AAGBI/Anaesthesia Research Fellowship
The successful applicant for the AAGBI/Anaesthesia Research Fellowship was:
Principal Applicant
Dr Tonny Veenith
Anaesthetic Specialist Registrar, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Title
Mechanisms, spatial distribution and temporal pattern of energy failure following head injury
Amount
£143,419
Scientific Abstract
Head injury is an important cause of death in young adults, and survivors experience an enormous burden of physical and cognitive disability. Despite this, outcome has improved through therapy aimed at preventing and treating secondary ischaemic insults. However, energy failure may be due to mechanisms other than classical ischaemia, which may explain the failure of pharmacological neuroprotection. This study aims to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and temporal pattern of energy failure, and assess whether an increase in the fraction of inspired oxygen (hyperoxia) is beneficial. 25 subjects will undergo sequential MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and proton spectroscopy (1H MRS), with neurocognitive assessment and repeat imaging at 6 - 12 months post injury. A cohort of 20 subjects will undergo baseline imaging, and following stabilisation with an increase in the fraction of inspired oxygen this will be repeated. Sequential measurements of n-acetylaspartate, a mitochondrial metabolite, will address whether metabolic derangements are reversible and represent mitochondrial dysfunction, or irreversible and represent neuronal loss. The interventional study will assess whether an increase in the fraction of inspired oxygen can have a beneficial effect on regional energy metabolism. Such data may provide important advances in the development of successful neuroprotective therapies.
Click here to read a final report from Dr Veenith published in Anaesthesia News, March 2015.
