ANZCTR search results

Despite early detection of congenital unilateral hearing loss (UHL) via universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), there is a lack of evidence on the efficacy of early intervention (in the form of device fitting) for improving outcomes, and the benefit vs harms of early detection and treatment is uncertain. Consequently, there is clinical equipoise concerning whether children should receive amplification (as well as surveillance). The overall goal of this project is to determine the efficacy of device intervention for improving outcomes of children diagnosed with permanent unilateral hearing loss at or shortly after birth. The aims are to: 1) investigate the impact of early detection and treatment of UHL on the child and family; 2) determine factors affecting outcomes at 3 years of age for children with congenital UHL; and 3) assess the efficacy of device fitting on improving outcomes. The results of this research will provide the much-needed evidence-based guidance for clinical practice.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing increased allied health services to the Acute Medical Unit and General Medicine services across Central Adelaide Local Health Network, by comparing outcome data post-implementation of the increased allied health staffing levels to historical and Australia-wide data. In order to be able to compare data between the prospective and historical cohorts, the main outcomes that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the increased allied health services will comprise data that have been collected and are available for comparison from current databases (i.e. Central Adelaide Clinical Casemix and Costing databases, Health Round Table reports, Client Management Engine).

This is a randomised controlled trial. All components used in this study are TGA approved. Women, who undergo a laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications will be randomised to the use of LigaSure or Gyrus PK blood vessel sealing devices. The aim is to compare operative time and blood loss with the use of LigaSure (LF 1737 5mm laparoscopic 37cm sealer /divider) versus Gyrus PK (5mm LYONS™ 33cm dissecting forceps) blood vessel sealing device during laparoscopic hysterectomy. A minimum of 64 patients will be enrolled into the study. Operating time (from initial skin incision until detachment of the uterus with secured haemostasis), total operating time (from initial skin incision until final skin closure), intra-operative blood loss, major complications, post-operative analgesia usage, conversion rate, ergonomics and costs will be evaluated.

This study will evaluate the efficacy of Selective Internal Radiation (SIR) spheres in combination with chemotherapy for patients with pancreatic cancer with liver metastases. Who is it for? You may be eligible to participate in this study if you are aged 18 years or above and have been diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer with liver metastases. Study details All participants in this study will receive standard chemotherapy care in combination with SIR sphere implant. Sir Spheres are injected via a catheter into the blood stream of the liver. The follow up assessments include physical exam, CT scans, and blood samples and urine samples. The study is designed to assess the ability of SIR spheres in combination with chemotherapy to control liver metastases from pancreatic cancer. As liver metastases are a major event impacting on survival, control of these metastases could result in an improvement in survival.

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of providing 900 calories from enteral feeding versus oral supplementation for the first month following discharge, for patients who have undergone oesophageal or total gastrectomy surgery.

Rotator cuff tears may affect one or more of the tendons of the four rotator cuff muscles in your shoulder, principally the supraspinatus. These tears cause significant pain and restricted movement of the arm, affecting the ability to perform daily activities, participate in sport and exercise, and the ability to work. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is the most popular surgical treatment for rotator cuff pathology. While surgery is considered an effective treatment, high failure rates and recurrent tears are common, especially degenerative tears, which are frequently observed in the older population. Post-operative rehabilitation is a critical part of the treatment following rotator cuff repair. Specific exercises to improve mobility and strength of the rotator cuff are commonly prescribed after repair. However, the role of post-surgical immobilisation, the amount of load that can be safely borne by the repair site throughout the early post-operative stages, and when and how to safely graduate this progressive load through rehabilitation, is currently unclear. Traditionally, repairs have been managed with passive range of motion followed by delayed active motion and, finally, strengthening exercises. However, as the incidence of repair failures grew, it has been suggested that overly aggressive rehabilitation and excessive loading at the healing repair site may play a role. Subsequently, delayed rehabilitation involving an early period of immobilization (arm in a sling) has become common practice. The rationale behind a delayed rehabilitation program stems from concerns that early repair site loading may negatively affect tendon healing, and that the repair site requires suitable time to heal without aggravation via loading. However, improvements in surgical techniques and current evidence and expert opinion suggesting that this period of immobilisation is too conservative and may potentially increase the risk of post-operative shoulder stiffness and a delayed return of shoulder muscle function, have allowed the possibility of an early, controlled post-operative treatment protocol. We hypothesise that a structured, accelerated post-operative rehabilitation program designed to safely return patients to work and sport faster, will improve patient based outcome scores and accelerate recovery of muscle function compared to a conservative regime, without risk to the repaired shoulder. This is a prospective randomised controlled trial (RCT), which seeks to investigate the benefit of an accelerated post-operative rehabilitation program after your rotator cuff repair surgery. This will be evaluated via validated questionnaires about your pain and function, clinical scores looking at your strength, mobility and function, as well as the time taken to return to work/sport, overall satisfaction and re-injury rate. This information will be of benefit to you in your return to full function, as well as other patients who require such treatment in the future.

the aim is to define the appropriate type and length of treatment with vitamin d for infants of vitamin d deficient mothers

This protocol proposes a cluster-randomised study of 70-100 aged-care facilities with partnership between various stakeholders: aged care facilities, clinical researchers, general practitioners, government public health bodies, and relevant industry partners. It has two main purposes: (i) to examine the impact of oseltamivir, as treatment only, versus treatment and prophylaxis, for residents and staff of ACFs during influenza outbreaks with respect to morbidity, mortality and outbreak size, and (ii) to develop and test an enhanced surveillance system, utilising bedside rapid point-of-care tests with laboratory confirmation, for respiratory infection outbreaks in ACFs; both in the context of promoting influenza vaccine uptake and infection control measures.

This research study will use medication to try to improve language, memory, and symptoms in schizophrenia. This medication (called canakinumab) is used to reduce harmful by-products of infection. We hope to learn how this medication in addition to antipsychotic medication can improve thinking and reduce symptoms in people with schizophrenia and to determine if this medication can be used as a new treatment for thinking problems and symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

The primary hypothesis is that an intensive chemotherapy protocol, incorporating high-dose cytarabine and Idarubicin, as originally designed for treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, when used in the treatment of adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, has acceptable tolerability and safety. The subsidiary hypothesis is that this regimen will result in a greater degree of reduction of the number of leukaemia cells, than conventional treatment.