Observing brain blood flow changes in neurosurgical patients

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study aims to longitudinally observe changes in brain blood flow among neurosurgical patients, comparing those who undergo surgical interventions with those receiving conservative treatment, as well as a healthy cohort. It will evaluate the relationship between hemodynamic patterns and structural brain tissue changes over time. The study seeks to identify novel imaging biomarkers that could enhance understanding of brain blood flow dynamics in relation to neurosurgical conditions.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion criteria

Patients:

* Male and Female subjects \>18 years of age
* Written informed consent after participants' information. Foreign speaking patients should be accompanied by a person with sufficient German language proficiency to act as a translator
* Neurosurgical diseases with the potential to alter blood flow to the brain:

  * Cerebrovascular disease
  * Brain tumors
  * Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Healthy subjects:

* Male and Female subjects \>18 years of age
* Written Informed Consent by the participant after information about the project. Foreign speaking healthy subjects should be accompanied by a person with sufficient German language proficiency to act as a translator

Exclusion criteria:

Patients:

* Unwilling or unable to co-operate with breathing maneuvers
* Respiratory or cardiac limitations to breathing through a mask
* Medical contra-indications to limited hypercapnia (high CO2 - 50 mmHg) or hypocapnia (low CO2 - 30 mmHg) (i.e., known increased intracerebral pressure, metabolic acidosis or alkalosis)
* Standard contraindications for MRI scanning
* Verbal confirmed pregnancy
* Known multiple intracranial diseases
* Presence of intracranial hemorrhage within the last 3 months
* Symptomatic increased intracranial pressure

Healthy subjects:

* Unwilling or unable to co-operate with breathing maneuvers
* Respiratory or cardiac limitations to breathing through a mask
* Medical contra-indications to limited hypercapnia (high CO2 - 50 mmHg) or hypocapnia (low CO2 - 30 mmHg) (i.e., known increased intracerebral pressure, metabolic acidosis or alkalosis)
* Standard contraindications for MRI scanning
* Verbal confirmed pregnancy
* Anamnesticly a history of neurological disease or current neurological deficits.

Where it's running

• University Hospital Zurich
  Zurich, Switzerland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Jorn Fierstra, MD, PhD
• Email: jorn.fierstra@usz.ch
• Phone: 0041 442553169

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.