Method for Improved Intraoperative Blood Loss Estimates
Improved Intraoperative Blood Loss EstimatesThe purpose of this study is to develop a mathematical algorithm which the investigators plan to use to more accurately estimate intraoperative blood loss.
Trauma Heart to Arm Time
TraumaHypovolemia1 moreIn the prehospital setting it would be helpful to assess primary changes in central blood volume or preload (venous return, stroke volume, diastolic ventricular volume) that occur during the stability phase following injury when regulatory mechanisms are still functioning. Obviously in this setting a non invasive bedside beat-to-beat index would be helpful. Pulse Transit Time (PTT) is the sum of Pre-Ejection Period (PEP), the time interval between the onset of ventricular depolarization and the ventricular ejection, and Vascular Transit Time (VTT), the time it takes for the pulse wave to travel from the aortic valve to the peripheral arteries (Obrist et al. 1979). PEP variations are known to correlate with reductions in central blood volume induced by head-up tilt (Chan et al., 2007b, 2008). The same authors also demonstrated that PTT variations follow closely PEP variations and therefore central blood volume variations (Chan et al., 2007b). Following central blood volume reductions induced by head-up tilting ventricular diastolic filling time increases involving an increase in PEP and PTT. Chan et al. (Chan et al., 2007b) concluded that PTT could have been used to assess early central hypovolemia and suggested that joint analysis of PTT and RR intervals could help in predicting the extent of blood volume loss. The investigators hypothesized that sympathetic drive associated with trauma would act on cardiac contractility through beta activity thus shortening PTT without reducing RR interval to the same extent in healthy hearts. We also hypothesized that progressive hypovolemia would lead to a rising of PTT (augmented diastolic filling time) and a RR interval shortening (relative tachycardia). In this study the investigators propose and index based on the beat-to-beat PTT/RR ratio to assess central hypovolemia in traumatic patients enrolled by our Helicopter Emergency Medical System (HEMS) in a prehospital setting.
Prevention of Recurrent Ulcer Bleeding in High-risk Users of Low-dose Aspirin
Ulcer HemorrhageLow-dose aspirin is the mainstay of treatment for patients with coronary heart disease and stroke. However, low-dose aspirin increases the risk of ulcer bleeding. Current evidence indicates that 80 - 100 mg of aspirin daily provides good protection against vascular events and the risk of ulcer bleeding is low (about 1% per year). Since the overall risk of bleeding is low, aspirin users who do not have previous ulcer disease do not require prophylaxis with anti-ulcer drugs. In contrast, aspirin users with a history of ulcer disease have a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of ulcer bleeding. The best strategy for reducing the risk of bleeding in high-risk aspirin users remains unclear. Current strategies for high-risk patients include the use of anti-ulcer drugs, elimination of risk factors (e.g. Helicobacter pylori). Recently the investigators have shown that among aspirin users who are infected with H. pylori, the eradication of H. pylori is comparable to omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), in preventing recurrent ulcer bleeding in 6 months. The investigators postulated that among patients with H. pylori infection and a history of ulcer bleeding who continue to use low-dose aspirin, the long-term risk of ulcer complications after eradication of H. pylori is comparable to that of average-risk aspirin users.
Volume Measurement and Progression Surveillance of Intracerebral Haemorrhage Using Transcranial...
StrokeCerebral HemorrhageThis study investigates the ability of ultrasound to measure the volume of a brain hemorrhage in the acute phase after hospital admission. It is known that approximately 30% of patients admitted with a brain hemorrhage will suffer from enlargement of the hematoma within the first hours after admission. In this study the investigators measure the volume of the hematoma every 30 minutes up to 6 hours after admission and every 2 hours between 6-12 hours.
Monitoring of Delayed Ischemia After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Subarachnoid HemorrhageThe goal in this research is to develop better ways to detect and treat the damage caused by bleeding in the brain.
Computed Tomographic (CT) Perfusion and CT Angiography as Screening Tools for Vasospasm Following...
Cerebral VasospasmCerebral Aneurysm1 moreCerebral vasospasm is a devastating complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage after cerebral aneurysm rupture leading to cerebral ischemia and potentially cerebral infarction. The current gold standard diagnostic imaging study for cerebral vasospasm is catheter cerebral angiography, an invasive diagnostic procedure carrying a complication rate of 1-2% per procedure. Computed tomographic perfusion imaging (CTP) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) are noninvasive diagnostic imaging studies frequently utilized in the evaluation of embolic and thrombotic cerebral infarct. The investigators hypothesize that CTP and CTA may be utilized as screening tools for cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring treatment and provide prognostic information.
European Survey of Non-Variceal Upper Gastro Intestinal Bleeding (NVUGIB)
Non-variceal Upper Gastrointestinal BleedingGastrointestinal Ulcer1 moreThe aim of this study is to assess the current management strategies in a pan-European "real-life" setting to uncover the unmet need in this area: non-variceal gastrointestinal bleedings.
Thromboelastography to Assess Hemostatic Changes in Patients Undergoing Elective Cesarean Delivery....
HemorrhageThe purpose of the study is to assess the coagulation changes that occur in patients undergoing elective Cesarean delivery using thromboelastography (TEG). We will compare coagulation data to assess potential coagulation changes associated with hemoglobin changes before and after surgery, and related to estimated blood loss.
Neurophysiology and Anatomy of Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH)
Intracranial HemorrhagesPrematurityCurrently, when premature infants develop severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), a type of intracerebral bleed, there are no proven therapeutic interventions to prevent the devastating consequences of this event. These children will be likely to develop cerebral palsy or severe cognitive delays. The purpose of our study is to characterize differences in brain physiology, imaging, and function between premature infants with severe IVH and controls. The goals for gathering this information are to generate baseline data, which could facilitate early screening for complications of IVH in premature infants. These baseline data would also allow the design and implementation of early therapeutic interventions to help rehabilitate premature infants with severe IVH.
Quality of Life in Elderly After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH)
Aneurysmal Subarachnoid HemorrhageHydrocephalus1 moreIn all the Western populations, the annual incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) increase with age. In patients older than 70 years, the occurrence of SAH exposes them to high risk of morbidity and a poor quality of life. In this age bracket, the single randomized which compared endovascular coiling to microsurgical clipping (ISAT Study) showed that the relative risk of morbidity increased after coiling. Moreover, some prospectives studies about endovascular coiling described favorable outcome in 48% to 63% of patients, complete occlusion in 51% to 69% and a procedural complication rate in 13% to 19%. From prospectives series, the proportion of favorable outcome after microsurgical clipping was estimated around 66% but the procedural complications are few reported. The outcome for patients treated conservatively was catastrophic. Lastly, the hydrocephalus in this age class is common, occurring in 55% of patients. The study hypothesis is that, in this age class, no difference exists between the 2 obliteration procedures. An accurate evaluation of result in term of functional disability, quality of life and prognosis predictive factors seems a judicious question.