Denver Health conducts research to help severely injured patients

August 27, 2024

Investigators at the Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health are conducting a study to determine if calcium, vasopressin, or both early in the course of treatment will help severely injured patients who have lost a substantial amount of blood survive.

The CAlcium and VAsopressin following Injury Early Resuscitation (CAVALIER) trial will include approximately 1,050 people aged 18 to 90 across the country. Patients who have severe injury with loss of substantial blood may be enrolled by participating emergency medical personnel during their transportation to the hospital or by trauma surgeons after arrival to DH.

CAVALIER is an Exception from Informed Consent (EFIC) trial, meaning that, the trial requires performing a potentially life-saving intervention in people who are too severely injured to give permission. This study investigates early treatment for patients who have a severe injury and have lost a substantial amount of blood. These patients are too severely injured to give permission before receiving the study drugs. Permission for continued participation will be obtained from patients once they are able, or from their family members, as soon as possible.

“As a Learning Health System, Denver Health uses research to influence and improve the care we give to our patients,” said Ernest Moore, MD, Director of Surgery Research at the Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center. “Researchers nationally think that providing two commonly used products earlier in trauma care improve chances of survival. We believe that this research could save lives.”

This research is supported by the United States Department of Defense contract W81XWH-16-D-0024 W81XWH-22-F-0118. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

For more information about CAVALIER or to complete an anonymous survey on your thoughts about this EFIC study, please go to www.litesnetwork.org/CAVALIER.

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Denver Health is a comprehensive health and hospital system that provides high-quality care and proudly serves as the city’s safety net hospital. For more than 160 years, Denver Health has been guided by its mission to serve the people of Denver, to educate the next generation of health care professionals and to engage in research and community partnerships to better deliver the health care needs of our patients while strengthening our community.