SURGERY

This study looks at whether a structured nutrition plan can help ICU patients recover better after abdominal surgery. The plan includes tube feeding, oral supplements, and a device to measure exact calorie needs. About 300 adults in the ICU will take part, and their nutrition and…

This study compares two drugs, mannitol and nitroglycerin, given during robotic prostate or bladder cancer surgery to see if they can prevent acute kidney injury. The surgery uses gas to inflate the belly, which can reduce blood flow to the kidneys. The trial includes 90 adults w…

This study tests whether the drug lorlatinib can shrink tumors in people with a specific type of stage III lung cancer (ALK-positive) before they have surgery. About 48 adults will take lorlatinib for a set time, then doctors will check if the tumor is gone or much smaller. The g…

This study looks at how well Induce XT, a bone graft material, works in people having foot or ankle fusion surgery. The graft fills gaps where bone is missing to help the bones heal together. Sixty participants will be followed for a year with X-rays, CT scans, and pain surveys t…

This study tests a simple, low-cost method to reduce heart damage during non-cardiac surgery in high-risk patients. Before surgery, a blood-pressure cuff is inflated on the upper arm for 5 minutes, then deflated for 5 minutes, repeated a few times. The goal is to see if this brie…

This study compares two surgical procedures for people with severe, long-term constipation that hasn't improved with other treatments. One surgery removes the entire colon and connects the small intestine to the rectum; the other removes only part of the colon and connects the re…

This study tests two surgical methods to treat peri-implantitis, an infection around dental implants. About 52 adults will receive either a bone graft alone or a bone graft covered with a collagen membrane. The goal is to see which approach better controls the infection and helps…

This study tests a new surgical technique called taTME for rectal cancer, where doctors remove the tumor from the bottom up using a scope through the anus. It aims to improve surgical quality and reduce complications compared to standard laparoscopic or robotic methods. The study…

This study compares two weight-loss surgeries for people with severe obesity (BMI over 45). It looks at how much weight is lost, how health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure improve, and the risk of side effects like malnutrition. The goal is to find which surgery is…

This study tests whether a special air cleaning system (ActivePure) in operating rooms can lower the risk of serious surgical site infections, complications, and death within 30 days after surgery. Over 66,000 adults having surgery lasting at least one hour are included. The goal…

This study tests whether a low-cost, colorful walkway (like a game mat) can help children aged 4-10 feel less pain and fear when they first get up after abdominal surgery. The walkway is meant to distract kids and make moving feel more like play. Researchers will measure pain, fe…

This study tests whether listening to music before or during hernia repair surgery can lower pain and reduce the need for strong painkillers afterward. About 308 adults having hernia surgery at one center will take part. Researchers will compare pain scores and narcotic use betwe…

This study tests whether using a bedside lung ultrasound during robotic prostate or bladder surgery helps doctors set the ventilator more precisely to prevent lung collapse and overinflation. About 88 adults with mild or no lung disease will be randomly assigned to standard care …

This study aimed to see if having a parent appear on a screen during anesthesia induction could reduce children's anxiety as effectively as the sedative midazolam. It planned to enroll children aged 4-8 undergoing outpatient surgery. However, the study was withdrawn before any pa…

This study tests a simple bedside exercise program called BE-FIT for older adults (65+) after surgery. The goal is to get patients out of bed and moving earlier to prevent muscle loss, falls, and longer hospital stays. About 2,180 participants will either follow the exercise plan…

This study looks at whether letting children aged 4 to 6 listen to their favorite music when they first get up after abdominal surgery can lower their pain and fear. Half of the 74 children will hear music, while the other half gets usual care. Researchers will measure pain and f…

This study examines why Black children often report more pain after tonsil removal than White children. Researchers will analyze blood samples from 84 children aged 4-17 to find chemical differences that might explain this disparity. The goal is to better understand the biology b…

This pilot study tests whether allowing slightly lower blood pressure after heart surgery (permissive hypotension) is safe and can reduce the need for blood-pressure-raising drugs and shorten ICU stays. Researchers will compare this approach to usual care in 80 adults having elec…

This study was designed to see if a 4-day low-protein, low-calorie diet before elective vein bypass surgery is practical for patients to follow at home. It also aimed to measure changes in the body's stress and healing signals. The study was withdrawn before enrolling any partici…

This study looks at two ways to train surgeons to have better conversations with older patients about surgery. The goal is to help patients understand the risks, benefits, and what to expect so they can make informed choices. About 60 surgeons and 660 patients will take part to s…

This study looks at how two types of weight-loss surgery affect bone density and strength in teenagers and young adults aged 13-21. Researchers will compare bone changes in those who have surgery to those who do not. The goal is to understand if these surgeries pose risks to grow…

This study looks at how the opioid remifentanil affects pain sensitivity in 40 adults before surgery. Researchers will measure pain threshold using a pressure device at different drug levels. The goal is to better understand pain control and potentially improve anesthesia practic…

This study looks at whether a program of computer brain games and supervised physical exercise, done before and after major surgery, can help older adults (60+) avoid problems with thinking and physical disability. 250 participants will be randomly assigned to either the active p…

This study aimed to see if the amount of air set on a breathing machine during children's surgery matches what actually reaches the lungs. Researchers planned to place a small sensor on the breathing tube to compare the set volume with the measured airflow. The study was withdraw…

This study tests a non-invasive sticker sensor (surface EMG) to measure how well nerve blocks work during surgery in children and young adults up to age 21. The sensor records muscle electrical activity before, during, and after surgery. The goal is to learn how to give nerve blo…

This study looks at how being in the intensive care unit (ICU) after heart surgery disrupts patients' natural sleep-wake cycles. Researchers will track sleep patterns and thinking skills in 15 adults who own an Apple smartphone. The goal is to understand how hospital routines aff…

This study planned to compare two common anesthetics, desflurane and isoflurane, to see which one helps adults wake up faster and leave the hospital sooner after surgery. It was designed for adults having general anesthesia at the Cleveland Clinic. However, the study was withdraw…

This study compares two ways to monitor muscle relaxation during robotic or laparoscopic surgery: electromyography (EMG) and acceleromyography (AMG). The goal is to see which method leads to using less muscle relaxant medication. About 400 adults having planned keyhole surgery wi…

This study looks at how a device called TetraGraph can help doctors measure muscle relaxation in children during surgery. The device tracks electrical signals in the muscles to guide the amount of rocuronium, a medicine that keeps muscles still. The goal is to find the best dose …

This study takes tissue that would normally be thrown away after surgery and uses it to grow cells in the lab. The goal is to develop better ways to study and repair human tissues. Up to 1,000 people having surgery at Wake Forest may donate their discarded tissue for this researc…

This study watches 166 teens (ages 10-18) having knee surgery to see if their sleep quality before the operation changes how much pain and pain medicine they need afterward. Researchers will ask about sleep habits and track painkiller use for two weeks using a smart pill bottle. …

This study looks at how a special clinic helps older adults get ready for major abdominal surgery. Researchers will watch and talk to doctors, staff, and patients to understand what works well and what could be better. The goal is to create a clear plan that other hospitals can u…

This study tests a small sensor placed under the skin after reconstructive flap surgery to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. If blood flow is blocked, CO2 rises quickly, alerting doctors to check and treat the problem early. About 160 adults having flap surgery will take part,…