Clinical Research

Clinical Research in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

The Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital and LAU Medical Center St John Hospital is one of the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine’s most active community of researchers, with a large volume of previous and ongoing research studies. Current studies encompass a very wide range of topics spanning from outpatient pulmonary epidemiological studies and sampling of the Lebanese population, young Lebanese adults smoking habits, to inpatient pulmonary diseases and management of the critically ill population in the Intensive Care Unit.

In addition to carrying out many principal-investigator-initiated studies, Pulmonary and Critical Care researchers are actively engaged in multidisciplinary projects with specialists from other departments and divisions. They have an ongoing Randomized Controlled Trial in the Intensive Care Unit, and have secured grants for several of their ongoing trials.

Areas of Current Active Research

Prediction of deterioration and ICU need in patients with COVID19 Infection

It is important during disasters and pandemics to have tools to predict which patients are at highest risk of deterioration and who will eventually need intensive care. Researchers at the LAU pulmonary and critical care divisions are comparing the accuracy of different COVID severity scores in predicting the severity of the infection and Intensive care need in the Lebanese population.

Use of Vasopressors through Peripheral Intravenous (IV) lines

The use of Vasopressors for patients is a common and lifesaving practice in the Intensive Care Unit. Historically, all patients on Vasopressors underwent placement of a Central line Catheter, and Vasopressors were only infused through central lines. More recently, some studies showed that infusing these medications through peripheral IV lines is safe in certain conditions. The researchers at the LAUMCRH Critical Care Department are further investigating these conditions and evaluating the types of IVs to use and the doses of Vasopressors that can be safely infused without the need for central line insertion.

Prevalence and Side effects of Vaping and Heated Tobacco products in the 18 to 25 years old Lebanese population

In this study, researchers from the Pulmonary Department look to depict the effects of Vaping and Heated Tobacco Products (such as IQOS) on the young Lebanese population, through a survey sent to Lebanese community in the 18 to 25 age range.

Effects of resuming B Blockers in patients with sepsis

In this interventional trial, researchers from the critical care team will evaluate the effect of withwholding or resuming one blood pressure and heart medication class (Beta Blockers) in patients with severe infection after stabilization

Characteristics of Lebanese patients with Legionella infection

Legionnaire’s disease is a lung infection which can cause severe and sometimes fatal disease. While this is now a well described infectious process, little is known about the characteristics of Lebanese patients with Legionella infection. Researchers from the Pulmonary and Critical Care department are describing a case-series of patients with Legionella infection treated at LAUMCRH, allowing Lebanese physicians to more accurately diagnose this disease in our population.

Effect of remote COVID19 infection on the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

Multiple lung diseases can increase the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications. The effect of  a remote COVID 19 infection on complications after surgery is not known yet. Researchers from the pulmonary, anesthesiology and surgery departments are following patients after their surgery to study the effects of Covid 19 infection on the outcomes and the risk of pulmonary complications.

Projects in Development

Prevalence of COPD and PRISM in the Lebanese Population

The use of Tobacco Products is highly prevalent in the Lebanese Population, and the incidence of tobacco-associated diseases is increasing dramatically. Among these diseases, lung diseases such as COPD have a high health and socio-economic impact. More recently, PRISM has been discussed as a potential precursor in COPD in some cases. Investigators at the LAU departments of Pulmonary Medicine and Epidemiology have put together a project to perform Spirometry on approximately 1800 Lebanese men and women by visiting 100 Villages throughout Lebanon over the next 2 years, to assess the prevalence of COPD and PRISM in the Lebanese population. This project has been put together and has been submitted for funding through the LAU President Intramural Research Fund grant.

Effect of the Beirut Port Blast on obstructive lung disease

The Beirut Port Blast was one of the most cataclysmic non-war related events in modern history. Our research team will research if this event triggered an increase in Obstructive Lung disease (Asthma and COPD) exacerbations in the Achrafieh region.

Research Partners and Collaborators

Extended Research Team in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division

Collaborators through LAU Research Clusters

School of Medicine Post-doctoral Research Fellows