Clinical Research Directory

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted X-ray Interpretation on Radiologists' Diagnostic Performance

This study tests whether an artificial intelligence (AI) tool helps radiologists read X-rays more accurately. Radiologists read X-rays to find diseases such as pneumonia, bone fractures, and abdominal problems. AI is a computer program trained on many past X-rays. It may help radiologists spot diseases faster and more correctly. This study compares reading X-rays with the AI tool to reading X-rays without it. Who takes part * Ten radiologists from several hospitals. * X-ray images from about 300 to 500 past hospital visits. * No new X-rays are taken. * All names and ID numbers are removed from the images. What happens * Each radiologist reads the same set of X-rays twice. * One time, the radiologist reads without the AI tool. * The other time, the radiologist can see the AI result. * Half start with no AI and then switch to AI. The other half start with AI and then switch to no AI. * There is a four-week break between the two times. * The researchers measure how accurate each radiologist is. They also time how long each image takes. Possible benefits and risks * The radiologists may get no direct personal benefit. * The results may show whether AI can help doctors read X-rays better in the future. * This is a low-risk study. The AI tool never tells a patient a diagnosis directly. * A qualified radiologist always makes the final diagnosis. * Patient data is stored on a locked, encrypted server.

Lidocaine Infusions for Pain in Patients With Malignant Bowel Obstruction

Malignant bowel obstruction is a frequent complication of advanced cancer, particularly of abdominal and pelvic origin, and most affected patients experience pain. Opioids are the mainstay of analgesic treatment, but some patients have pain that does not respond adequately or cannot tolerate further opioid dose increases. Lidocaine infusions are sometimes used as an adjuvant pain treatment in this setting, but specific evidence is limited to case reports and small series. This retrospective cohort study will review the medical records of adults with cancer and malignant bowel obstruction who received lidocaine infusions for pain as part of routine palliative care at Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (Bogotá, Colombia) between 2015 and 2025. The study will describe patient characteristics and lidocaine regimens, and will evaluate changes in pain intensity and opioid requirements before and after the start of the infusion, the proportion of patients with a clinically meaningful pain reduction, adverse events, treatment discontinuation due to toxicity, and hospital outcomes. The investigators will not assign or modify any treatment.

Biological Mesh Versus Synthetic Mesh in Interdisciplinary RRP With SCP

The purpose of the pilot study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a biological mesh compared to a standard synthetic mesh for the planned procedure in the above-mentioned clinical picture. Subsequently, a multicentre, randomized intervention study is planned to confirm the results and evaluate the long-term outcomes.

SV and IVC Collapsibility Index to Predict Postinduction Hypotension

Postinduction hypotension (PIH) is a frequent complication during general anesthesia. This study aims to compare the predictive effectiveness and diagnostic accuracy of stroke volume (SV) measured via left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT-VTI) versus the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) using transthoracic echocardiography. The assessment will be conducted in adult patients with intestinal obstruction undergoing exploratory abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.

The Value of Bowel Sounds in Evaluating Postoperative Intestinal Function Recovery in Colorectal Cancer Patients

This study enrolls patients scheduled to undergo curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Bowel sounds will be assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. By comparing intraoperative variables, the incidence of perioperative complications, reoperation rates, and postoperative outcomes-including time to first flatus, resumption of oral intake, and occurrence of intestinal obstruction-this study aims to investigate the association between perioperative bowel sounds and postoperative recovery, and provide evidence-based support for the clinical application of bowel sound monitoring. Supplementary Definitions

Enhanced Recovery Versus Standard Care After Emergency Abdominal Surgery in Patients Requiring Emergency Laparotomy

This study aims to compare an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol with conventional postoperative care in adults undergoing emergency laparotomy for intestinal obstruction or intestinal perforation. The main question this study aims to answer is: • Does the ERAS protocol reduce surgical site infections compared with conventional care after emergency laparotomy? Researchers will also compare other recovery outcomes between the two groups, including length of hospital stay, occurrence of paralytic ileus (temporary loss of bowel function), time to first bowel movement, and time to start taking fluids by mouth after surgery. A total of 102 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive postoperative care according to the ERAS protocol, while the other group will receive conventional postoperative care. All participants will undergo emergency laparotomy using standard surgical and anesthetic techniques. Participants will: * Undergo emergency laparotomy for intestinal obstruction or intestinal perforation. * Receive either ERAS-based postoperative care or conventional postoperative care. * Be monitored during their hospital stay for recovery and postoperative complications. * Be assessed for bowel function recovery, ability to tolerate oral fluids, and length of hospital stay. * Be followed for 30 days after surgery to determine whether a surgical site infection develops. The researchers hypothesize that patients managed with the ERAS protocol will have a lower frequency of surgical site infections and improved postoperative recovery compared with those receiving conventional care.

The Influence of Feeding Source on the Gut Microbiome and Time to Full Feeds in Neonates With Congenital Gastrointestinal Pathologies

This study explores the use of an exclusive human milk diet versus standard feeding practices to compare the influence on feeding outcomes and the gut bacteria in infants with intestinal differences.

Pelvic Floor Peritoneal Closure to Prevent Postoperative Ileus in Mid-Low Rectal Cancer Surgery

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether closing the pelvic floor peritoneum during laparoscopic radical resection of mid-low rectal cancer can reduce the incidence of postoperative ileus. This study will also assess the impact of pelvic floor peritoneal closure on patient recovery and quality of life after surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can closing the pelvic floor peritoneum reduce the incidence of ileus within 30 days after surgery in patients with mid-low rectal cancer? 2. What is the impact of pelvic floor peritoneal closure on postoperative complications such as anastomotic leakage and pelvic infection? 3. How do the two surgical approaches differ in their effects on patients' postoperative anal function, urinary function, and quality of life? Researchers will compare two approaches after laparoscopic radical resection for rectal cancer: closing the pelvic floor peritoneum versus not closing it, to observe which method more effectively prevents postoperative ileus. Participants will: 1. Undergo laparoscopic radical resection with anus preservation for mid-low rectal cancer 2. Receive either pelvic floor peritoneal closure or non-closure treatment based on random assignment 3. Attend regular follow-up visits to evaluate intestinal function recovery and occurrence of complications 4. Complete quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 scale) at 6 months after surgery

Neonatal Intestinal Obstruction: Prenatal Factors and Postnatal Outcomes

Neonatal intestinal obstruction is one of the most common surgical emergencies in newborns. In some cases, signs of possible intestinal obstruction can already be detected during pregnancy through prenatal ultrasound. However, not all prenatal ultrasound findings accurately predict whether a newborn will truly have an intestinal obstruction after birth. The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to evaluate which prenatal ultrasound findings are most strongly associated with confirmed intestinal obstruction after birth. In particular, the study aims to identify a specific cutoff value for fetal bowel dilation that best predicts postnatal intestinal obstruction. Other prenatal ultrasound features, such as excess amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios), ascites, echogenic bowel, and other abdominal findings, will also be analyzed. The study will include newborns with a prenatal suspicion of intestinal obstruction who were evaluated at Meyer Children's Hospital between January 2016 and December 2024. Researchers will review existing medical records and ultrasound data. No additional tests or interventions will be performed for study purposes. The results of this study may help improve prenatal counseling, optimize delivery planning in specialized centers, and support early postnatal management of newborns at risk for intestinal obstruction.

Saudi Emergency Laparotomy Audit

The Saudi Emergency Laparotomy Audit (SELA) is a national, multicenter observational clinical audit designed to evaluate outcomes and quality of care for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy in Saudi Arabia. The audit will collect standardized data on patient characteristics, comorbidities, perioperative processes, and postoperative outcomes through a retrospective baseline phase followed by a prospective registry phase. SELA aims to establish national benchmarks, assess applicability of international risk models, support development of a Saudi-specific risk prediction tool, and drive quality improvement through systematic feedback and benchmarking across participating hospitals.

Intestinal Microbiota and Visceral Pain in Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Syndrome (CIPO)

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Syndrome (CIPO) is a rare gastrointestinal motility disorder. CIPO evolves through iterative flare-ups that can be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, psychological stress, or malnutrition. All of these factors are associated with dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota (IM). Many studies have associated visceral pain with dysbiosis of the IM, particularly in the context of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a painful pathology associated with transit disorders. The team in Dr. Cénac's laboratory has demonstrated the analgesic effect of a bacterial lipid produced by an intestinal bacterium in the context of IBS. The study hypothesize that CIPO patients have a taxonomic and functional dysbiosis of the IM responsible for hyperactivation of sensory neurons inducing visceral pain.