Castlebar

Researchers are evaluating the effects of negative pressure wound therapy NPWT compared to standard open wound care after surgical excision in patients with chronic pilonidal sinus disease PSD. PSD is a chronic inflammatory skin condition in the natal cleft area, often causing infection, abscess, discharge, and pain. The condition affects many, especially young adult males, and has a significant impact on quality of life and healthcare due to frequent recurrence and readmission after surgery. This multicenter randomized controlled trial aims to find the best wound care method to improve healing and patient outcomes. Participants will undergo surgical excision of chronic PSD and be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive negative pressure wound therapy dressings applied to the wound post-surgery, while the other group will have their wound dressed with standard sterile gauze after the skin is closed. The study will compare these two approaches for up to six months post-surgery, monitoring healing times and other related outcomes. During the study, participants will be followed for six months after surgery. Researchers will assess time to complete wound healing, postoperative pain, complications, quality of life using questionnaires like the EQ-5D-5L, scar appearance using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale POSAS, costs to patients, and wound recurrence rates. These assessments will occur at various points including the day of surgery, and one, three, and six months afterward, helping to understand the impact of each wound care method on recovery and patient experience.

Researchers are conducting the EXTUBE study, an international and multicenter observational research project, to understand the occurrence, risk factors, and outcomes of complications related to extubation after general anesthesia or critical illness. Extubation is a common but potentially risky procedure performed worldwide, with serious complications such as decreased oxygen delivery, cardiac arrest, brain damage, or death occurring in some cases. This study aims to fill gaps in knowledge due to limited and inconsistent past data, addressing the frequency and nature of these complications and adherence to best practices. The study observes adult patients undergoing extubation of an endotracheal tube in various settings including operating rooms, out-of-OR anesthesia locations, and intensive care units. It collects detailed data during the immediate period following extubation, focusing on complications occurring within 60 minutes and up to seven days after the procedure. No interventions or treatments are assigned instead, clinical practices and outcomes are monitored to identify risk factors and guideline adherence. Participants will be followed closely around the time of their extubation, with data collected on immediate and short-term complications such as severe hypoxemia, cardiac arrest, airway management needs, and reintubation. Researchers will evaluate complications, including airway injuries, cardiovascular events, and mortality until hospital discharge. The study involves careful documentation of clinical events and patient outcomes without altering standard care. Participants involvement duration will vary depending on their hospital stay and timing of extubation-related events.