EQuIS Research



Development and Study of Care Pathways in Surgery



Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Guideline Development in Term Neonates





ERAS adopts evidence based practices by integrating perioperative interventions for optimal patient recovery following a surgical procedure. ERAS protocols are innovative tools differing from other evidence-based guidelines as they encompass all aspects of a patient’s care and are used by a multidisciplinary care team. The holistic approach of ERAS protocols has been shown to positively affect health outcomes for a multitude of specialties, decreasing complications and length of stay (LOS) in hospital, translating to a reduction in health care costs.


This study aims to introduce ERAS into the pediatric surgical setting, specifically focusing on abdominal surgeries in neonatal patients



Audit of implant-associated infections at the Alberta Children’s Hospital





At any given time, one in ten Canadian patients presents with a healthcare-associated infection (HAI), which translates into more than 260,000 infections every year and over 10,000 deaths. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common and costly nosocomial infection, accounting for 38% of total HAIs and contributing 33.7% (CAD$600 million) to the overall economic burden of HAIs. Invasive devices such as catheters and implanted foreign bodies (e.g. orthopaedic hardware, cerebrospinal fluid shunts, gastrostomy tubes and cochlear implants) represent recognized risk factors for the development of SSIs. Infection of surgical implants carry severe adverse consequences to the patient, including increased pain, recurrent surgeries, prolonged or repeated hospitalizations, and sometimes permanent disability or death.


This project gathers retrospective data on a broad spectrum of surgical specialties within ACH to determine baseline infection rates. The information will serve as a starting point for the development of updated and novel care pathways for the prevention of surgical infections.



The Safety and Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Bleeding Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review of the Literature





Trauma is the leading cause of death among children aged 1-18. Studies indicate that better control of bleeding could potentially prevent 10-20% of trauma-related deaths. The antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid (TxA) has shown promise in hemorrhage control in adult trauma patients. However, information on the potential benefits of TxA in children remains sparse. Through this systematic review we propose to evaluate the current uses, benefits and adverse effects of TxA in the bleeding pediatric trauma population.​


back to research