Clinical Research Directory

Dynamic POCUS of Diaphragm Function to Predict Respiratory Failure in Septic Shock

This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of serial bedside ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic function in adult patients with septic shock. Diaphragmatic excursion, thickness, and thickening fraction will be assessed using point of care ultrasound at baseline and serially during the first 72 hours of intensive care admission. Dynamic changes in these parameters will be analyzed in relation to the development of respiratory failure, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, duration of mechanical ventilation, weaning and extubation outcomes, length of ICU stay, and mortality. The study will determine whether dynamic diaphragmatic ultrasound assessment can provide an early, non-invasive predictor of respiratory failure and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock.

The Safety and Efficacy of ECMO in the Management of Patients With Respiratory Failure

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the Rengine extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support system and the ECMO sterile oxygenator in the management of respiratory failure.

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.