4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The aim of the study is to determine if a new device is more effective in fluid administration than devices currently used when resuscitating pediatric patients in septic shock. This study will take place in a simulation lab setting and will not include the use of patients.
An external tunneled central venous access device (CVAD) is a small plastic tube that is tunneled under the skin into a major vein for long-term use (Figure 1). Patients who require a tunneled CVAD are some of the sickest patients we encounter and include oncology, hematology, and gastrointestinal (intestinal failure) patients. These patients are heavily reliant on their tunneled CVAD, which can be a lifeline for long-term administration of chemotherapeutics, IV medications, blood product transfusions, antibiotics, enteral nutrition, blood draws and fluids. Unfortunately, nearly 30% of pediatric external tunneled CVADs fail prior to the completion of treatment. External tunneled CVAD failures lead to unnecessary morbidity and mortality, interruption of medical therapy, and the added costs and risks associated with additional procedural complications. It is hypothesized that a newly designed securement method for external tunneled central venous access devices (CVAD) will reduce catheter-related complications and increase patient, parent and provider satisfaction, compared to the current standard of care, which is a clear transparent film dressing over the catheter exit site. A 20 patient, prospective clinical trial is proposed to address the following specific aims, which will determine if the securement device: 1. Is rated by patients, parents and providers as easy to apply and comfortable for users 2. Reduces CVAD-related complications, such as delayed healing of the tract, catheter-related infections, and episodes of catheter dislodgement 3. Improves the quality of life for patients and their parents 4. Is preferred over the standard, clear transparent dressing alone 5. Requires any design modifications to improve performance and/or comfort of the device
Excelsior Medical has developed SwabCap™, a luer access valve disinfection cap. The SwabCap™ provides passive disinfection of valve top and threads without activating the luer access valve. This product promotes technique standardization and compliance in cleansing of the luer access valve prior to access. It acts as a physical barrier from touch and airborne contamination for up to 96 hours. This product has been endorsed and will be adopted for use at NorthShore University HealthSystem as a quality improvement initiative. This research study protocol is designed to confirm the anticipated benefit of this change in practice at NorthShore during the planned implementation and use. If the product performs as it has been designed to, the baseline rate of hub and subsequently intraluminal contamination will be diminished, thereby protecting patients with central lines from bloodstream infections due to contaminated hubs.
Insertion and maintenance of central venous catheter (CVC) lines are common hospital procedures in patients, including those being treated for cancer. CVCs allow clinicians an access point for infusion of fluids, blood sampling, and measurements, decreasing the need for repeated needle sticks to the patient. However, bloodstream infections associated with CVCs (CLABSIs) are a serious complication, leading to significantly longer hospital stays, morbidity, and mortality. Keeping catheter ports disinfected reduces the risk of bloodstream infection; however, consistent and adequate maintenance and disinfection of the line can be difficult. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that passive disinfecting caps can provide a patient safety practice that is easy for clinicians to follow, as well as providing easily auditable compliance, which may lead to lower CLABSI rates. The compliance rate for needleless connector disinfection will be evaluated after implementation of the passive disinfecting cap, and compared to the pre-intervention rate. The CLABSI rates before and after cap implementation will also be compared.