Research
The ESAIC aims to advance patient outcomes and contribute to the progress of anaesthesiology and intensive care evidence-based practice through research. The ESAIC Clinical Trial Network (CTN), the Academic Contract Research Organisation (A-CRO), the Research Groups and Grants all contribute to the knowledge and clinical advances in the peri-operative setting.
The Society is participating in multiple EU projects that address different aspects of patient safety and perioperative care. These initiatives involve creating advanced digital tools to assist with decision-making systems in monitoring, predicting, and treating COVID-19 patients in intensive care units. Additionally, there are efforts to enhance patient safety in surgical care by introducing standardisation, harmonisation, and implementing continuous learning health systems across Europe. These research endeavours demonstrate the Society's continuous dedication to advancing the field of anaesthesia and critical care and enhancing patient outcomes.
Clinical Trial Network (CTN)
The ESAIC Clinical Trial Network (CTN) provides a collaborative infrastructure for institutions, clinicians, and researchers to conduct international, multicentre studies aimed at improving patient care in anaesthesiology, intensive care, perioperative, emergency, and pain medicine. Global experience has shown that such collaboration is key to addressing clinically relevant research questions.
SQUEEZE (2018): > 25k patients recruited
Manuscript writing ongoing
ARCTIC-I (2018): > 3k patients recruited
Statistical analysis and manuscript writing ongoing
MOPED (2020): > 6k patients recruited
Statistical analysis and manuscript writing ongoing
ENCORE (2020): > 5k patients recruited
Statistical analysis and manuscript writing ongoing
EuPreCHO (2020): newly selected CTN
Study documents final version validated – 94 centres registered
Sustain-Europe (2024): newly selected CTN
Study documents under development
Main paper published – BJA 2023-April-“Risk assessment for major adverse cardiovascular events after noncardiac surgery using self-reported functional capacity: international prospective cohort study”.
Sub Study published-Nov 2023-Jama Network Open: “NT-proBNP or Self-Reported Functional Capacity in Estimating Risk of Cardiovascular Events After Noncardiac Surgery”
Academic Clinical Research Organisation (A-CRO)
As the largest professional community of anaesthesiologists and intensive care physicians in Europe, ESAIC offers a strong research network and in-house expertise, making it an ideal academic CRO for international clinical studies. With access to over 500 hospitals and research partners worldwide, ESAIC delivers high-quality, timely research through its Clinical Trial Network and A-CRO services.
HES Studies
Following several years of activity, both HES trials concluded data collection in 2023. The 1-year follow-up was completed, all sites were closed, and the database was locked and cleaned.
IXION Trial (COVend Project, EU-funded)
In 2024, ESAIC continued to play a central role in the IXION trial:
- Enrolment was extended to 20 December 2024
- ESAIC oversaw full site management, including all site initiation visits, eCRF updates, and study document revisions
- These achievements further demonstrate ESAIC’s capacity to lead and support complex, multinational research that advances anaesthesia and intensive care.
Research Groups
The ESAIC Research Groups are specialised research teams conducting studies in areas such as peri-interventional mortality, ventilation strategies, renal outcomes, pain management, and ICU mechanical ventilation. Their goal is to improve patient outcomes and advance anaesthesiology and intensive care.
9 research groups were ongoing in 2024, 4 of which received some financial support.
Grants
In 2024, the ESAIC Grants supported researchers in conducting high-quality anaesthesia and intensive care studies that can improve clinical practice and patient outcomes, with 4 Grants and 1 CTN selected.
