Zac playing part in world-first research
WHEN Zach Hammond needs antibiotics he can’t just take a tablet like other children. Instead, he needs a metre-long tube to deliver the tratment straight to his heart.
Now thanks to a worldfirst trial funded by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the nine-year-old no longer needs to suffer through that process.
Zach has cystic fibrosis (CF) and regularly gets infections in his lungs, called pulmonary exacerbations.
They are traditionally treated by inserting a long, flexible tube through the veins in the arm straight to the heart to administer antibiotics.
The treatment, which has been vital at least five times in Zach’s short life, comes with severe pain and risks, including potential blood clots and infection.
The patient must also be under a general anaesthetic for the administration, which adds to the concerns given the chronic lung problems experienced by CF sufferers.
Zach’s mum, Heidi Basedow, said the new trial – which uses a shorter device called a mid-line – meant her son was conscious as it is inserted and carried less risk.
“When we heard about the trial Zach was happy to volunteer,” Ms Basedow said.
“We are lucky to have very good doctors and undertake a lot of studies to help CF patients in the future.”
Ms Basedow said the administration of the mid-line still needed to take place in an operating theatre but could be done quickly with just the use of numbing cream.
“It is all still really overwhelming for a little boy but he is so resilient and continually makes his Dad and I so proud,” she said.
“He takes everything in his stride and we know by him taking part in the trial he is helping other patients, and is preventing ongoing damage to his own veins.”
Dr Amanda Ullman, who is conducting the research at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital, said the mid-line also allowed some patients to be treated at home instead of having to wait in hospital for up to two weeks.
“It is a really important piece of the puzzle to help children live with their cystic fibrosis,” Dr Ullman said.
The hospital is looking for other volunteers with CF to take part in the study.
HE TAKES EVERYTHING IN HIS STRIDE AND WE KNOW BY HIM TAKING PART IN THE TRIAL HE IS HELPING OTHER PATIENTS