Clinical trials accolade for RPH researcher

Practice-changing research, led by Royal Perth Hospital’s (RPH) Director of Research in the Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Professor Tomás Corcoran, has been honoured with a major clinical trial accolade.

The Perioperative Administration of Dexamethasone and Infection (PADDI) trial was presented with the 2022 Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) Award for Excellence in Trial Statistics.

A panel of senior statisticians who assessed the award contenders, described the PADDI trial as having demonstrated “exemplary statistical aspects” from trial design and planning, through to analysis, reporting and interpretation.

The trial was conducted to determine whether dexamethasone – a steroid commonly given to patients undergoing surgery to prevent nausea and vomiting – increased the risk of wound-site infection in those patients.

Even though more than half of patients who undergo surgery are at risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), the immunosuppressive effects of dexamethasone made many anaesthetists reluctant to use it.

PADDI, however, found that while the steroid was effective in preventing PONV, it did not increase the risk of infection at the wound site and could therefore be given safely to patients, including diabetics.

Results of the National Health and Medical Research Council-funded trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May last year.

Almost 9000 patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery in 55 hospitals across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa took part in the PADDI trial.

Tomás described receiving the award as an honour and said it underscored that WA punched well above its weight in delivering high-quality trials.

“These trials are incredibly important in ensuring that we deliver the best care to our patients,” he said.

“In order for this type of Information to be published in top medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the study design and the analysis of the data are critical.

“These two components of the trial were recognised with this award."

Tomás is pictured, above right, with PADDI collaborator Professor Andrew Forbes who is based at Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and was lead statistician on the trial.