Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care

Trauma/Critical Care Research

Research, vitally important to improve management of the injured, is emphasized in the Division of Trauma/Critical Care.  Fellows are expected to conduct clinical and/or basic science research during their training. Research opportunities include ongoing projects in advanced and new/innovative modes of mechanical ventilation, multiple clinical drug trials, pre-hospital projects, and use of ultrasound and laparoscopy in the care of the trauma patient. A computerized trauma registry and a well-staffed medical library are also available for use. The fellow is further encouraged to pursue individual research interests. Assistance in these research projects is provided by personnel in the Division’s Section of Trauma/Critical Care Surgery Research.

Current Projects

1. Management of post-traumatic retained hemothorax. A prospective, observational, multicenter, AAST study.
2. Calfactant therapy for direct acute respiratory distress syndrome & direct acute lung injury in adults and children.
3. A prospective randomized double-blind double dummy multicenter study to assess the safety and efficacy or doripenem compared with imipenem in the treatment of subjects with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
4. A prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BAY 41-6551 as adjunctive therapy in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients with gram-negative pneumonia.
5. Office of Naval Research: Closed loop SpO2/FIO2 controller.
6. National Space Biomedical Research Initiative (NSBRI): Evaluation of oxygen concentrators at altitude.
7. USAF Henry Jackson Foundation: Effects of transport on patients with traumatic brain injury.
8. US Army (DARPA): Evaluation of oxygen delivery using a ventilator and an oxygen concentrator.
9. Oxygen consumption of portable ventilators.

Completed Projects 2008

• Barnes SA, Branson RD, Beck G, Johannigman JA.  En-route care in the air: A snapshot of mechanical ventilation at 37,000 feet.  J Trauma 2008;64:S129-S135.
• Johannigman JA, Branson RD, Beck G, Lacroy D. Oxygen Conservation with autonomous control of inspired oxygen concentration in ventilated trauma patients.  J Trauma 2008; (In Press
• Johannigman JA, Barnes SA, Muskat P, Davis K, Beck G, Branson RD.  Autonomous control of  oxygenation.  J Trauma. 2008 Apr;64(4 Suppl):S295-301.
• Johannigman JA, Barnes SA, Muskat P, Davis K, Branson RD.  Autonomous control of ventilation.  J Trauma. 2008 Apr;64(4 Suppl):S302-20.
• Rodriquez D, Branson RD, Barnes SA, Johannigman JA.  Evaluation of battery life of the LTV-1000 external lithium ion batter under varying loads.  Military Medicine 2008;
• Johannigman JA, Branson RD, Barnes SL, Muskat P, Beck G.  Closed loop control of oxygenation and ventilation.  International Journal of Gravitational Physiology 2007;14:P35-38.
• Rodriquez D, Branson RD, Dorlac W, Dorlac G, Barnes S, Johannigman JA.  The effects of altitude on ventilator performance.  J Trauma (In press)