The BREATHE study—encompassing a national survey, systematic review, and a future multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT)—focuses on in-OR extubation (removal of the breathing tube) and its potential to reduce complications, including death, after cardiac surgery (open heart surgery). Current practice for cardiac surgery patients involves keeping them intubated (keeping the breathing tube in and on a ventilator) for a few hours in an ICU setting following surgery. However, several large retrospective studies and a few small RCTs suggest that earlier extubation in the OR, immediately after cardiac surgery, is safe and may have significant benefits for patient outcomes.
Researchers want to engage a patient research partner early in the project. This partner will contribute to shaping the priorities of the systematic review and the subsequent development of the multicenter RCT. By involving patients, they aim to ensure that the research questions, outcomes, and processes reflect what is important to the patients we, as clinician-researchers, serve.
Eligibility
- An adult patient who had undergone open heart surgery within the last one to five years
- Is willing to engage with the clinician research team (in person or via video call) as a research partner
- Is willing to discuss and share their lived experience of having undergone open heart surgery
- Is willing to discuss and share their lived experience of being intubated and ventilated (having a breathing tube and being on a breathing machine) after open heart surgery
- Is willing to contribute to this research as a patient research partner
Time commitment
For the systematic review: Total of 10 – 12 hours over 6 months
For the Randomized Controlled Trial (RTC): Total of 20 – 24 hours over 12 months
Appreciation
Compensation will be offered.