Critical care at its peak at The London Clinic
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Increasing survival rates for
critically ill patients is the inspiration behind The London
Clinic’s sponsorship of a thrilling new medical research programme:
Caudwell Xtreme Everest project.
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Researchers hope to increase their understanding of what happens
to patients fighting for their lives on intensive care units by
monitoring the reactions of 200 healthy volunteers to the extreme
conditions on the trek to Mount Everest. The project holds
particular significance for The London Clinic, which is this year
celebrating its 75th anniversary, as the hospital is home to one of
the busiest and best equipped Critical Care Units (CCU’s) in the
Capital.
Two experts from The London Clinic’s Critical Care Unit – Dr
Denny Levett and Dr Daniel Martin – will join other leading experts
as part of a 60 strong research team on the famous mountain. The
theory behind these investigations is that, in common with
intensive care patients, climbers ascending to high altitude
increase their risk of hypoxia (dangerously low levels of oxygen in
the blood).
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Dr Denny Levett, Critical Care Fellow at The
London Clinic’s Critical Care Unit and one of the key researchers
on the project, explains; “Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) are an
almost universal problem in critically ill patients on breathing
machines. However, it is difficult to study the effects of low
oxygen levels on their own in a hospital setting, such as The
London Clinic, as patients have so many other health problems
occurring at the same time. By studying healthy individuals
suffering from dramatically reduced levels of oxygen on the
expedition we hope to be able to improve the hospital care for
critically ill children and adults with hypoxia in the future.”
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Alongside its leading critical care experts, The London Clinic
has also offered all its staff the opportunity be involved in the
ground breaking research project it has chosen to support. Staff at
the hospital were invited to apply for one of four ‘golden places’
on the expedition. The Clinic’s team chosen to embark on this
adventure will travel in a group of 16 volunteers who will be
trekking daily for three weeks, and staying at Everest Base Camp
for three nights.
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Volunteers’ expedition diaries and the results of individual
medical tests will be essential to the end results of the
programme. The researchers will be particularly interested in
observing four main physical responses: the delivery and
utilisation of oxygen in the body, how blood flow to the brain
affects its ability to function, possible causes of illnesses
affecting the lungs at high altitude and the effectiveness of a new
portable breathing system designed for climbers.
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Dr John Goldstone, Clinical Director of The London Clinic’s
Critical Care Unit will be particularly eager to see the results of
the project research – expected in July 2007. Leading a team of
consultants, Dr Goldstone is responsible for ensuring the highest
standard of care for all cases admitted to the 24-hour Unit. The
fully accredited facility manages all types of seriously ill
patients, from those who require overnight care following surgery,
to the treatment and management of patients with multiple organ
failure. Results from The Intensive Care National Audit and
Research Centre show that outcomes following critical illness for
patients at The London Clinic are comparable to the best NHS
centres.
Dr Goldstone comments: “We are delighted to be playing such an
active role in the Caudwell Xtreme Everest project. We believe that
the data gained from the expedition will help to ensure that our
consultant-led CCU continues to provide the best care for patients
at their most vulnerable.
“Having a fully accredited and equipped Critical Care Unit on
site at The London Clinic provides great reassurance for our
patients and their families. As a charity, the Clinic is also
extremely fortunate to be able to re-invest all financial surplus
in the latest medical treatments and equipment to allow the best
care for our patients. As a result, we are able to offer the most
progressive advances in organ support on site – comparable to
excellent facilities at nearby NHS teaching hospitals - as well as
the highest calibre of consultants and one-to-one personal
care.”
Caudwell Xtreme Everest