Active clinical trials for "Critical Illness"

Malnutrition is a frequent problem in critically ill patients that is associated with detrimental clinical outcomes. To provide adequate nutritional support, current studies focused mostly on the choice of delivery timing, formula selection and the route of administration, little attention was paid to malnutrition related to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). In fact, malnutrition is also a major consequence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and pancreatic damage is commonly observed in critically ill patients without prior pancreatic diseases. Hence, EPI associated malnutrition should be concerned due to the high prevalence of pancreatic damage in critically ill patients. The aims of this study is to evaluate the incidence of EPI in critically ill adult patients and explore its potential risk factors. Moreover, the efficacy of pancreatic enzyme supplementation therapy on malnutrition in ICU patients with specific clinical characteristics will be investigated.

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationships between sedative exposure during pediatric critical illness and long-term neurocognitive outcomes. We will test for drug- and dose-dependent relationships between sedative exposure and neurocognitive outcomes along the early developmental spectrum and will control for baseline and environmental factors, as well as the severity and course of illness. Hypotheses: Greater exposure to benzodiazepines and/or ketamine will be associated with lower IQ even when controlling for severity of illness, hospital course, and baseline factors. In addition, benzodiazepines and/or ketamine will negatively affect other aspects of neurocognitive function. Younger children exposed to benzodiazepines and/or ketamine will have worse neurocognitive outcomes than older children with similar sedative exposure and severity of illness.

In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved procalcitonin in conjunction with other laboratory markers to aid in the risk assessment of critically ill patients with severe infection (sepsis). Although considerable literature exists regarding the usefulness of Procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker of sepsis, there are still potential uses for PCT measurements that are not yet explored and its value among the critically ill patients remains unclear. This study seeks to better understand the usefulness of measuring PCT values in patients admitted to the Medical ICU for a variety of reasons and in particular with severe infection (sepsis).

This proposed investigation will test the following hypotheses: 1) Enzymatic activity of CYP2B6 characterized by the formation clearance of methadone to EDDP (CLf,EDDP), is directly related to both gestational and postnatal age; 2) variations in the CYP2B6 gene (SNPs) are associated with variable activity of the CYP2B6 enzyme (as measured by the formation clearance, CLf,EDDP), and 3) the elimination rate of methadone and its major metabolite EDDP in neonates is dependent on the glomerular filtration rate and therefore on the stage of development (defined by both gestational and postnatal age). The investigators propose to develop a PK model for methadone dosing in neonates that takes into account both developmental stage and genetic variability. The long-term goal of the proposed investigations is to improve dosing of methadone in neonates exposed to opioids in utero or post-natally, leading to improved control of their withdrawal syndrome and decreased adverse drug reactions associated with the current use of methadone in these vulnerable patients. More immediately, the investigators will develop a PK model for methadone dosing based on relevant developmental and genetic characteristics. The acquired knowledge based on the proposed study will lead to a more efficacious treatment of pain or opiate withdrawal syndrome in newborn infants with a decreased chance of adverse drug reactions.

The study observed the 28 days mortality of 9 participated University base surgical intensive care unit (SICU) as well as the occurrence of adverse events in SICU.

One in five deaths in the U.S. occurs in or shortly after discharge from an intensive care unit (ICU), typically following decisions made by surrogate decision makers to forego life prolonging treatment. A large body of empirical research has identified deficiencies in care processes that contribute to three important problems: 1) family members often experience poor quality communication with ICU clinicians, leading to lasting psychological distress associated with the ICU experience; 2) patients near the end of life frequently receive invasive, expensive treatment that is inconsistent with their values and preferences, and 3) end-of-life care is a major contributor to health care costs.[8, 9] Although advance care planning can prevent some unwanted treatment, many patients wish for a trial of intensive treatment when the prognosis is uncertain, and therefore it seems likely that the need for interventions to improve "in-the-moment" decisions by surrogates will persist.[10, 11] In a pilot project, the investigators developed the PARTNER intervention (PAiring Re-engineered ICU Teams with Nurse-driven Emotional Support and Relationship-building), an interdisciplinary intervention that 1) gives new responsibilities and advanced communication skills training to existing ICU staff (local nurse leaders and social work members of the ICU team); 2) changes care "defaults" to ensure frequent clinician-family meetings; and 3) adds protocolized, nurse-administered coaching and emotional support of surrogates before and during clinician-family meetings. The objective of this proposal is to conduct a stepped wedge randomized controlled trial testing the PARTNER intervention in 5 ICUs among 1000 patients with advanced critical illness and their surrogates.

Comparison of ICG liver testing with copeptin and SAPS II score as prognostic markers in critically ill patients.

This is a single-center, randomized control trial of a code status video as an educational tool in the intensive care unit. Subjects are stratified by patient or surrogate and are randomized to either watch an educational video on code status or not watch the video. They are then asked knowledge base questions regarding code status as well as questions pertaining to comfort regarding code status. Participants randomized to watch the video are also asked questions related to acceptance of the video.

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether administration of aminoglycosides in septic critically ill patient is a risk factor for acute kidney injury

Critically ill patients are frequently transfused with red blood cell (RBC) units with the predominant intention to increase arterial oxygen content and thus oxygen delivery to the tissues. To date, RBC transfusions have been proven effective in patients with profound anaemia or circulatory shock. However, the impact of the storage process and the so-called storage lesion on oxygen-carrying properties and, hence, the efficacy of RBC transfusion regarding tissue oxygenation are much debated at present. Alterations of RBC physiology have been comprehensively described ex vivo. Reduced deformability, increased adhesiveness and aggregability of stored RBC impair their rheological properties; anaerobic cellular metabolism with reduced contents of 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) increases oxygen affinity and impairs oxygen release to the tissues. This study aims to monitor the effect RBC transfusion has on the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) of critically ill patients. rSO2 will be measured indirectly, using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) . Patients will be monitored once it looms that they might require RBC transfusion. The monitoring is continued for the time of transfusion and the hours afterwards.