CompletedNot Applicable

Special Imaging Technique to Aid in the Diagnosis of Patients in Coma After Cardiac Arrest

Canada5 participantsStarted 2014-06-09

Plain-language summary

In the present pilot study, the investigators propose to determine if performing CT perfusion scans in post-cardiac arrest patients in coma will help prognosticate the outcome in these patients.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * All adult patients (age range: 18-80 years), in a coma for at least 24 hours following cardiac arrest who are admitted to our cardiac intensive care unit and who have recovered body temperature back to normal after being subjected to the therapeutic hypothermia protocol will be included in the study. * Also included are those patients whose next of kin have provided consent for the study. Exclusion Criteria: * patients who are pregnant, * those with impaired renal function, * those who have contraindications to the CT contrast media (such as a known allergy or anaphylactic reactions) and * those who do not provide consent. Pregnant patients will be excluded to avoid any potential adverse effect of radiation from CT perfusion study on the developing foetus. A developing foetus is more vulnerable to radiation when compared to adult patients. Patients above 80 years will be excluded to avoid age related comorbidities affecting the patients' survival. We do not see patients below 18 years of age at our institution thus they will be excluded.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Clinical evaluation of brainstem function

Timeframe: 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02102945

SponsorNova Scotia Health Authority

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-05-23

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Brain Death trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.