Insel Gruppe Ag, University Hospital Bern

This study compares two minimally invasive procedures to treat a common heart rhythm problem called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. About 210 adults who have not had this treatment before will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard cryoballoon method or a newer pulse…

This study tests a new approach for men whose prostate cancer comes back after surgery to remove the prostate. It combines a short course of hormone therapy (6 months) with highly focused radiation given in just 5 sessions. The goal is to see if this treatment can control the can…

This study compares a new leadless pacemaker (Micra AV) to a traditional pacemaker with wires in 100 patients aged 70 and older who need a pacemaker for heart block. The goal is to see if the leadless device works as well for exercise capacity. Both devices help control heart rhy…

This study tests if adding extra ablation to the standard procedure helps people with persistent atrial fibrillation (a long-lasting irregular heartbeat) stay in normal rhythm. About 206 adults will be randomly assigned to receive either standard pulmonary vein isolation or that …

This study compares how doctors assess tissue stiffness using their hands (palpation) versus ultrasound. About 40 medical professionals and students will test both methods on artificial models. The goal is to see which technique is more accurate and reliable, and whether practice…

This study looks at how bacteria from the gut might travel to other parts of the body during abdominal surgery and cause wound infections. About 209 adults having planned abdominal surgery will provide skin, gut, blood, and tissue samples. Researchers will use DNA sequencing to t…

This study looks at how blood flow to the urethra relates to bladder pressure in people with and without stress urinary incontinence. Researchers will use advanced ultrasound imaging to measure blood supply and compare it to standard pressure tests. The goal is to better understa…

This study watches 120 adults having planned abdominal surgery to see how their gut bacteria change during the operation. Researchers collect samples from the gut, blood, and lymph nodes to check if these bacteria move to other parts of the body and cause surgical site infections…

This study aims to find out if changes in the body's chemistry after surgery can predict complications, especially surgical site infections. Researchers will analyze blood, urine, and stool samples from over 1200 surgery patients. The goal is to develop a biological test that hel…

This study tests a simple computer alert that reminds doctors to re-evaluate antibiotics after 72 hours (or 24 hours for prevention). The goal is to see if this reminder reduces how much and how broad-spectrum antibiotics are used in hospital wards. About 58 hospital units will g…

This study tests two emergency techniques for placing a breathing tube in infants when standard methods fail. Using a realistic rabbit model with simulated bleeding, 30 pediatric specialists will try both a surgical cut-down method and a needle-guided method. The goal is to see w…

This study looks at 4,500 people with pacemakers or similar heart devices to find out who is most likely to develop a condition where the heart weakens over time. Researchers will use routine medical and device data to create a risk score that helps doctors choose the best pacing…

This study looks at how a common heart valve procedure (TAVI) changes the gut microbiome in older adults with aortic stenosis. Researchers will collect blood and stool samples before and three months after TAVI to measure bacterial byproducts and identify which bacteria are prese…