Neurologic Physiology After Removal of Therapy (NeuPaRT)

Launched by LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OR LAWSON RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ST. JOSEPH'S · Mar 23, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The NeuPaRT clinical trial is studying how brain function changes when a patient is taken off life support and is expected to pass away in the intensive care unit. The goal is to find out how the stopping of brain activity compares to when the heart stops beating. Researchers will monitor the electrical activity in the brain to gather information that could help in understanding the process of dying.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and have a plan to withdraw life-sustaining treatments, with the expectation that they will pass away within 24 hours after this withdrawal. Additionally, they must have a special device called an arterial cannula in place to monitor blood pressure. It's important to note that patients who are already declared brain dead or have certain injuries that prevent brain monitoring cannot participate. If enrolled, participants can expect to have their brain activity monitored during this critical time, which could help improve the understanding of death and dying in medical settings.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age ≥ 18 years
• • 2. Plan for the withdrawal of life sustaining measures (WLSM)
• • 3. Attending physician anticipates patient will die within 24 hours of the withdrawal of life sustaining measures
• • 4. Patient has an indwelling arterial cannula for monitoring blood pressure
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Brain death or plan for Neurologic Determination of Death (NDD)
• • 2. Injuries that anatomically preclude the use of neurologic monitoring