PELICAN

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  ParacEtamoL overdose In Children: Acceptability of Non-Invasive testing

• IRAS ID

  262862

• Contact name

  Daniel Hawcutt

• Contact email

  d.hawcutt@liv.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 4 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  Suspected paracetamol poisoning is the most common drug overdose in the UK, and can occur in children and young people (CYP). For significant overdoses there is a need for immediate action as the damage to organs, such as the liver, is increased, and survival rates rapidly diminish, as the drug is metabolised.
  CYP present complications not seen in the adult population, it can be difficult to establish how much paracetamol has been taken and whether the amount taken could cause harm. The current treatment for suspected paracetamol overdoses involves blood test(s) which can be traumatic and painful for the CYP.
  This study aims to investigate the possibility of replacing blood tests with a convenient, non-invasive method that can measure paracetamol levels, to determine the risk of hepatotoxicity. The use of alternative methods to rapidly and accurately diagnose significant paracetamol toxicity is challenging, as the patient typically displays no symptoms in the critical initial 12-24 hours.

  Children suspected of having taken a paracetamol overdose would be given a device to wear whilst in the waiting area of the emergency department (ED), awaiting examination. The information gathered would then be reported back to the ED to help guide decision making regarding the early stages of care and the need for bloods to be measured. Once the device has collected the data and it has been reviewed by the clinical team it would be removed.
  To determine the view of all key stakeholders (children & young people [CYP], parents/guardians, healthcare professionals) on the acceptability of the use of a non- invasive device to screen CYP who may have taken too much paracetamol.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/WM/0158

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Jun 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion