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Organisation

Research Group Critical Care and Cerebral Resuscitation

Research Group

Main organisation:Research Council
Lifecycle:2 Feb 2011 →  Today
Organisation profile:

The research aims to unravel the mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect of mild hypothermia in animal models of global and focal cerebral ischemia, and to translate the experimental findings to the clinical approach of patients with global and focal cerebral ischemia. For the experimental work, a close collaboration exists with the stroke research unit within the EFAR research group (S. Sarre, R. Kooijman and Y. Michotte)

These experimental findings were translated to the clinical approach of patients with global cerebral ischemia (The European Hypothermia Network; The European Consortium of Resuscitative Hypothermia Research) as well as patients with focal cerebral ischemia (Therapeutic hypothermia to improve neurological outcome in ischemie stroke in IWT project 2006-2009).

This translation to clinical practice has been supported by a recent Society of Critical Care Medicine consensus about mild therapeutic hypothermia.

In the near future the focus will be on the search of young clinicians interested in an academie career supported by experimental and clinical research, as well as on the approach of the patient in the immediate post-resuscitation period (the post-resuscitation syndrome).

The potential therapeutic effect of hypothermia in other causes of cerebral injury (septic encephalopathy, hemorrhagic shock, post-traumatic brain injury, ... ) in adults and in children will also be further explored. In these conditions the potential effects of new ventilation modalities (Neuronally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist) will atso be studied.

Reduced length of stay in the ICU, lesser co-morbidities and complications, better quality of life and readaptation to the society of the patient, as well as better use of the financial resources are the obvious results. Also crucial, this research will lead to better education of critical care physicians and care givers, better cure and care and changing boundaries.

In this regard, some major topics of the group are:

1. Therapeutic hypothermia to improve neurological outcome in ischemie stroke in IWT project 2006-2007.

2. The European Hypothermia Network; The European Consortium of Resuscitative Hypothermia Research (EC-RHR) for the 7thFP

3. Transnasal cooling following cardiac arrest- feasibility - in hospital study

4. Transnasal cooling following cardiac arrest-CP 1012 prehospital study

5. Effect of mild hypothermia on uncontrolled haemorrhagic shock in rats

6. Effect of mild hypothermia on focal ischemia in rats

7. New mode of ventilation: Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist

Keywords:Neuroprotection, Hypothermia, Ischemic Cascades, Mechanisms of hypothermia
Disciplines:Other biological sciences