The Effect of Vitamin C, Thiamine and Hydrocortisone on Clinical Course and Outcome in Patients...
SepsisSeptic Shock2 moreThe global burden of sepsis is substantial with an estimated 15 to 19 million cases per year; the vast majority of these cases occur in low income countries. New therapeutic approaches to sepsis are desperately required; considering the global burden of sepsis these interventions should be effective, cheap, safe and readily available. The aim is to study the synergistic effect of vitamin C, hydrocortisone and thiamine on survival in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
Evaluation of Hydrocortisone, Vitamin C and Thiamine for the Treatment of Septic Shock
Septic ShockCritical IllnessDespite recent medical advances, sepsis and septic shock remain a major cause of death. Sepsis is a syndrome with a wide array of physiologic, pathologic, and biochemical abnormalities. Several studies have shown vitamin C have decreased the circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.Thiamine had favorable effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and cellular hypoxia.The use of hydrocortisone in combination with vitamin C will increase the transport of vitamin C into the cells; since the pro inflammatory cytokines have shown to decrease the expression of the sodium-vitamin C transporter-2 (SVCT2) while glucocorticoids increase the SVCT2 expression. A recent small retrospective study , showed a significant decrease in mortality when patients with severe sepsis and septic shock are treated with a combination of Hydrocortisone, Vitamin C, and Thiamine. Conducting a similar study with a prospective randomized design will give clinicians all over the world more answers and will help clinicians to provide better care to millions of patients using highly safe therapeutic regimen. The objective of the current study is to explore the clinical benefits of using a combination of hydrocortisone, vitamin C, and thiamine (triple therapy) for the management of septic shock. To achieve this objective, we will compare two alternative treatment strategies, either triple therapy or usual care in patients with septic shock. First aim: To assess the effectiveness of the triple therapy for septic shock Second aim: To assess the safety of triple therapy
Resuscitation With Plasma in Surgical and Trauma Patients With Septic Shock
Septic ShockThere is a knowledge gap regarding the optimal initial fluid to achieve effective resuscitation and improved outcomes in septic shock. The purpose of this study is to compare initial resuscitation with plasma to initial resuscitation with balanced crystalloids.
Impella CP With VA ECMO for Cardiogenic Shock
Cardiogenic ShockVeno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is indicated as a haemodynamic rescue strategy in decompensated acute or chronic heart failure presenting as cardiogenic shock. It has been used across aeitologies including post-myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, acute myocarditis and in post-cardiotomy shock. VA ECMO has a number of effects on the circulation including improved end-organ perfusion and possibly improved coronary perfusion, and is a bridge to further therapies including permanent advanced mechanical circulatory support, cardiac transplantation and to cardiac recovery. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) provide long-term mechanical circulatory support and also profoundly mechanically unload the left ventricle. Multiple clinical studies have documented cardiac recovery using LVAD therapy, with a rate between 10-60% in selected populations. A large body of basic science has documented the pivotal role of mechanical load in determining ventricular contractile performance across species. Therefore both clinical data and basic laboratory studies support the notion that profound ventricular unloading may result in improved cardiac performance through a variety of mechanisms ranging from triggered de novo cardiomyocyte proliferation, subcellular calcium handling reverse remodeling, changes to the extracellular matrix of the heart, reverse remodeling of the neurohormal milleu, amongst many others. One of the major deficiencies of peripheral VA-ECMO is its lack of left ventricular unloading, with associated pulmonary congestion, which can derail clinical improvement and hamper cardiac recovery. Indeed, percutaneous VA-ECMO increases LV afterload due to the retrograde blood flow, and because of the lack of venting, there may be progressive LV distension. These conditions can result in a congested, pressure-overloaded ventricle, even in the absence of echocardiographic ventricular distension. This may be ameliorated with the addition of ventricular mechanical unloading using percutaneous therapies including the percutaneous left ventricular device, Impella CP. On the platform of VA-ECMO, the addition of an Impella device to reduce ventricular loading results in improved survival and recovery of ventricular performance in the setting of cardiogenic shock. In a number of small studies, the use of additional means to unload the ventricle, principally Impella, results in cardiac recovery and less ventricular distension. In chronic heart failure, direct ventricular unloading is critical to cardiac recovery. The objective of this randomized study is to determine whether the addition of early direct ventricular unloading using Impella CP leads to higher rates of cardiac recovery, defined as survival free from mechanical circulatory support, heart transplantation or inotropic support at thirty days. This study will also examine the clinical, biochemical, echocardiographic and radiologic effects of VA ECMO with and without the addition of Impella CP to directly vent the left ventricle to address adjunct important questions such as the effects on pulmonary congestion.
Evaluation of the Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Phenylephrine Response During Refractory Septic Shock...
Septic ShockVasopressor ResistanceSeptic shock is common in patients admitted to intensive care and hospital mortality occurs in close to 50% of these patients. In half of the cases, death occurs within the first 72 hours in a context of multiple organ failure that does not respond to conventional therapies, particularly circulatory therapies, despite increasing doses of catecholamines. Vasopressor resistance in septic patients defines refractory septic shock. In one study (Conrad et al. 2015), the increase in blood pressure observed with an infusion of increasing doses of phenylephrine (dose-response curve) made it possible to quickly and clearly identify patients resistant to vasopressors at a high risk of death by refractory shock (ROC AUC 0.92). This resistance is due in particular to a downregulation of α1 adrenergic receptors, linked to sympathetic hyper activation associated with septic shock. To date, there is no validated therapy in this situation. However, experimental data have shown that the administration of α2 agonists, usually used for their sedative (dexmedetomidine) or anti-hypertensive (clonidine) effect, normalizes sympathetic activity towards basal values. In animals, α2 agonists restore the sensitivity of alpha1 adrenergic receptors, resulting in improved vasopressor sensitivity and survival. In humans, a beneficial effect on mortality was suggested in the first trial testing dexmedetomidine in septic patients in 2017. This effect was observed especially in the most severe patients, suggesting a restoration of sensitivity to vasopressors. The hypothesis is that the administration of dexmedetomidine in patients in refractory septic shock may improve response to phenylephrine and decrease resistance to vasopressors. This pilot study could lay the foundation for a randomized controlled trial.
Hemodynamic and Inflammatory Effects of Abrupt Versus Tapered Corticosteroid Discontinuation in...
Septic ShockThe proposed study will evaluate the potential benefit of a tapered course of hydrocortisone compared to abrupt cessation in patients initiated on hydrocortisone for septic shock. The study will include adult patients in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) who meet criteria for corticosteroid therapy for septic shock according to the current MICU protocol.All patients will receive 7 days of hydrocortisone (50mg/Q6hrs) as part of the routine management of septic shock, before being randomly assigned to receive hydrocortisone taper versus no taper. The primary study endpoint is the incidence of hypotension within 7 days after randomization. Secondary endpoints will include incidence of adrenal insufficiency, and changes in the inflammatory status (assessed by cytokine measurements) before, during, and after corticosteroid discontinuation. The cytokines to be measured include IL-1, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, and TNF. Since there has not been a randomized clinical trial to investigate the potential benefit of weaning septic patients off low-dose hydrocortisone as opposed to stopping abruptly, this study has potential to change clinical practice by leading to a consistent approach of corticosteroid discontinuation and to a better understanding of their impact on the inflammatory modulation in septic shock.
A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Nitric Oxide Reduction in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock...
ShockCardiogenicTilarginine Acetate Injection is a new type of drug that temporarily stops the body from making a bodily substance called nitric oxide. The body may produce excess nitric oxide following severe heart damage leading to shock. During a heart attack, and especially after a blocked artery causing the heart attack is reopened, a large amount of nitric oxide is released into the heart muscle and into the blood. Normally small amounts of nitric oxide are good for the heart and blood vessels. However, when released in large amounts, such as during a heart attack, it may be harmful, by adding to the damage of the heart attack and lowering the heart's ability to pump blood to the body. It may cause blood pressure to be lowered and reduce the amount of blood flow to the body's vital organs. This may interfere with the body's organs being able to do their work. If Tilarginine Acetate Injection can stop extra nitric oxide from being made, the performance of the heart and blood flow to the organs may get better, which may result in the improvement of symptoms. The purpose of this study (TRIUMPH) is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of Tilarginine Acetate Injection compared to placebo (an inactive fluid that has no effect on the body but looks exactly like the medication being studied). The study will help determine whether Tilarginine Acetate Injection, by temporarily lowering the amount of nitric oxide released into the vital organs can improve blood pressure and the blood flow to the body's organs.
Heparin Anticoagulation in Septic Shock
Septic ShockVasodilatory ShockThis study is a pragmatic open-label international randomized trial comparing therapeutic dose intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) to standard care venous thromboprophylaxis in patients diagnosed with septic shock.
Vasculopathic Injury and Plasma as Endothelial Rescue in Septic Shock Trial. VIPER-Sepsis (EudraCT...
Septic ShockEfficacy and safety of octaplasLG® administration vs. crystalloids (standard) in patients with septic shock - a randomized, controlled, open-label investigator-initiated pilot trial.
Use of Amiodarone in Atrial Fibrillation Associated With Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock
New Onset Atrial FibrillationSevere Sepsis1 morePurpose/Objectives: Severe sepsis and septic shock are a common cause of new onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) in the intensive care unit. Development of NOAF in this setting can prolong length of stay and increase mortality. Amiodarone is the most commonly used agent used in this setting to control rate and rhythm. However, limited data exist detailing appropriate dosing in this setting. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate two amiodarone dosing strategies, a full loading dose versus a partial loading dose, in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) due to severe sepsis or septic shock to assess the mean heart rate every 6 hours after initiation of amiodarone infusion to day 7 or death. Research Design/Plan: Consecutive patients admitted to the medical or cardiac intensive care unit at University Hospital with NOAF in the setting of severe sepsis or septic shock will be screened for study inclusion. Data will be collected and stored using Microsoft Excel or Access and analyzed with JMP 12.0 and SPSS. Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older who develop new-onset atrial fibrillation in the setting of severe sepsis or septic shock and in whom the medical team deems appropriate to initiate amiodarone therapy in will be considered for study inclusion. Patients will receive intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) amiodarone, as per the standard of care. Patients will be randomized to a certain quantitative loading dose strategy; either a full loading dose (≥ 5g IV or ≥10g PO +/- 20%) or a partial loading dose (<4g IV or < 8g PO). Clinical Relevance: With intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS) and mortality being twice as high in NOAF with sepsis as compared to septic patients without NOAF, the investigators ultimately aim to identify a management strategy that may minimize this morbidity and mortality while also minimizing exposure to a drug that may cause serious adverse effects.