Clinical Research Directory

Fentanyl Versus Hydromorphone in Patients on Mechanical Ventilation

Patients with respiratory failure who require mechanical ventilation are not only at risk of death, but also of complications of prolonged ICU stay. Patients may have significant functional decline, impact in quality of life, develop psychiatric disorders and at long-term can lead to significant cost to society. Although sedation and analgesia are considered only supportive therapy, several studies have shown that in patients on mechanical ventilation, different approaches can have significant impact on patient centered outcomes. However, to date, randomized clinical trials on critically ill patients have mostly evaluated the sedative agent but not the analgesic agent. Although morphine and its derivates are the most common used opioid analgesic agents in the critical care setting, only some retrospective studies and some prospective studies compared them head-to-head (ramifentanyl versus morphine and fentanyl versus morphine). Current guidelines recommend choosing the analgesic agent based on pharmacokinectics, physician experience and side-effects profile. To evaluate the differences of two standard-of-care analgosedation agents, the FenHydro trial will be a cluster randomized, pragmatic, pilot and feasibility superiority clinical trial in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. The main question the study hopes to answer is whether there is any difference in morphine milligram equivalents administered during mechanical ventilation.

Mechanical Ventilator Adjustments and Patient Dyspnea

In the past 5 years, there are increasing data suggesting that patients treated with mechanical ventilation experience shortness of breath, despite appropriate sedation. This adverse experience is believed to contribute to the finding that up to 25% of patients who survive severe respiratory diseases experience mental health problems including post traumatic distress syndrome (PTSD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate if/how sequential changes in the delivery of mechanical ventilation affect shortness of breath sensation in awake patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Improving the knowledge of the impact of the patient-ventilator interaction on shortness of breath sensation may lead to strategies to improve the comfort of non-sedated and sedated ventilated patients, and thereby reduce mental health sequelae in survivors of acute severe respiratory diseases The investigators hypothesize that current ventilator strategies, particularly reduced tidal volume (size of breath given by the ventilator) utilized in managing patients with severe respiratory diseases, contribute to shortness of breath in patients with increased drive to breathe. In this setting, some safe ventilator changes may improve or worsen the shortness of breath sensation in awake patients on mechanical ventilation.

The Effects of Endotracheal Suctioning on Pain and Serum Markers

The goal of this experimental study is to understand if endotracheal tube (ETT) suctioning increases pain and causes stress on the body in intubated adult ICU patients. These patients are already on ventilators, which means they need suctioning to keep their airways clear, but this procedure may be uncomfortable and cause stress. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Does ETT suctioning raise pain levels as measured by the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT)? Does ETT suctioning increase certain chemicals in the blood (hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid) that show stress and lack of oxygen in the body? Researchers will compare patients who have ETT suctioning (intervention group) with those who do not have suctioning during the study period (control group) to see if there are differences in pain and blood markers of stress. Participants will: Have pain measured before and after suctioning using the CPOT. Have blood samples taken from an existing line at three time points: 5 minutes before, 5 minutes after, and 30 minutes after suctioning. Provide demographic information (like age, gender, and diagnosis) from medical records. This research will help improve how pain is managed for ICU patients who cannot speak for themselves, potentially leading to better pain relief methods in the future.

ASV and Targeted Fluid Resuscitation in Severe Burns

This prospective cohort study will evaluate the use of Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) together with targeted fluid resuscitation in adult patients with severe burn injuries requiring mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. Patients with extensive burns often develop respiratory failure and require both invasive mechanical ventilation and large-volume fluid resuscitation during the first days after injury. The study will assess whether the combination of ASV and targeted fluid resuscitation is associated with improved oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, fluid balance, and early clinical outcomes during the first 72 hours of intensive care. Clinical data, ventilatory parameters, laboratory results, hemodynamic variables, and fluid resuscitation characteristics will be collected as part of routine clinical care. The findings may help optimize early intensive care management for patients with severe burn injuries and improve future treatment strategies.

Mechanical Power During Different Ventilation Modes in Laparoscopic Surgery

This study investigates how different breathing machine (ventilator) settings affect the energy delivered to the lungs during surgery. Mechanical power is a measure of this energy, and high levels can sometimes lead to lung irritation. In clinical practice, a mode called Pressure-Regulated Volume Control (PRVC) is often used because it lowers the "peak" pressure in the airways, which is generally thought to be safer. However, doctors have noticed that even though the peak pressure goes down in PRVC mode, the total mechanical power displayed on the monitor might actually increase compared to the standard Volume-Controlled Ventilation (VCV) mode. In this study, patients undergoing gallbladder surgery will be monitored using both ventilation modes in a random order. The researchers will compare the machine-calculated mechanical power for both modes to see if the perceived benefit of lower peak pressure in PRVC actually results in lower overall energy transfer to the lungs.

Effects of PERMISSive Lung-protective Ventilation on Outcome in Critically Ill Invasively Ventilated Patients

RATIONALE Lung-protective ventilation using a lower respiratory rate (RR) is an appealing strategy to reduce ventilation intensity, which may require permissive hypercapnia. However, the feasibility and safety of this so-called 'permissive lung-protective ventilation' must be investigated, before conducting a large randomized clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness on patient-centered outcomes. OBJECTIVE To study the feasibility and safety of permissive lung-protective ventilation in adult critically ill patients receiving invasive ventilation for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, and to inform the design of a future randomized clinical trial in this patient population. HYPOTHESIS Permissive lung-protective ventilation is a feasible and safe ventilation strategy. STUDY DESIGN Multicenter, randomized clinical pilot trial. STUDY POPULATION Critically ill patients, aged \> 18 years, intubated for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, and expected to receive ventilation for \> 24 hours. METHODS Patients are randomized to permissive lung-protective ventilation wherein RR is stepwise reduced, or to conventional lung-protective ventilation. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary endpoint is feasibility, assessed by the difference in respiratory rate (RR) between the two groups, from the start of mechanical ventilation until first extubation. Secondary endpoints include protocol compliance and feasibility of collecting data, and safety, assessed by the occurrence of unacceptable hypercapnia and hypoxemia and the incidence of ventilator-associated complications SAMPLE SIZE To estimate the appropriate sample size for this pilot study, we considered the primary feasibility endpoint of detecting a difference in the respiratory rate (RR). Assuming an expected mean difference in RR of 7.5, based on previous studies \[1, 2\], with an SD of 10, a power of 90% and an alpha of 0.05, with a drop-out rate estimated at 10%, a two-tailed t-test was used. The required sample size is 84 patients (42 patients per group). NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE BURDEN AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION, BENEFIT AND GROUP RELATEDNESS Ventilation with a lower RR may require permissive hypercapnia, which, when kept within safe limits, is safe. In current daily practice, there is no guidance in setting RR; consequently, RR varies widely across patients and is often set high. This pilot study compares two forms of lung-protective ventilation, both considered standard care in current ICU practice. The control group receives conventional ventilation with low tidal volumes and high RR to maintain normal PaCO₂ and pH. The intervention group, permissive ventilation, uses a lower RR to reduce mechanical power, accepting mild hypercapnia and acidosis. Permissive ventilation is most often reserved for patients with severe lung conditions, where ventilator settings are more complex and ventilation intensity is high. In these patients, permissive ventilation is considered safe, and may even be beneficial. We aim to evaluate this strategy more broadly in critically ill patients. The collection of demographic, ventilation and outcome data causes no harm to patients. Blood is drawn for arterial blood gas analysis, but this is also part of standard care.

Comparison of Green Tea, White Tea, and Chlorhexidine Oral Care for Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

This study was conducted to compare the effects of oral care performed using chlorhexidine (CHX), green tea, and white tea solutions on oral health, functional status, and the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care unit patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV)

Effect of Post-suction Recruitment on Lung Volume in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients

Patients who are intubated and mechanically ventilated in the intensive care unit (ICU) require repeated endotracheal suctioning to remove airway secretions. Although this procedure is necessary, it can cause a temporary collapse of lung units (alveolar derecruitment), leading to a decrease in lung volume and impaired oxygenation. A recruitment maneuver consists of briefly applying a higher airway pressure after suctioning in order to reopen collapsed lung areas and restore lung volume. However, the clinical benefit of performing a recruitment maneuver systematically after suctioning remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate whether performing a recruitment maneuver immediately after closed-circuit endotracheal suctioning improves lung volume compared with suctioning alone. Lung volume will be assessed using electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a non-invasive bedside imaging technique that allows real-time monitoring of lung aeration. In a randomized crossover design, each patient will undergo two suctioning procedures: one followed by a recruitment maneuver and one without, in a random order. The main outcome will be the change in end-expiratory lung volume 15 minutes after suctioning. The results may help optimize ventilatory care in mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Intelligent Lung Support in the Intensive Care Unit

The aim of this observational study is to test the IntelliLung decision support system based on artificial intelligence. This system is intended to help to set the ventilator. The study includes patients with and without ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) who are receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, as well as patients with additional extracorporeal lung support. The study will be conducted in several centers. The main question of the study: How well do the mechanical ventilation settings of healthcare staff match the recommendations of the IntelliLung system?

Flow-Controlled Ventilation to Improve Postoperative Pulmonary Outcome After Thoracic Surgery

In an international multicenter randomized clinical pilot trial, intraoperative flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) will be compared with volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) in patients scheduled for (open, video- or robot-assisted) thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation (OLV). This pilot trial is designed to test the feasibility and safety of FCV during all phases of intraoperative ventilation, and in particular during OLV, and to inform the design of a future trial testing the efficacy of FCV with regard to postoperative outcomes, including postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC). The ventilation modes are conducted with CE-marked medical devices (anesthesia ventilators or medical ventilators), however these medical devices themselves are not under investigation. All CE-marked standard medical devices from varied manufacturers in use at the participating study centers will be used in full accordance with their instructions for use. FCV has shown safety and feasibility in various surgical settings, including thoracic surgery with OLV, however its feasibility in a multicenter trial has not been investigated yet.

Sedation in ICU Patients With Mechanical Ventilation

Background: Sedation is a cornerstone of management for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Achieving early target sedation while maintaining hemodynamic stability remains a major clinical challenge. Ciprofol, a novel intravenous sedative agent structurally derived from propofol, has shown promising efficacy and a potentially improved hemodynamic profile in preclinical and phase II/III studies. However, high-quality evidence from large, multicenter randomized trials in real-world ICU settings is lacking. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ciprofol versus propofol for sedation in mechanically ventilated ICU patients, as assessed by the incidence of early successful sedation without hypotension. Methods: This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled, noninferiority clinical trial conducted across 31 centers in China. A total of 366 patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ciprofol or propofol. Eligible patients are adults (aged 18-80 years) admitted to the ICU receiving mechanical ventilation, with an expected sedation duration of 6-24 hours and a target Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) of +1 to -2. Key exclusion criteria include known allergy to ciprofol, BMI \<18 or \>30 kg/m², prior sedation for \>3 days, severe cardiovascular, hepatic or renal dysfunction, Glasgow Coma Scale ≤12, expected survival ≤24 hours, pregnancy or lactation, and participation in other drug trials. Patients will receive a loading dose (ciprofol 0.1 mg/kg or propofol 0.5 mg/kg) over 4 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion titrated to achieve the target RASS. Remifentanil will be used for analgesia throughout. The primary composite outcome is successful sedation without hypotension within 30 minutes of study drug administration, defined as: (1) RASS within the target range of +1 to -2; (2) no use of rescue sedation; and (3) no occurrence of hypotension. Hypotension is defined as systolic blood pressure \<90 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure \<60 mmHg, mean arterial pressure \<70 mmHg, or a \>30% drop from baseline. Secondary outcomes include sedation success without hypotension at 1 hour, sedation without circulatory depression (hypotension or bradycardia) at 1 hour, drug utilization, duration of mechanical ventilation, extubation time, awakening time, delirium incidence (CAM-ICU), ICU length of stay, 28-day mortality, and safety profiles. Based on an assumed 92% incidence in the ciprofol group versus 82% in the propofol group, with a two-sided alpha of 0.05 and 80% power, and allowing for a 5% dropout rate, the required sample size is 183 patients per group, totaling 366 patients. Analysis will be performed on the intention-to-treat population using logistic regression for the primary outcome, with results expressed as risk difference and relative risk with 95% confidence intervals. Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of the coordinating center and will be submitted to all participating sites. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06538883). Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and academic presentations. Keywords: Ciprofol, Propofol, Intensive care unit, Mechanical ventilation, Sedation, Hypotension, Randomized controlled trial

BURN-ASV Trial: Adaptive Support Ventilation in Severe Burn Injury

Severe burn injury frequently requires prolonged mechanical ventilation because of inhalation injury, respiratory failure, systemic inflammation, and repeated surgical procedures. Patients with extensive burns are at high risk of ventilator-associated complications, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and death. Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) is an automated mode of mechanical ventilation that continuously adjusts breathing support according to the patient's respiratory needs and lung mechanics. Although ASV has shown potential benefits in general ICU populations, its effectiveness in patients with severe burn injuries has not been adequately studied. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare Adaptive Support Ventilation with conventional lung-protective mechanical ventilation in critically ill adult burn patients, including those with inhalation injury, drone-related burns, and thermobaric blast burns. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either ASV or conventional ventilation. The study will evaluate whether ASV improves ventilator-free days, reduces duration of mechanical ventilation, decreases ventilator-associated complications, and improves clinical outcomes. The results of this study may help identify optimal ventilation strategies for patients with severe burn injuries and improve critical care management in both civilian and military burn centers.

The Value of Repeated BIOMarker Measurements During an SBT to Predict EXtubation Failure in ICU Patients

The Value of Repeated BIOMarker Measurements During an SBT to Predict EXtubation Failure in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients

Biomarker and Renal Angina Validation to Assess Heart-Kidney Outcomes After Amino Acid Therapy

The goal of the BRAVE-HEART study is to learn if an amino acid infusion can reduce the risk of developing acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery in children. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does an amino acid infusion decrease the number of participants with acute kidney injury? 2. Does an amino acid infusion decrease the number of days that participants are on a ventilator after cardiac surgery? Researchers will compare amino acids to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if amino acids decrease the number of participants with acute kidney injury. Participants will receive an amino acid or placebo infusion for up to 72 hours starting during cardiac surgery and only while in the operating room or the intensive care unit.

Intraoperative Driving Pressure and Postoperative Lung Ultrasound Score in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between intraoperative driving pressure and postoperative lung ultrasound scores in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. During this specific surgery, factors such as pneumoperitoneum and patient positioning can significantly affect respiratory mechanics. Postoperative lung condition will be objectively assessed using the lung ultrasound score (LUS). The findings may provide valuable insights for optimizing intraoperative mechanical ventilation strategies.

Flow-Controlled vs Volume-Controlled Ventilation in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) on hemodynamic and respiratory parameters in obese patients undergoing elective laparoscopic bariatric surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does FCV provide better intraoperative hemodynamic and respiratory stability compared to VCV during laparoscopic bariatric surgery? Is FCV a safe and feasible ventilation strategy under high intraabdominal pressure and position changes required in bariatric surgery? Researchers will compare FCV group to VCV group to see if FCV improves intraoperative respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic parameters. Participants will: Undergo elective laparoscopic bariatric surgery with BMI \>40 kg/m² (ASA I-III) Receive either flow-controlled or volume-controlled ventilation with individualized PEEP and tidal volume of 6-8 ml/kg predicted body weight Have intraoperative hemodynamic and respiratory parameters monitored at regular intervals, including arterial blood gas analysis Be followed postoperatively for oxygen therapy requirement and intensive care need

Retrospective Study on Ventilator Weaning Outcomes in Patients With Acute Brain Injury

Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is a life-saving supportive therapy for patients with acute brain injury, which accounted for nearly one-fifth of all mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, prolonged exposure to IMV is consistently associated with an increased risk of ventilator-related complications and adverse outcomes. Accordingly, alongside the initiation of IMV, timely and safe liberation from ventilator should be considered. Nevertheless, data detailing the weaning process and its associated outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients with ABI remain scarce. To address this gap, the investigators conducted an observational study aimed at characterizing the ventilator weaning process and outcomes in patients with ABI receiving IMV, using the modified WIND classification.

Circadian Feeding and Reciprocal Scent Intervention in NICU

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of circadian-aligned feeding and reciprocal scent intervention on premature infants receiving mechanical ventilation and on postpartum depression levels in their mothers. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 75 premature infants and their mothers were assigned to reciprocal scent, circadian feeding, or control groups (n=25 each). Interventions were applied for 21 days. Outcomes included time to weaning from mechanical ventilation, weight gain, hydration status, breast milk production, and maternal Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores.

The Effects of Positive End-expiratory Pressure (PEEP) on Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

This prospective interventional study will evaluate the effects of applying positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 10 cmH₂O on optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia. A total of approximately 40 adult patients (ASA physical status I-II) will be included following informed consent. ONSD will be measured using a high-frequency linear ultrasound probe at three predefined intraoperative time points: (T0) 10 minutes after initiation of mechanical ventilation, (T1) 10 minutes after pneumoperitoneum creation, and (T2) 30 minutes after pneumoperitoneum creation. Dynamic lung compliance, peak airway pressure (Ppeak), end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂), heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and SpO₂ will also be recorded. The aim is to assess whether the application of PEEP influences intracranial pressure indicators, particularly ONSD, during laparoscopic procedures. The study may provide valuable insights into the neurophysiological effects of intra-abdominal pressure and mechanical ventilation strategies in surgical patients.

Flow-Controlled Versus Volume-Controlled Ventilation in Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery

This prospective randomized trial aims to compare the effects of flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) and volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) on intraoperative airway pressures and oxygenation in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery under general anesthesia. Adult patients aged 18-65 years, with ASA physical status I-III and a body mass index of 18-30 kg/m², will be allocated to receive either FCV or VCV during routine intraoperative mechanical ventilation. Ventilatory parameters, including peak airway pressure, plateau pressure, pulmonary compliance, EtCO₂, SpO₂, and arterial blood gas variables, will be recorded at predefined time points after intubation. The primary endpoint is the PaO₂ value measured after 20 minutes in the prone position. By comparing respiratory mechanics and oxygenation between the two ventilation modes, this study aims to contribute to the optimization of intraoperative ventilatory management in lumbar disc herniation surgery.

The Geniohyoid Muscle in Critical Illness

Many patients lose muscle due to being unwell in an intensive care unit. This muscle loss can lead to weakness of the arms and legs when they leave the unit, and when they go home. For many years investigators have measured the size of these arm and leg muscles using an ultrasound machine, to take a picture of the muscles. It is also known that patients who are on a ventilator (or "breathing machine") often have problems swallowing when the breathing tube is removed from their mouth. This may be because the muscles of swallowing may also shrink. One of these muscles sits under the jaw and can be measured with ultrasound - the method has been shown to be accurate and reliable in awake volunteers, but these volunteers are usually sat upright in a chair with their mouth closed. Before it can be assed whether these muscles get smaller, it is needed to assess whether the chosen method is suitable in patients on a ventilator; these patients are lying in bed, and their mouths are open slightly due to the breathing tube. Proposed Method This investigation will measure the size of a muscle under the jaw (called the geniohyoid muscle) in patients who are sedated and have a breathing tube in their mouth connected to a ventilator. Using a normal hospital ultrasound machine, one researcher will place the ultrasound probe under the patient's jaw. When the researcher is happy the probe is in the right place, they will take a picture of the muscle and measure its size and thickness. After a short break, the researcher will repeat this process. After a second short break, another researcher who did not watch the first researcher will also place the probe under the jaw and take a picture of the muscle. These measurements can be used to to answer the following questions: 1. How many patients scanned produced images that could be measured? 2. How consistent are the measurements if one person measures the same muscle twice? 3. If two people measure the same muscle, do their measurements agree with each other? The patients will be under sedation when they take part in the study. Because of this, they cannot consent to take part in the study. The patient's next of kin or carer would advise on whether the patient would want to take part. When the patient is awake and has the breathing tube removed, the research team would ask them to sign a consent form to use their data.

Bronchoscopic Airway Clearance for Improving Lung Aeration in Mechanically Ventilated Patients With Atelectasis

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether bedside flexible bronchoscopy-guided airway clearance can improve lung aeration in adult patients who are receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and have atelectasis with a high airway secretion burden. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does bedside flexible bronchoscopy-guided airway clearance reduce the proportion of nonaerated lung tissue from baseline to day 5? Does this treatment improve other lung aeration measures, respiratory mechanics, arterial blood gas parameters, pulmonary infection score, ventilator-free days, intensive care unit length of stay, and safety outcomes? Researchers will compare usual airway care plus bedside flexible bronchoscopy-guided airway clearance with usual airway care alone to see if bronchoscopy-guided airway clearance improves lung aeration and clinical outcomes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Participants in the usual care group will receive standard airway management, which may include airway suctioning, postural drainage, humidification, chest physiotherapy, and other routine respiratory care. Participants in the bronchoscopy group will receive the same usual care, plus bedside flexible bronchoscopy-guided airway clearance when predefined criteria for high airway secretion burden are met. Participants will have clinical assessments during the study, including chest imaging, respiratory mechanics measurements, arterial blood gas tests, pulmonary infection score assessment, and safety monitoring. The main assessment will compare quantitative chest computed tomography findings at baseline and day 5 to evaluate changes in nonaerated lung tissue.

Personalized Mechanical Ventilation Guided by UltraSound in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Rationale Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a frequent cause of hypoxemic respiratory failure with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. The identification of ARDS phenotypes, based on focal or non-focal lung morphology, can be helpful to better target mechanical ventilation strategies of individual patients. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive tool that can accurately distinguish 'focal' from 'non-focal' lung morphology. The investigators hypothesize that LUS-guided personalized mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients will lead to a reduction in 90-day mortality compared to conventional mechanical ventilation.

Amnioinfusion's Protective Effects on Respiratory and Longitudinal Pediatric Outcomes After Intrapartum Thick Meconium Exposure

Thick meconium in the amniotic fluid occurs in about one out of seven pregnancies and increases the chance that a newborn may have breathing problems after birth. These problems can include the need for oxygen, breathing support, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or, in severe cases, meconium aspiration syndrome or persistent pulmonary hypertension. Although amnioinfusion or placing sterile fluid into the uterus during labor was previously studied as a way to reduce these complications, earlier research had major limitations. Past studies included all types of meconium, used different fluid types and temperatures, had inconsistent protocols, and did not measure biomarkers of inflammation or look at long-term outcomes. As a result, it is still unclear whether a modern, standardized approach to amnioinfusion can meaningfully improve newborn health when the meconium is truly thick. The PEARL Trial is a randomized clinical trial designed to answer this question. The study will enroll pregnant individuals at or beyond 36 weeks of gestation who develop thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid, confirmed using a simple, objective measurement ("meconium-crit"). Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either: Warm lactated Ringer's (LR) amnioinfusion through an intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC), following a standardized protocol, or standard care without amnioinfusion. The main goal is to determine whether warm LR amnioinfusion reduces short-term breathing problems in newborns. The study also collects umbilical cord blood at birth to evaluate markers of inflammation and potential brain injury, which may help explain why some infants develop complications. Families will also be contacted when their child is 12 months old to complete a developmental questionnaire that is widely used in pediatric practice. By using a clear definition of thick meconium, a warm LR infusion protocol, fidelity checklists, and long-term follow-up, this trial aims to provide high-quality evidence to guide care in labor and delivery units nationwide.