Research and Innovation
Winter 2018
ventilatory support requirements and increased mortality in high risk groups. High risk groups have previously been identified as those over the age of 60, people with respiratory and cardiac problems and those with more than six rib fractures.
Collaborating with King’s College, London, The Emergency Department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital has been selected as one of the Trauma Units from the Thames Valley network to participate in the RIOS trial. The aim of this study is to examine the health related quality of life in patients who have had a blunt thoracic trauma for six-months after discharge. Patients are asked to complete health related quality of life questionnaires, pain questionnaires and complete an interview about the experience. Blunt Thoracic Injury (BTI), involving multiple rib fractures, is common in both Major Trauma Centres and Emergency departments throughout the UK. BTI is characterised by injury that does not involve opening of the chest wall and therefore severity of injury can vary from minor bruising to significant injury that compromises the rib cage structure. BTI accounts for more than 15% (approximately 5,550 patients) of UK trauma admissions and is consistently associated with high levels of respiratory related complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and pulmonary embolism.
The aim of this study is to explore and investigate the recovery of patients with rib fractures after blunt chest trauma. The results will add to our knowledge of the recovery process after rib fractures and inform the management guidance for future patients with similar injuries. The results will be used to improve the treatments available.
Further information contact the team below: Principal Investigator: Dr Abhishek Banerji Research Nurse: Katarina Manso Email: katarina.manso@nhs.net Telephone: 01296 315832
BTI is painful and debilitating but it remains unknown what proportions of the population report chronic pain after rehabilitation from injury. In a recent UK study, early complications resulted in increased length of hospital stay, increased avoidable admissions to intensive care, increased
CEO Award for Leadership Winner – Denise Watson Denise Watson leads our Research and Innovation team (R & I), and was recently acknowledged as being an inspirational Leader at our Trust Staff awards ceremony, where she received the 2018 CEO Award for Leadership. The research team has undergone some restructuring to provide an integrated way of working across the Trust, which has proved successful for both practitioners and patients. The R and I team, were also found to be the happiest and most positively engaged team in the entire BHT Trust according to our most recent staff survey, which was recognised as a ‘phenomenal achievement in such a demanding environment and when compared to 101 other teams.’ Denise enjoys planning future projects and is currently working with universities to build joint R&I strategies to increase opportunities for R&I countywide. This will provide more opportunities for patients and the wider public to be involved in research and participate in trials of new treatments and medications. For further information about research opportunities at Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust please contact the Research and Innovation Department at Stoke Mandeville hospital on 01296 316065 or see the website at www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/research You can also follow us on facebook or Twitter @BHTResearch