Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Prognostic Factors in Critically Ill Patients Admitted After Caustic Ingestion in France

This study, called DATACAUSTIC, is looking back at records of adults in France who were very sick and needed intensive care after swallowing strong chemicals. These chemicals, known as caustic agents, can cause serious harm. The researchers want to find out what things (like the type of chemical, how quickly treatment was given, or other health problems) might lead to better or worse outcomes for these patients. Because these cases are rare at any single hospital, this study combines information from many hospitals across France. The goal is to understand what helps people survive and recover in the long term, and to better predict who might have more problems, like needing surgery or developing other health issues, up to a year after the incident.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation

Enrolment target

100

Start

15 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2027

Poisoning

What is this study about?

This study is called DATACAUSTIC and it's looking into a serious medical emergency: when an adult swallows a strong chemical, known as a "caustic agent." This can be very dangerous and sometimes requires a stay in intensive care right away. While it doesn't happen very often, doctors want to understand more about these cases because they can lead to severe health problems or even death.

The main idea behind this study is to look at information from many different hospitals in France. Because each hospital only sees a few of these cases, combining all the information helps researchers get a clearer picture. They are looking back at patient records from 2014 to 2024 to find out what factors might affect how well a patient recovers. This could include things like the type of chemical swallowed, how quickly they received medical help, and what treatments they had.

Ultimately, the researchers hope to identify patterns or "prognostic factors" that can help doctors better understand what might happen to future patients. This will allow them to give more accurate information to patients and their families, and perhaps even improve how these very sick patients are cared for.

Key takeaways

The study reviews past medical records of adults who were very sick after swallowing harsh chemicals.
It aims to find out what factors affect recovery and survival over a year.
Data from many French hospitals is being combined to get a clearer picture.
This research helps doctors better understand the long-term effects of such injuries.
It may lead to improved care for future patients.
No new treatments are being tested, and it involves no direct patient interaction.

Who may be eligible?

To be included in this study, patients must have been 18 years old or older at the time they were admitted to a critical care unit. They also needed to have been admitted within 72 hours (that's three days) of swallowing a caustic chemical. Importantly, patients or their families must not have said they didn't want their information used in the study.

Patients would not be included if they didn't want to take part in the research. Also, if they swallowed a caustic chemical but weren't sick enough to need critical care, they wouldn't be part of this particular study, as the focus is on the most severe cases.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you an adult (18 or older) when you were admitted?
Were you admitted to intensive care within 3 days of swallowing a chemical?
Did you, or your family, agree for your medical information to be used for research?
Were you admitted for swallowing a harsh chemical?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is a 'retrospective observational study,' which means researchers are looking back at existing medical records. If you were a patient involved in this type of situation, you wouldn't need to do anything extra. There would be no visits, assessments, or medications specifically for the study. Researchers would simply gather information that was already collected during your hospital stay and follow-up care. Your participation would involve allowing your de-identified health information to be included in the study to help researchers understand more about this condition.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only involves looking at existing, anonymous patient records, there are no direct physical risks to patients. The benefit is that the findings could help doctors better understand and treat future patients who have swallowed caustic chemicals. Your personal information will be kept confidential, and you always have the right to have your data removed from the study if you change your mind, although this is usually done at the hospital level.

Locations (1)

Hopital Saint louis
Verified postcode
Paris, France

Common questions

What is a 'caustic ingestion'?

It means accidentally or intentionally swallowing a strong chemical that can burn or damage your body inside, like drain cleaner.

Why is this study important if it's just looking at old records?

By looking at many past cases, researchers can find patterns and factors that doctors might not see when treating individual patients, helping to improve future care.

Will my personal details be shared?

No, your personal details will be kept private. The study uses anonymous information, meaning doctors won't know whose records they are looking at.

What does 'critical care' mean?

Critical care, also known as intensive care, is for patients who are very seriously ill and need constant monitoring and life support if necessary.

Is this study offering new treatments?

No, this study is about understanding past cases to learn more about the condition, not about testing new treatments.

How to find out more

Benjamin Deniau, MD

benjdeniau@gmail.com 0142494949 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.