Active clinical trials for "Critical Illness"

Background: Central venous catheter (CVC) insertion is a very common procedure in the intensive care setting. A recent international guidelines advocated the use of ultrasound for routine internal jugular CVC insertion. The needle navigation technology is a new innovation, also known as guided positioning system (GPS) which allows clinician to visualize the needle position and trajectory in real time as it approaches the target. We hypothesised that the use of GPS would increase success rate and decrease performance time in vascular access procedures. Objectives: To compare the success, efficacy and safety of the procedure using the ultrasound guidance (UG) with conventional versus GPS method. Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study in a single centre - intensive care unit. 100 patients were randomized into two groups (50 each each). Subjects would receive CVC insertion via internal jugular vein using ultrasound guidance out of plane approach by conventional versus GPS method. Outcomes measured were the procedure efficacy, safety, level of operators' experience and their satisfaction.

Observational studies among patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) have shown an association with fluid accumulation and increased mortality. Trials among other subgroups of critically ill patients have demonstrated that restricting fluid input after the initial resuscitation appears safe. The objective if this study is to determine whether a fluid restrictive treatment regimen will lead to a lower cumulative fluid balance at 72 hours from randomization in critically ill patients with AKI and whether this approach is safe and feasible.

To compare between the impact of echocardiography guided fluid resuscitation and clinically guided fluid resuscitation on critically ill patients in hospital outcome.

Aim of this study is (1) to test and further develop a new non-invasive ultrasound method, and (2) to gain new insight into microcirculatory alterations during critical disease, particularly in critical septic shock patients. Although early identification and treatment of sepsis have had top priority among the working tasks of the international 'Surviving Sepsis Campaign' society (collaboration of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine) for several years, which have led to improved survival over the last two decades, there is no objective validated diagnostic test to identify or to support the clinical diagnosis at an early stage. Analogous, there is no validated monitoring system available to guide and evaluate the effects of stabilizing measurements in sepsis, or other critical disease, at the microcirculatory level. And thus, there is an enormous knowledge gap regarding dynamic changes at the microcirculatory level during sepsis and other critical disease. Goal with this study is to investigate the robustness of this new US-technology, regarding its ability to identify and monitor critical microcirculatory impairment during critical disease. The investigators believe this technology may improve early diagnosis and thus early initiation of adequate treatment in septic shock. Its mobile and non-invasive qualities, as in most ultrasound methods, substantiate its availability to a wide range of clinical settings.

Vitamin D has been shown to impact prognosis in a variety of retrospective and randomized clinical trials within an intensive care unit (ICU) environment. Despite these findings, there have been no studies examining the impact of hypovitaminosis D in specialized neurocritical care units (NCCU). Given the often significant differences in the management of patients in NCCU and more generalized intensive care units there is a need for further inquiries into the impact of low vitamin D levels in this specific environment. This study proposes a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single center evaluation of vitamin D supplementation in the emergent NCCU patient population. The primary outcome will involve length-of-stay for emergent neurocritical care patients. Various secondary outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, ICU length-of-stay, Glasgow Outcome Score on discharge, complications and quality-of-life metrics. Patients will be followed for 6 months post-discharge.

Most ICU patients develop a positive fluid balance, mainly during the two first weeks of their stay. The causes are multifactorial: a reduced urine output subsequent to shock state, positive pressure mechanical ventilation, acute renal failure, post-operative period of major surgical procedures, and simultaneous fluid loading to maintain volemia and acceptable arterial pressure. Additionally, the efficacy of fluid loading is frequently suboptimal, in relation to severe hypoalbuminemia and inflammatory capillary leakage. This results usually in a cumulated positive fluid balance of more than 10 litres at the end of the first week of stay. A high number of studies have showed that such a positive fluid balance was an independent factor of worse prognosis in selected populations of ICU patients: acute renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis, post-operative of high risk surgery. However, little is known about the putative causal role of positive fluid balance by itself on outcome. However, in two randomized controlled studies in patients with ARDS, a strategy of fluid balance control has been demonstrated to reduce time under mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay with no noticeable adverse effects. Although avoiding fluid overload is now recommended in ARDS management, there is no evidence that this approach would be beneficial in a more general population of ICU patients (i.e. with sepsis, acute renal failure, mechanical ventilation). In addition, fluid restriction -mainly if applied early could be deleterious in reducing both tissue oxygen delivery and perfusion pressure. There is a place for a prospective study comparing a "conventional" attitude based on liberal fluid management throughout the ICU stay with a restrictive approach aiming at controlling fluid balance, at least as soon as the patient circulatory status is stabilized. The latter approach would use a simple algorithm using fluid restriction and diuretics based on daily weighing, a common procedure in the ICU, probably more reliable than cumulative measurement of fluid movements in patients whose limits have been underlined.

Anticoagulation is required to prevent clotting in the extracorporeal circuit during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Regional citrate anticoagulation has many advantages regarding bleeding risk and filter survival. However, in clinical practice, its use worldwide has been limited by cumbersome protocols . In order to establish a simple scheme for universal application. In Aug 2015, the investigators have adopted a new protocol using a fixed citrate concentration in the filter of about 4 mmol/L (called fixed group for short) instead of conventional adjusted citrate doses according to postfilter ionized calcium levels of less than 0.4mmol/l (adjusted group), and speculated the abilities on efficacy and safety as well as convenience.

The inflammatory storm in critically ill patients releases cytokines, causing systemic immune damage, which may be an important cause of multiple organ failure and even death. Inflammatory storms exacerbate the deterioration of the disease in those children. Gamma globulin may be an effective option to control inflammatory storms. However, this preliminary result needs to be verified from reliable and representative RCTs. In our study, we conducted a retrospective study on the use of gamma globulin and an unused control group. At present, the indications of IVIG are mainly focused on the neuromuscular system and the blood system. We hope to establish a more appropriate and operable evaluation table for the suitability of gamma globulin for clinical use.

Feasibility trial investigating robotic assisted early mobilization vs. early mobilization in critically ill patients.

Study hypothesis: High-dose vitamin D leads to a shorter hospital stay in critically ill patients Vitamin D deficient patients will be randomized to receive either 540,000 IU cholecalciferol or placebo.