Critical Care Services
At Children's Medical CenterOpen Studies
Research studies are a crucial part of Critical Care Services at Children's. The current studies are:
1. An Investigation of the efficacy and safety of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in pediatric severe sepsis (2002- )
Investigators: Marita Thompson, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D., Peter Luckett, M.D., Maeve Sheehan, M.D.
2. Evidence based ICU design: A proposal for the study of nature in the PICU (2000- )
Investigators: Cindy Darnell, M.D., Darcy Durbin, M.D., Richard Chemelli, M.D., Louis Tassinary, PhD, Mardelle M. Shepley, PhD, John Herman, PhD, Chris Sinton, PhD, Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
3. Measuring parent satisfaction with nurse practitioners' care in a pediatric intensive care unit (2003- )
Investigators: Dorothy Foglia, RN, MS, Marita Thompson, M.D., Jennie Davis, RN, BS, Michelle Copeland, RN, MS, Judy Leflore, RN, MS, PhD
4. Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E and outcomes from traumatic brain injury (2001- )
Investigators: Steven Kernie, M.D., Samuel Lehman, M.D., Deborah Town, RN, Suzanne Bonifert, MS
5. Prospective study of an enteral methadone taper to prevent opioid withdrawal in fentanyl – tolerant pediatric patients (2002- )
Jennifer Thompson, M.D., Cindy Darnell, M.D., Paul Sheeran, M.D., Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Marita Thompson, M.D., Robin Brietzka, PharM.D., Debbie Thompson, RN, PNP
6. rBPI21 (Neuprex) in Children Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass (2003- )
Investigators: Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D., Deborah Town, RN
7. Serum S100b and neuron specific enolase in near-drowning patients (2000- )
Investigators: Marita Thompson, M.D., Pamela Okada, M.D., Geoffrey L. Allen, M.D., Gwendolyn Shang-Feaster, M.D., William B. Nelson, M.D., Ana Lia Graciano, M.D.
8. The effect of inflammatory processes upon clinical outcomes in postoperative Fontan patients (2003- )
Investigators: David S. Cooper, M.D., MPH, Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., James Thomas, M.D., Thomas Zellers, M.D., Claudio Ramaciotti, M.D., Matthew Lemler, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
9. The impact of concomitant ultra-low dose infusion Naloxone and therapeutic Infusion opioid on opioid requirements in pediatric ICU patients (2002- )
Investigators: Cindy Darnell, M.D., Paul Sheeran, M.D., Steven Kernie M.D., Jennifer Thompson, M.D., LaToya Dexter, PharM.D., Jaime Garza PharM.D., Gwendoline Shang-Feaster, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D.
10. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, parallel group study of intravenous Sildenafil in the treatment of children, aged 0 – 17 with pulmonary hypertension after corrective cardiac surgery (2003-)
Investigators: Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Reenu Eapen, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
11. Matrix metalloproteinases in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (2004- )
Investigators: Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Tia Tortoriello, M.D., Marita Thompson, M.D., Deborah Carlson, PhD, Monte Willis, M.D., PhD, Tracine Adame, RN
12. The role of matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, and their regulators in pediatric patients with acute inflammatory cardiomyopathy (2004-)
Investigators: Tia Tortoriello, M.D., Catherine Ikemba, M.D., Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Marita Thompson, M.D., Deborah Carlson, PhD, Monte Willis, M.D., PhD, Tracine Adame, RN
13. Pediatric IAC-CPR: A randomized, clinical trial (2004- )
Investigators: Daniel Stromberg, M.D., Tia Tortoriello, M.D., Jack F. Price, M.D., J. Hudson Allender, M.D., Minnette Son, M.D., Lonnie Roy PhD, Tracine Adame, RN
14. Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) patient registry (2001- )
Investigators: Donna Taylor, RRT, Marita Thompson, M.D.
15. NACHRI VPICU performance system (2003- )
Investigators: Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Debbie Tilghman
16. Characteristics of infants and children with ARDS, pneumonia, bronchiolitis and sepsis (2003- )
Investigators: Peter Luckett, M.D., Adrienne Randolph, M.D., MSc
17. Factors which influence pediatric intensive care unit nurses to leave their jobs (2004- )
Investigators: Dorothy Foglia, RN, MS, James Thomas, M.D.
18. Metabolic demands of pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury (2004- )
Investigators: Christine Allen, M.D., Robert Todd Maxson, M.D., Rae Boswell, MS, RD, LD, CNSD
Upcoming PICU Research Projects
1. Metabolic chemical monitoring through spectral chemometry with MEMS
Investigators: Tania Burns, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D.
2. Thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications on ECMO
Investigators: Marita Thompson, M.D., Donna Taylor RRT
Completed Critical Care Services Research
Utility of corticosteroid therapy in weaning from pediatric cardiac ECMO (2004)
Investigators: David Cooper, M.D., Zane Phiffer, RRT, Shirley Molitor-Kirsch, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D., Erica Molitor-Kirsch, M.D.
Prone positioning in pediatric acute lung injury (2002-2004)
Investigators: Shirley Molitor-Kirsch, RN, MS, PCCNP, Peter Luckett, M.D.
Sedative use around extubation and its influence on extubation failure (2003-2004)
Investigators: Peter Luckett, M.D.; Adrienne Randolph, M.D., MSc
Prospective randomized trial of fresh whole blood versus reconstituted blood for bypass circuit priming in congenital heart surgery (1999-2003)
Investigators: Steven S. Mou, M.D.; Brett P. Giroir, M.D.; Erica A. Molitor-Kirsch, M.D.; Steven R. Leonard, M.D.; Hisashi Nikaidoh, M.D.; Frank Nizzi, DO; Deborah A. Town, RN; Lonnie C. Roy, PhD; William Scott, M.D.; and Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor and high-mobility group-1 protein in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (2001-2003)
Investigators: Leslie Garner, M.D., Erica Molitor-Kirsch M.D., Gwendoline Shang-Feaster M.D., Daniel Stromberg M.D., Deborah Carlson PhD, Brett Giroir M.D.
External counterpulsation: first application to pediatric postoperative care (1999-2000)
Investigators: William Ma M.D., Matthew Lemler M.D., Hisashi Nikaidoh M.D., Steven Leonard M.D., Gwendoline Shang-Feaster M.D., Brett Giroir M.D., Daniel Stromberg M.D.
A dose response study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of intravenous amiodarone HCl (Cordarone I.V.) injection in pediatric patients 30 days to 16 years of age with critical arrhythmias (2001-2002)
Investigators: William Scott, M.D., Daniel Stromberg M.D.
Effects of vasodilators on left A-V valve regurgitation after A-V septal defect repair (2000-2002)
Investigators: Reenu Eapen, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D., Claudio Ramaciotti, M.D., Mathew Lemler, M.D.
A holistic, cross-cultural, and comparative study to evaluate the PICUs in the United States and Turkey (2001-2003)
Investigators: Hilal Ozcan (Ph.D. Student- Texas A&M, Dept of Architecture), Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
An open-label study of recombinant human activated protein C (rhAPC) in severe sepsis: A phase 3b clinical trial (2001-2002)
Investigators: Samuel M. Lehman, M.D., Jeanne Takano, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D., Peter Luckett, M.D., Geoffrey Allen, M.D.
A phase II dose ranging and safety trial of recombinant activated protein C in children with severe sepsis (2000-2001)
Investigators: Jeanne Takano, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D., Peter Luckett, M.D., Geoffrey Allen, M.D.
Weaning pediatric patients from mechanical ventilation: A comparison of two protocols - volume support versus pressure support (2000-2002)
Investigators: Peter Luckett, M.D., Eddie Minton, RRT, Tom George, RRT.
Cerebrospinal fluid glutamate level in patients with bacterial meningitis-predictor of seizures (1999-2002)
Investigators: William Ma, M.D., Gwendoline S. Feaster, M.D., Steve Kernie, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D.
NACHRI study of extubation failure in pediatric intensive care units (1999-2000)
Investigators: Jeanne Takano, M.D., Dorothy Foglia, MS, RN, Brad Dow, RRT, Ernie Escontrias, RRT
Comparison of intravenous terbutaline versus normal saline in pediatric patients on continous nebulized albuterol for status asthmaticus (2000-2001)
Investigators: Amanda Bogie, M.D., Robert Weibe, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D., Peter Luckett, M.D.
An interventional study to increase job satisfaction and decrease turnover in pediatric intensive care nurses (1999-2000)
Investigator: Dorothy Foglia, RN, MS
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of TriTAb in the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant toxicity
Investigators: Collin Goto, M.D., Nilufer Ozturk, M.D.
Inflammatory activation of cardiac tissue in children undergoing operative repair of congenital heart disease (NF-kB) (1999- 2000)
Investigators: Steven Mou, M.D., Steven Leonard, M.D., Hishashi Nikaidoh, M.D., Laurence Lequier,M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D.
The relation of leptin to TNFa and IL-1b in septic pediatric patients
Investigators: Joni Bokovoy, PhD,Gwendoline S. Feaster, M.D., Steve Kernie, M.D.
Correlation between muscle movement and peripheral nerve stimulation in pediatric ICU patients receiving neuromuscular blocking agents
Investigators: Olivia Peña, RN, Susan Prestjohn,RN, Frances Morriss, M.D.
Hypothermia in the management of increased intracranial pressure in acute pediatric head trauma
Investigator: Abhik Biswas, M.D.
Clinical trial of Biometrics cardiac output monitoring system (2000)
Investigators: Steven Leonard, M.D., Hishashi Nikaidoh, M.D., Daniel Stromberg, M.D.
Inhaled nitric oxide therapy in the treatment of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with and without diffuse alveolar disease: An open label trial to identify predictive factors in treatment success or failure
Investigator: Peter Luckett, M.D.
Cytokine response and postoperative course in infants and children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for correction of congenital heart disease
Investigators: Laurance Lequier, M.D., Steven Leonard, M.D., Hisashi Nikaidoh, M.D., Brett Giroir, M.D.
Weaning pediatric patients from mechanical ventilators: A comparison of two weaning protocols to standard practice (2000-2001)
Phase III randomized, placebo controlled multi-center trial to assess the safety and efficacy of rBPI-21 in the adjunctive treatment of pediatric patients with severe meningococcal disease
Investigators: Brett Giroir, M.D.
A Multicenter, Randmonized, Controlled Study of the Safety & Efficacy of Partial Liquid Ventilation (PLV) with AF0141 (Sterile Perflubron) in Children with Acute Parenchymal Lung Injury
Investigators: Luis Toro, M.D., John Sommerauer MD, Erica Kirsch, MD, Paul Sheeran, MD
PhaseI/II Trial of rBPI-21 in Children with Severe Meningococcemia
Investigators: Erica Kirsch, MD