Active clinical trials for "Critical Illness"

The purpose of this study is to determine the benefit of feeding critically-ill patients beyond the stomach (post-pyloric). Furthermore, because of the advent of two new post-pyloric feeding tubes (Tiger 2 and Syncro BlueTube) designed to improve post-pyloric placement, the investigators will be evaluating the benefits of those two tubes as well.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of different sedatives affect the weaning process from mechanical ventilation in intensive care patients.

This protocol will test a new non-invasive device, the T-line, in continuously determining heart rate and blood pressure in operative and critically ill patients. The accuracy of the device will be compared to the standard radial artery catheter, as well as to the non-invasive blood pressure cuff. The T-line will also be compared to the right heart catheter determining cardiac output in at least 20 patients. Hypothesis: the T-line device will determine blood pressure and heart rate as accurately as a standard radial arterial catheter and a blood pressure cuff in perioperative patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether early neuromuscular electrical stimulation is effective in the prevention of neuromuscular weakness in critical ill patients.

This is a prospective randomized controlled trial. 180 patients with critical illness will be included and randomly divided into two groups. In the control group, patients will be fed with basic energy; and in the experiment group, the patients will be given extra protein intake except the basic energy intake. The intervention duration will last 6 days. The primary outcomes of this study are urea nitrogen of 24h and prealbumin(PA). And other outcomes include nutritional status, safety indicators and clinical indicators.

The hypothesis is that the music therapy intervention has a positive impact on the critical patients' mood as it has a reassuring effect that allows a connection with emotions, helps to communicate and affects the welfare of patients. It also reduces pain and the consumption of painkillers and sedatives, as well as vasoactive drugs in critical patients.

Physical restraints (PR) are widely used in ICU around the world. Many institutions have suggested that the use of PR should be reduced. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are a convenient way of packaging evidence and presenting recommendations to healthcare decision makers. There are currently no CPGs on PR in China, while other countries had, so we hope to be able to adapt existing guidelines to apply in Chinese context. We use the CAN-IMPLEMENT approach to adapt and implement the guidelines.

This is a single center, pilot, randomized, single-blind, usual care controlled, pragmatic clinical trial of a post-ICU palliative care consultation intervention in older (age ≥50 years) survivors of acute respiratory failure. Aim 1: To conduct a pilot post-ICU palliative care consultation intervention trial among frail older ICU survivors and their surrogates. Hypothesis:The Investigators can achieve an adequate enrollment rate, protocol adherence, and intervention fidelity. Aim 2: To estimate effect sizes and variability for changes in symptoms at hospital discharge and 1 month, and to estimate hospice referral rates and acute-care readmission rates at 1 and 3 months. Hypothesis: Effect sizes and feasibility data will inform and support future post-ICU palliative care studies focused on improving ICU survivorship. Exploratory Aim. To assess the use of methylphenidate that is recommended and dosed by the palliative care physician for the treatment of moderate-to-severe fatigue. Hypothesis: (1) Not all patients with moderate-to-severe fatigue will be recommended for methylphenidate therapy. (2) Patients prescribed methylphenidate for treatment of moderate-to-severe fatigue after critical illness will adhere to methylphenidate therapy.

Lack of sleep is a large problem for many patients in hospitals. Common causes are nuisances by light and sound. Especially with critically ill patients in the Intensive Care unit (ICU), Medium Care Unit (MCU) and Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), who are are monitored intensively, a lack of sleep often occurs. Patients with a lack of sleep more offer suffer from delirium, are more often anxious and stressed, and have a longer length of stay in the hospital. Also, patients' lack of sleep enhances nurses workloads during nightshifts. Because of this, there is a strong need for innovative devices which aim to limit the light and sound nuisances and thereby enhance patients' quality of sleep in the ICU, MC and CCU. The Maya is a special "cover" which can be placed over the head of the bed. As a result patients are able to limit light and sound nuisances and enhance their privacy. With this pilot-study we aim to determine: The feasibility and experiences of patients and healthcare professionals with the Maya. To determine the effect size of dependent variables which can be used in future studies.

Hypothesis: Fluid management guided by LiDCO doesn´t increase cumulative fluid balance and shorten organ dysfunction compared to fluid management based on CVP and clinical judgment.