU patients who have unmet palliative care needs.
ENROLLMENT:
Consent obtained from participants who are health care providers and patient family partners.
FUNDED BY: Providence Health Care (Research Challenge 2016)
