Clinical Research Directory

Mode of Ventilation During Critical Illness at Multiple Centers

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether the choice of ventilator mode for patients on breathing machines in the intensive care unit affects their survival and recovery. To do this, researchers will assign the entire participating intensive care unit to one of the three available ventilator modes, alternating which mode is assigned in random sequence every 2 months. The main question it aims to answer is: Does the choice between volume control, pressure control, and adaptive pressure control affect the number of days that patients are alive and free of the breathing machine?

Use of Connected Glasses to Help the Communication of Non Temporarily Speaking Patients in Intensive Care Unit : a Pilot Study

Hospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU) is accompanied by major physical and emotional stress for patients, a source of discomfort and a risk factor for post-resuscitation syndrome. Efficient patient-caregiver and patient-family communication is needed to: understand the patient's symptoms in order to relieve them, understand the patient's primary needs, understand the patient's questions and concerns in order to respond to them, rehumanize our care and re-establish a more balanced relationship with the patient. However, communication with the patient is often limited, due for example to invasive mechanical ventilation: it is estimated that half of intubated patients meet basic communication criteria (calm patient responding to simple commands and verbal requests) after 2 days of mechanical ventilation, without however being able to express themselves verbally. Augmentative and alternative communication tools exist, ranging from pictograms and slates to voice synthesizers, and are used in ICU. The critical care departments of the University Hospitals of Marseille and Tours use a communication interface consisting of a mobile screen with eye tracking for vigilant patients unable to communicate verbally, which seems to have been appreciated by patients and their families, although its effect has not been measured. Connected glasses are one of the tools available. These are pairs of glasses fitted with infrared sensors that detect a signal predefined with the patient (such as a wink) and thus enable a tablet with customized communication software to be clicked on and navigated. Potential advantages over eye tracking, which has already been used in critical care departments, include: use in low-light conditions, smaller size (no need for an arm to adjust screen orientation), less concentration (eye tracking requires precise, sustained eye fixation). The objective is to conduct a pilot study to assess the feasibility of using this tool in non temporarily speaking patients hospitalized in ICU.

Individualized vs Standard PEEP and Oxygen Reserve Index in Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

During laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia, lung function can be affected by increased abdominal pressure and patient positioning. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is a ventilator setting that helps keep the lungs open during surgery. In standard practice, a fixed PEEP level is applied to all patients. An individualized PEEP approach tailors this setting to each patient based on lung recruitment maneuvers. This study investigates whether individualized PEEP improves oxygenation compared to standard PEEP in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery. Oxygenation will be continuously monitored using the Oxygen Reserve Index (ORI), a non-invasive sensor. Lung aeration will also be assessed before and after surgery using bedside lung ultrasound.

Alveolar Recruitment Maneuver-Induced Hypotension: A Dynamic Consequence and Intraoperative Indicator of Fluid Responsiveness

This study investigates whether two simple bedside tests - the Passive Leg Raising (PLR) test and the Pleth Variability Index (PVI) - can predict a drop in blood pressure that sometimes occurs during a lung-opening procedure called an Alveolar Recruitment Maneuver (ARM). ARM is routinely performed during general anesthesia to prevent lung collapse and improve oxygen levels. However, in some patients - particularly those with low fluid levels - ARM can cause a temporary but significant drop in blood pressure (hypotension), which may require immediate treatment. In this prospective observational study, adult patients scheduled for elective non-cardiac, non-thoracic surgery under general anesthesia will be enrolled. Before each ARM is performed, PLR test and PVI values will be measured. We will then evaluate how well these measurements predict whether the patient will develop ARM-induced hypotension. If PLR and PVI can reliably identify patients at risk, clinicians may be able to take preventive steps before performing ARM, making the procedure safer for vulnerable patients.

Clinical Application of the Effect of Respiratory Muscles Electrical Stimulation on Weaning in Patients With Difficult Weaning of the Mechanical Ventilation

This trial evaluates whether transcutaneous diaphragmatic/phrenic nerve stimulation (TEDS), abdominal functional electrical stimulation (abFES), or their combination, accelerates and improves the quality of weaning from prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), compared with standardized ICU care with sham stimulation.

COMPARE-VENT Feasibility Pilot Study

Cardiac disease complicated by respiratory insufficiency comprises the most frequent indication for cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) admission, with nearly one-third patients requiring advanced respiratory support and over 20% patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). IMV among patients with impaired cardiovascular reserve is further compounded by the adverse impact of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) and systemic sedation on intracardiac hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular mechanics and consequently end-organ perfusion. Despite widespread use, evidence guiding optimal ventilatory practices and mode selection in cardiovascular intensive care unit patients remains limited. Pressure-controlled and volume-controlled ventilation may differ in their effects on patient-ventilator synchrony, sedation requirements, and hemodynamic impact, but comparative data among patients with critical cardiac disease remains inconclusive. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of implementing a pragmatic cluster-randomized crossover trial comparing ventilatory modes in a contemporary cardiovascular intensive care unit.

Optimizing Pain Treatment in Children On Mechanical Ventilation

In this clinical trial, investigators want to learn more about using non-opioid pain medications for children with acute respiratory failure. Right now, doctors give these children opioids to help with pain while they are on the ventilator, but investigators don't know if this is the best way to manage their pain. Even with strong doses of opioids, more than 90% of these children still feel pain. Other pain medicines, like acetaminophen (also called Tylenol) and ketorolac (also called Toradol), are available but aren't commonly used because we don't know if they help. The goal of this clinical trial is to test if acetaminophen and/or ketorolac can improve pain control and reduce the need for stronger pain medications (opioids) in these children. To learn more about this, participants will be randomly placed in one of four study treatment groups. This means that a computer will decide by chance which group each participant is in, not the doctors running the study. Each group will receive a combination of intravenous acetaminophen, ketorolac or a harmless substance called a placebo. In this clinical trial, placebos help investigators see if the actual medications (acetaminophen and ketorolac) work better than something that doesn't contain medicine. By comparing participants who get the real medicine with those who get the placebo, investigators can find out if these medications effectively decrease pain.

Cost-Effectiveness of Inhaled Sedation Versus Intravenous Propofol in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Adults

The goal of this observational study is to learn whether inhaled sedation is a cost-effective alternative to intravenous propofol in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults admitted to the intensive care unit. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does inhaled sedation reduce the total cost of care compared with intravenous propofol? * Does inhaled sedation reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay? * Are adverse events different between patients receiving inhaled sedation and those receiving intravenous propofol? Researchers will compare patients who received inhaled sedation with patients who received intravenous propofol to see if inhaled sedation improves clinical outcomes and reduces overall costs. Participants will: * Be identified through review of electronic medical records * Be included if they are adults who received mechanical ventilation and were sedated with inhaled sedation or intravenous propofol * Contribute data on total costs of care, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, and adverse event

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.

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

Brain Monitoring During PEEP-Based Respiratory Therapy in Critically Ill Patients

Mechanical ventilation is commonly used in critically ill patients with acute brain injury. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and lung recruitment maneuvers are important ventilator strategies for improving oxygenation, but they may also influence cerebral blood flow, systemic hemodynamics, carbon dioxide levels, and brain electrical activity. The effects of PEEP-related ventilator changes on cortical function in neurocritical care patients remain insufficiently understood. This prospective observational physiological study will evaluate changes in brain electrical activity and cerebral blood flow during clinically indicated lung recruitment maneuvers and PEEP adjustments in mechanically ventilated neurocritical care patients. Multimodal monitoring will include electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial Doppler ultrasound, invasive arterial blood pressure, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and routine clinical variables. EEG-derived measures, including delta power ratio and related frequency-domain indicators, will be used to describe cortical activity. Cerebral blood flow velocity and low-frequency neurovascular coupling measures will be explored as secondary physiological outcomes. The study will examine whether PEEP-related changes are associated with alterations in EEG activity, cerebral blood flow, and neurovascular coupling, and whether these responses differ according to clinical status. The results may help improve understanding of brain-lung interactions during mechanical ventilation and inform future studies on individualized ventilation strategies in neurocritical care.

Trcheal High-flow for Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation

Multicentre randomized trial to determine whether tracheal high-flow nasal oxygen can improve weaning outcome vs. conventional oxygen therapy in critically ill tracheostomized patients who are hypoxemic.

Analysis of Weaning of Analgosedation and Kinetics of Emergence in Critically Ill Patients

The goal of this prospective multicenter observational study is to characterize early trajectories of consciousness recovery following the first valid structured awakening trial in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults, a phase that is not captured by current weaning classifications. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What trajectories of consciousness recovery occur during the first 72 hours after the first valid structured awakening trial? 2. Are different early consciousness trajectories associated with clinically relevant outcomes, including successful liberation from mechanical ventilation, delirium, duration of mechanical ventilation, ventilator-free days, mortality, and long-term functional and cognitive outcomes? Participants will: 1. Undergo standardized serial assessments of consciousness during the first 72 hours after the first valid structured awakening trial using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) and a standardized motor command assessment. 2. Receive daily assessments for delirium and weaning-related outcomes during the ICU stay. 3. Be followed for clinical outcomes during hospitalization and for functional and cognitive recovery up to 1 year after ICU admission.

Heart Rate Variability for Practitioner Stimulated Reflection and Decision-making Optimisation

At the heart of healthcare is the interaction between healthcare practitioners and patients. It is believed that optimisation of this interaction can improve patient relevant outcomes, safety and patient experience. Through utilisation of practitioner physiological data, heart rate variability (HRV), to help practitioners make better decisions and optimise practice, it is considered possible to improve decision making around patient care and improve outcomes and safety. The modern intensive care unit (ICU) is a dynamic data rich environment requiring rapid and accurate decision making. Advances in ventilator technology, electronic patient monitoring and electronic health records (EHR) have provided exponential growth in data produced for patients and the need for complex decision making. However, data overload and alarm fatigue can result in poor understanding and a delayed response from the practitioner in addressing the patient's needs. The aim of this study is to present and evaluate a psychophysiology training approach for practitioners derived from their cardiovascular response through the course of the working day, this will be measured using heart rate variability (HRV). Practitioner HRV has been shown to be linked to work related stress and is considered a biomarker of decision-making.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.