Active clinical trials for "Critical Illness"

Critically ill patients frequently undergo contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) to establish diagnoses and direct management. Contrast agents can disturb kidney function and result in kidney dysfunction. The investigators investigated the effects of high dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or placebo, in addition to hydration, in preventing kidney dysfunction following contrast enhanced CT) in critically ill adults in the intensive care units of two teaching hospitals.

This randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate whether a daily training session using a bedside cycle ergometer, started early in stable critically ill patients with an expected prolonged ICU stay, could induce a beneficial effect on exercise performance, quadriceps force and functional autonomy at ICU and hospital discharge compared to a standard physiotherapy program.

Critically ill patients are predisposed to oxyhaemoglobin desaturation during intubation. For the intubation of hypoxemic patients, preoxygenation using non invasive ventilation (NIV) is more effective at reducing arterial oxyhaemoglobin desaturation than standard method. Objectives: To find out whether NIV, as a preoxygenation method, is more effective at reducing the degree of organ dysfunction/failure than standard preoxygenation during the week following endotracheal intubation.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 3 different dosing regimens of enoxaparin in achieving adequate antithrombotic aFXa levels in critically ill patients. The relationship between appearance of DVT and antithrombotic aFXa levels will also be assessed and risk factors associated with inadequate aFXa levels under standard enoxaparin dosages will be searched for.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) (Fragmin, dalteparin) versus Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) on the primary outcome of proximal leg Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) diagnosed by compression ultrasound, and the secondary outcomes of Pulmonary Embolism (PE), bleeding, Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT), and objectively confirmed venous thrombosis at any site.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of in-line filtration shows any effect on the outcome of sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), thrombosis, or organ failure in critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

In the critically patient bed rest and immobilization are some of the responsable of the development of respiratory complications. Early physical exercise is a tool to prevent respiratory complications as lost of respiratory muscle strength, decrease in functional residual capacity and hypoxemia improving oxygenation. New technology as electrical impedance tomography (EIT) are available to visualize changes of regional lung aeration. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of early physical exercise improving alveolar recruitment and pulmonary ventilation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, evaluated with EIT. The ICU patients included at day of evaluation will be evaluated continuously with EIT in different positions. 1) in the supine position (at 30° of inclination), 2) Sitting in chair 3) Active physical exercise 4) And rest in chair after exercise

Early enteral feeding is a key component of the management of critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation. However, enteral feeding has been associated with serious complications such as gastro-esophageal reflux, with both overt and micro pulmonary aspiration, which potentially increases the risk to nosocomial pneumonia. Many critically ill patients experience poor tolerance of early enteral nutrition because of impaired gastric motility, which leads to a sequence of delayed gastric emptying, increased gastric volume, gastro esophageal reflux, vomiting, aspiration, and VAP. Early and adequate enteral feeding in ICU patients is correlated with decreased overall infections rates, ventilator and intensive care unit (ICU) days, costs, and mortality. This study is intended to assess the efficacy and safety of the E-Motion System (i.e. E-Motion tubeTM and E-Motion EPG 1000TM) in improving tolerance to enteral nutrition by inducing esophageal motion by means of electrical stimulation in ICU patients.

During weaning the work of breathing is transferred from the ventilator back to the patient. Approximately 40% of the time on ventilators is spent weaning. Studies support the use of screening protocols and tests of patient's ability to breathe spontaneously (SBTs) to identify weaning candidates. Once daily screening is the current standard of care. With respiratory therapists (RTs) in Canadian intensive care units (ICUs), a significant opportunity exists to screen patients more frequently, conduct more SBTs, and reduce the time spent on ventilators and in the ICU. The study is seeking to identify the optimal screening frequency to minimize patients' exposure to invasive ventilation. The RELEASE Trial will evaluate a simple a simple construct: more frequent screening will result In earlier identification of weaning candidates, more frequent SBT's, and less time spent on ventilators and in the ICU. More frequent screening is an appealing intervention because it is sensible, low risk, and represents a cost effective use of current resources. This simple intervention holds promise as a strategy that could change clinical practice, enhance the care delivered to critically ill adults, and improve clinically important outcomes.

To answer the question whether a non-invasive haemaglobin measurement is clinically useful, reliable and accurate as compared to taking a blood sample and checking the haemaglobin level at the laboratory or in a blood gas analyser. This study will take place in a multi-disciplinary ICU of critically ill patients.