Clinical Research Directory

TORCH-LATAM-003: Regional Advanced-Therapy Pathways for Congenital Heart Disease

TORCH-LATAM-003 is a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial evaluating a regional pathway for children and adults with congenital heart disease and advanced cardiac and/or respiratory failure who may require heart, lung, or heart-lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory or extracorporeal support, or another regulated advanced-therapy pathway. Clusters transition from usual local pathways to TORCH-CATP. The primary outcome is completion of the prespecified multidisciplinary evaluation and documentation of an advanced-pathway decision within 90 days after enrollment. The study also evaluates barriers, authorized pathway or waiting-list activation, longitudinal status, advanced support, definitive therapy, and clinical outcomes. Donor-organ and matching events are captured only where legally authorized and do not replace national allocation systems or transplant-center decisions.

CYCLE: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Early In-bed Cycling for Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Patients who survive critical illness usually experience long-lasting physical and psychological impairments, which are often debilitating. Rehabilitation interventions started in the ICU may reduce this morbidity. In-bed cycling, which uses a special bicycle that attaches to the hospital bed, allows critically ill patients who are mechanically ventilated (MV) to gently exercise their legs while in the ICU. The main goal of this study is to determine whether critically ill MV adults recover faster if they receive early in-bed cycling than if they do not. Another objective is to determine whether in-bed cycling is a cost-effective intervention. 360 patients admitted to the ICU and receiving MV will be enrolled in the study. Following informed consent, patients will be randomized to either (1) early in-bed cycling and routine physiotherapy or (2) routine physiotherapy alone. Patients' strength and physical function will be measured throughout the study. If early in-bed cycling during critical illness improves short-term physical and functional outcomes, it could accelerate recovery and reduce long-term disability in ICU survivors.

Influence of Chest X-ray vs. Chest CT Scan on the Management of ICU Patients With Respiratory Failure

Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) often require CT imaging. Performing this test on a critically ill patient involves risks, such as those associated with transferring a ventilated and unstable patient (respiratory or hemodynamic instability during transfer, unplanned extubation, unplanned removal of central catheters, drains, etc.), and those associated with intravenous contrast injection (renal impairment, anaphylactic reaction). Additionally, multiple CT scans may create a burden on the radiology department and medical staff, cause CT scans to be postponed for other patients, and increase hospitalization costs (1). In a study conducted in 2014, approximately 533 CT scans were performed for 359 patients admitted to the ICU at 2 different medical centers. In this study, they examined the extent to which CT scanning affected patient care management by comparing the medical diagnosis given to the patient before and after the scan. The diagnostic yield of the scan was 40% complete agreement between the diagnosis before and after the CT scan, about 6% partial agreement, and about 54% inconsistency. The CT scan resulted in new findings in the patient's diagnosis in 23% of cases, and in 54% of patients, the CT scan resulted in a change in the patient's treatment plan. Among the patients who underwent a CT scan, about 23% experienced side effects or adverse events as a result of the scan, of which 6% were defined as life-threatening. The more critically ill the patient was, the greater the risk of these events (1). In another study, which looked at a subgroup of septic patients in intensive care, there was no agreement between CT findings and the patients' treatment outcomes, and there was no significant effect of the CT scan on the patient's treatment plan (2). In our previous work on all patients who underwent CT scans in the unit, we found that, in general, the rate of impact of CT scans on the patient's treatment plan was low compared to other studies, although in the group of patients hospitalized due to sepsis, the rate was similar - about a third of the patients. Among the patients hospitalized with multisystem trauma, about 31% of the patients had new traumatic findings on CT scans, but in only half of these patients did the test lead to a change in the treatment plan. It appears from this work that the group in which it was possible to retrospectively find the largest number of CT scans that could have been omitted was the group of patients with respiratory failure. The purpose of performing CT scans in these patients was mainly to look for pulmonary infiltrates, pleural effusions, or pulmonary embolism. With the exception of pulmonary embolism, a condition that is relatively rare compared to other diagnoses in patients with acute respiratory failure, the other diagnoses could also be confirmed by physical examination, ultrasound examination, or chest x-ray (these patients usually undergo a chest x-ray as part of the investigation of acute respiratory failure anyway), and this may be the reason why the CT scan did not add relevant information to change the treatment plan in these patients. However, we did not specifically examine in this study whether the chest x-ray showed all the findings seen on the chest CT scan, and whether the CT scan added new findings, and especially whether these new findings would have changed the treatment plan (such as pulmonary embolism). In this study, we would like to focus on this group of patients.

Physiological Effect High-flow Tracheal Oxygen on Viscosity of Airway Mucus and Respiratory Effort in Patients Weaning From Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Rationale: Tracheostomized patients weaning from mechanical ventilation are at risk for dryness of airway mucosa and sputum accumulation during disconnection from mechanical ventilation. High-flow tracheal oxygen (HFTO) is being used as supportive therapy during disconnection sessions in tracheostomized patients weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) to limit dryness while maintaining oxygenation. We recently summarized the studies comparing physiological effects HFTO as compared to other interfaces, collectively referred to as conventional oxygen therapy (COT), in a systematic review and identified areas of lacking knowledge: effect on sputum viscoelasticity, respiratory effort early in the weaning process and dyspnea sensation. We hypothesize that HFTO, compared to COT, decreases viscoelasticity of the sputum and provides respiratory support during weaning. This may improve weaning by facilitating clearance of airway mucus, preventing respiratory failure, and providing comfort by decreasing dyspnea. Objective: To determine the physiological effect of HFTO compared to COT on sputum viscoelasticity, respiratory effort and dyspnoea. Study design: Pilot study with randomized crossover design, single-center. Study population: Twenty adult patients weaning from mechanical ventilation with tracheostomy. Intervention (if applicable): Crossover with COT and HFTO during two days in the weaning phase. Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary endpoint: sputum viscoelasticity measured by rheology during long disconnection sessions in the final phase of weaning. Secondary endpoints: respiratory effect measured by swings in esophageal pressure (PES) and prevalence and severity of dyspnoea sensation by visual analogue scale (VAS). Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The study compares two therapeutic modalities both used in clinical care without side-effects or complications. Study procedures and measurements consist of standard clinical procedures that are performed daily in clinical setting with negligible risk of deterioration for the patient. During weaning with HFTO sputum clearance might be more easy for the patient and respiratory effort might decrease, both are assumed to be beneficial for the weaning process of the patient.

Optimizing Care in Critically Ill at UCHealth by Liberalizing the Target O2 in Mechanically-ventilated ICU Patients

A multimodal educational intervention to target an oxygen saturation target range (SpO2 90-96%) will reduce ventilator length of stay and reduce occult hypoxemia by increased awareness and adherence to a designated oxygen saturation target range.

Analysis of the Evolution of Mortality in an Intensive Care Unit

The intensive care units is of the main components of modern healthcare systems. Formally, its aim is to offer the critically ill health care fit to their needs; ensuring that this health care is appropriate, sustainable, ethical and respectful of their autonomy. Intensive medicine is a cross-sectional specialty that encompasses a broad spectrum of pathologies in their most severe condition, and specifically has as its foundation the practice of comprehensive care of the patient with organ dysfunction and susceptible to recovery. Although critically ill patients are a heterogeneous population, they have in common the need for a high level of care, often requiring the use of high technology, specific procedures for the support of organ dysfunction and the collaboration of other medical and surgical specialties for their management and treatment. Since their origins in the late 1950s, intensive care units have been adapting to the changes arising from the best scientific evidence. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there were some successful clinical trials published that had tested alternative management strategies in the ICU. Mechanical ventilation is an intervention that defines the critical care specialty. Between 1970 and the 1990s, the management focused on normalizing arterial blood gas with aggressive mechanical ventilation. Over the ensuing decades, it became apparent that performing positive pressure ventilation worsened lung injury. The pivotal moment in the mechanical ventilation story would be the low versus high tidal volume trial. This trial shifted the focus away from normalizing gas exchange to reducing harm with mechanical ventilation. Further, it paved way for further trials testing ventilation interventions (PEEP strategy, prone position ventilation) and nonventilation interventions (neuromuscular blockade, corticosteroids, inhaled nitric oxide, extracorporeal gas exchange) in critically ill patients. That evidence-based intensive care medicine has undoubtedly had an influence on the outcome of critically ill patients, in general, and, particularly, of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Temporal changes in mortality over the time have been scarcely reported for patients admitted to intensive care unit. Objective of this study is to estimate the changes over the time in several outcomes in the patients admitted to an 18-beds medical-surgical intensive care unit from 1991 (year of start of activity) to 2026

Diaphragm Atrophy and Dysfunction in Mechanical Ventilation

The gold standard of twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure recordings would ultimately clear the fog around the rate of development of Ventilator induced Diaphragm Dysfunction (VIDD) in mechanically ventilated patients over time. Through measurements made even after mechanical ventilation (MV) it could be clarified to what extent patients recover from VIDD. Paired with cortical stimulation and electromyographic recordings of diaphragm muscle potentials, it could be explored to what extent decreased diaphragm excitability due to long term MV contributes to VIDD on the level of motor cortex. Against that background the present project aims at determining the rate of decline in diaphragm function, strength and control in patients undergoing MV (including measurements after extubation).

HERMES: International Survey and Portable External Power Evaluation During Respiratory Support Transport

The HERMES Phase I-II study was a two-phase observational investigation designed to characterize contemporary practices and safety-related challenges associated with the transport of patients requiring advanced respiratory support and to assess the operational feasibility of portable external electrical power during ambulance transport. Phase I consisted of an international electronic cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals involved in noninvasive ventilation (NIV) management or patient transport. The survey evaluated reported transport indications, ventilator type and positioning, respiratory interfaces, transport-team composition, and perceived patient-, equipment-, and environment-related problems. Phase II was a prospective descriptive feasibility evaluation involving 25 ambulance transports performed in Albacete and Bilbao, Spain. Patients were transported while receiving high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO), rescue NIV, or invasive mechanical ventilation. A portable external power supply was used to support continuity of powered respiratory-support equipment during transport. The primary technical feasibility outcome was successful completion of transport while maintaining respiratory support without reported power interruption, clinically relevant equipment alarm, or technical failure. The two phases were analyzed independently and were intended to characterize respiratory-support transport practices and evaluate technical and operational feasibility rather than establish comparative effectiveness, clinical superiority, or prevention of clinical deterioration.

Combined Lung and Diaphragmatic Ultrasound to Predict Respiratory Failure in Blunt Chest Trauma

Blunt chest trauma is a leading cause of emergency hospital visits and can result in severe breathing complications such as hypoxemic respiratory failure. While computed tomography (CT) scans provide detailed imaging of the chest, their routine use is limited by radiation exposure, high cost, and the inability to perform frequent bedside monitoring. Bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) is commonly used to detect structural injuries like lung contusions or collapsed lungs, but it cannot assess how well the breathing muscles are working. Because acute respiratory failure after chest trauma involves both lung tissue damage and impaired breathing muscle mechanics, combining lung ultrasound with diaphragmatic ultrasound may improve early risk assessment. The primary purpose of this prospective cohort study is to determine whether combining point-of-care lung ultrasound with diaphragmatic ultrasound provides better early prediction of hypoxemic respiratory failure than lung ultrasound alone in adult patients with isolated blunt chest trauma. Participants will undergo bedside lung ultrasound, diaphragmatic ultrasound, and arterial blood gas testing at four standardized time points: upon hospital admission (baseline), and at 6, 12, and 24 hours after admission. The lung ultrasound examination assesses the degree of lung tissue injury using a standardized 12-zone Lung Ultrasound Score (LUS). Diaphragmatic ultrasound measures muscle movement (diaphragmatic excursion) and contraction strength (diaphragm thickening fraction). Arterial blood gas results will be used to track oxygenation via the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, with a ratio of 300 mmHg or lower defining hypoxemic respiratory failure. All participants will also receive a standard-of-care chest CT scan as a reference comparison. The study aims to evaluate whether this non-invasive, radiation-free bedside approach helps emergency physicians identify high-risk patients earlier, guiding timely respiratory support and intensive care triage while minimizing the need for repeated CT scans.

Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation for Respiratory Recovery in Cervical SCI

This multicenter, single-arm exploratory IIT evaluates epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation (ESCES) in 20 adults with C1-C5 SCI and respiratory failure. Participants receive ESCES plus standard care; electrodes are implanted at C3-C5 with daily individualized stimulation. Primary outcomes: Edi peak, change of Edi peak and frequency. Secondary: tidal volume, maximal inspiratory pressure, NVE, NME, diaphragm ultrasound, cough strength, 90-day ventilator-free days, ICU stay, and survival. This is the first systematic ESCES study for SCI-related respiratory failure, aiming to provide preliminary safety/efficacy data for future RCTs.

Early Versus Deferred De-escalation From Controlled Ventilation After a 48-Hour Landmark of Physiological Stability

This retrospective target trial emulation evaluates the optimal timing of de-escalation from controlled to assisted mechanical ventilation in critically ill adults. Using the clone-censor-weight (CCW) estimator with stabilised inverse-probability-of-censoring weights, we compare two strategies over a 24-hour grace window following a 48-hour landmark: early de-escalation (step-down in ventilatory support mode or successful extubation) versus deferred de-escalation (support maintained or increased). The primary outcome is 28-day in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes are 28-day restricted mean survival time (RMST) and ventilator-free days (VFD28). The study uses MIMIC-IV v2.2 (derivation cohort, n=1,902 analysable) with external validation in eICU-CRD v2.0 (validation cohort, n=10,957 analysable). All analyses employ stabilised IPCW with bootstrap confidence intervals, including six sensitivity and robustness analyses (extended covariate adjustment, alternative weight truncation, doubly robust AIPW estimator) and an exploratory FiO₂×PEEP threshold grid.

Respiratory Knowledge Portal Computer and Phone Application to Improve Quality of Mechanical Ventilation by Reducing the Number of Ventilator Associated Events, Injury Created by the Ventilator and Unsafe Setting of Alarms.

Ventilator associated events (VAE) is a quality metric defined by 48 hours of stability followed by 48 hours of escalation of ventilator settings within the ICU. VAE have been associated with poor outcomes and increases the cost of care, yet is not easy to avoid. Operationalizing all the standards of care known to improve outcomes of those requiring mechanical ventilation in the critical care environment requires a comprehensive approach. ICU teams are encouraged to follow best practice protocols to help liberate and prevent VAEs. Yet, compliance with protocols in most ICUs is suboptimal for multiple reasons. With the advent of computerized mechanical ventilators capable of streaming data from breath to breath and biomedical integration systems (BMDI) such as Capsule (UTMB's BMDI system), software systems have been developed to help identify variances in the standard of care. Automation in near real-time ventilator data feedback has been shown to reduce the incidences of VAEs. This quality improvement project will leverage Vyaire's Respiratory Knowledge Portal (RKP) to collect and store meaningful data regarding ventilator-associated events (VAE), alarm policy compliance, ventilator weaning, and lung protective analytics. Goals: 1. To collect quality metrics utilizing RKP from patients requiring mechanical ventilation over a 3-4-month period for a retrospective baseline analysis. 2. Provide the RKP tool to the ICU team to determine if the use of RKP's webportal and Messenger Zebra phone app improves quality of mechanical ventilation and outcomes. 3. To determine a return on investment (ROI) for a software system like RKP.

Safety and Performance of NivolisMonitor and NivolisAnton for Monitoring Patients on Ventilatory Assistance at Home

NivolisMonitor and NivolisAnton are new devices developed by Vivardis. NivolisMonitor is a generic and autonomous device for remote monitoring of ventilatory parameters generated by ventilatory assistance systems. NivolisMonitor uses its sensors to measure ventilation parameters such as pressure, flow, temperature and relative humidity, Fi02 provided by respiratory treatment devices (NIV, HDN (High Nasal Flow) and Oxygen therapy). NivolisMonitor records this data, stores it and transmits it to the healthcare professionals in charge of the patient. NivolisAnton is a medical device for telemonitoring of transcutaneous capnia, it thus helps to make recordings at the patient's home and to transmit data to healthcare professionals. The main objective of this study is to show that the use of NivolisMonitor and NivolisAnton is done in complete safety and that the clinical performances of these two devices are achieved. For this, the data measured by NivolisMonitor will be compared with the data provided by the treatment devices used by patients at home and the data provided by NivolisAnton will be compared with the data reported by the transcutaneous capnia monitor. The secondary objectives concern the evaluation of the acceptability/usability of the devices by patients and healthcare professionals. This evaluation will take the form of an observational clinical study on 10 patients, including : * a selection of patients already treated with NIV or HDN according to the inclusion/non-inclusion criteria and submission of the information note * an inclusion visit taking place during a routine pulmonological follow-up visit for these patients with collection of the free and informed consent of each patient. The blood gas data collected during this routine consultation will be compiled in the study observation book. * a 3-day monitoring period: * use over 3 days of the NivolisMonitor device at home, with on the last day the completion of the patient acceptability/usability questionnaire * overnight use of NivolisAnton * a teleconsultation to close the study for each patient * completion of the healthcare professional acceptability/usability questionnaire at the end of the study

The Impact of Low Versus High Positive End-expiratory Pressure on Diaphragm Function, Ventilation Efficiency, and Lung Mechanics

The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the effect of different positive end-expiratory pressures (PEEP) on lung and diaphragm function in patients mechanically ventilated with pressure support ventilation in the intensive care unit. The main questions aim to answer: Does higher PEEP level affect diaphragm contractions and ventilatory efficiency? Does higher PEEP level limit inspiratory efforts? Does higher PEEP level affect lung compliance? The participants will be subjected to three different PEEP levels during pressure support ventilation: Low PEEP (4 cmH2O), Medium PEEP (10 cmH2O), High PEEP (16 cmH2O). The lung and diaphragm function will be evaluated using high-resolution esophageal manometry, electrical activity of the diaphragm, external diaphragm ultrasound and spirometric ventilator data.

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?

Brain Blood Flow and Cerebral Autoregulation Monitoring in Critically Ill Children

This study uses a non-invasive (external) ultrasound test called Transcranial Doppler (TCD) to measure how blood flows through the major arteries of the brain of children receiving care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). TCD is already used for clinical reasons in many children, but it is not part of routine monitoring for every critically ill child. By using TCD, the investigators hope to better understand how brain blood flow changes during illness. They will also track children's functional status from before their illness to the time of PICU discharge to explore how brain blood flow patterns relate to neurological outcomes.125 participants will be enrolled and will be on study while in the PICU, estimated to be 3-14 days.

Nutritional Risk and Diaphragmatic Thickness in Mechanically Ventilated COPD Patients

Malnutrition and muscle wasting are frequent complications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experiencing acute exacerbations. In critically ill patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation, nutritional depletion and ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction can complicate recovery and prolong intensive care unit (ICU) stays. The purpose of this prospective observational cohort study is to evaluate nutritional status and diaphragmatic structure in elderly patients (aged 60 years and older) with COPD who require invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours. Participants will undergo bedside assessments, including: * Calculation of clinical risk scores within the first 24 hours of ICU admission: modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II). * Anthropometric measurements: mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) measured at baseline, day 7, and the day of weaning. * Diaphragmatic ultrasonography: point-of-care ultrasound to measure diaphragm thickness at end-expiration and end-inspiration at baseline, day 7, and during weaning trials. The main goal is to evaluate the relationship between nutritional risk (assessed by the mNUTRIC score) and diaphragmatic thickness, and to determine how these parameters correlate with clinical outcomes such as weaning success, total duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality.

Bio-Banking of Specimens for Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Research

A major goal of this protocol is to support biomarker studies in advanced lung diseases, lung transplantation care, and to improve our understanding of the effects of viral and other infectious exposures to outcomes in our lung transplant and ALD patient populations.

Impact of Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation Compared to Non Invasive Ventilation in High Risk Extubations

subjects on mechanical ventilator who are about to be extubated to Non invasive ventilation because the physician thinks they are high risk for failure will be approached and consented for our study. Once randomized they will either be on the standard of care Non invasive arm or the intervention arm which would mean they are placed on the Biphasic cuirass 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.

Supraglottic Airway for Resuscitation in Preemies

The goal of this single-arm intervention trial is to learn whether using a supraglottic airway (SA) as the primary interface for positive pressure ventilation (PPV) is feasible during delivery room resuscitation of premature infants. This study will be conducted in premature infants born between 29 0/7 and 33 6/7 weeks' gestation who require PPV at birth. The main question it aims to answer is: Is it feasible to use a supraglottic airway as the primary interface to provide effective PPV during delivery room resuscitation in 29 0/7 to 33 6/7 weeks' gestation premature infants? Participants will (1)Be screened prenatally and have informed consent obtained from the birth parent prior to delivery; (2)Be rescreened for eligibility on the day of delivery before receiving the study intervention; (3)Receive PPV using a supraglottic airway as the primary ventilation interface if resuscitation is required at birth; and (4)Have clinical and procedural data collected during delivery room resuscitation and for up to 24 hours after birth.

Long Term Outcomes of Patients With COVID-19

The investigators hypothesize that those with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 will have different burdens of mental and physical disability than those with respiratory failure who do not have COVID-19. Detecting these potential differences will lay an important foundation for treating long term sequelae of respiratory failure in these two cohorts.

Real-Time Algorithm-Driven Ventilation Feedback to Improve Lung-Protective Ventilation in Patients With ARDS (REALVENT-study)

The REALVENT trial is designed to evaluate whether a real-time, algorithm-driven ventilation feedback strategy can improve lung-protective ventilation (LPV) achievement rates in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. This multicentre randomised controlled trial will compare real-time respiratory waveform monitoring with automated feedback against standard ICU care. The primary endpoint is the LPV achievement rate over the first 72 hours.

Precision Ventilation vs Standard Care for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The goal of this interventional study is to compare standard mechanical ventilation to a lung-stress oriented ventilation strategy in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Participants will be ventilated according to one of two different strategies. The main question the study hopes to answer is whether the personalized ventilation strategy helps improve survival.