Tag Archives: clinical research

Introduction During 2014, one of us (AK) had a four-month research placement in the academic foundation programme. The aim was to create and conduct a clinical trial in heart failure. Although the trial was successful, the success was only achieved through motivation, organisation, good communication and luck. Because of the hurdles now placed between investigator and study, planning between supervisor and trainee started over a year in advance to discuss the idea for the trial, draft the study protocol, and complete all the documents required. The full timeline of events from conception to completion spanned 336 days. The aim of this article

Introduction Vascular disease is a systemic disorder, with 50–60% of patients undergoing peripheral vascular procedures having co-existent severe coronary artery disease and only 10% having normal coronary arteries.1,2 It is unsurprising, therefore, that vascular surgery is associated with a substantial risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death.2,3 Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a contractile protein that is released into the circulation after myocardial cell injury. Unlike other cardiac-related enzymes, cTnI is not found in skeletal muscle and is therefore a highly sensitive and specific marker of myocardial necrosis,4,5 a