Clinical Research Directory

Peripheral Perfusion Index-guided Fluid Resuscitation for Preventing Acute Skin Failure in Elderly Critically Ill Patients

This prospective, randomized, controlled trial aimed to evaluate whether fluid resuscitation guided by the Peripheral Perfusion Index (PPI) could reduce the incidence of Acute Skin Failure (ASF) in elderly critically ill patients. A total of 216 patients aged ≥65 years with sepsis or other types of shock requiring early aggressive fluid resuscitation were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the PPI-guided resuscitation group or the conventional resuscitation group. The intervention group targeted maintaining PPI ≥1.4 in addition to conventional hemodynamic goals, while the control group followed standard resuscitation protocols. The primary outcome was the incidence of ASF within 7 days of ICU admission, diagnosed according to NPUAP/EPUAP (2014) criteria. Secondary outcomes included time to ASF occurrence, lactate clearance, cumulative fluid balance, organ function, and long-term prognosis.

Safety and Efficacy of Polymyxin B Hemoperfusion (PMX) for Endotoxemic Septic Shock in a Randomized, Open-Label Study

Prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label study of standard of care plus the PMX cartridge versus standard of care alone in patients with endotoxemic septic shock

Protocolized Reduction of Non-resuscitation Fluids Versus Usual Care in Septic Shock Patients

The objective of this trial is to assess the beneficial and harmful effects of a restrictive strategy for administration of non-resuscitation fluids in adult patients with septic shock.

Neuromodulation to Regulate Inflammation and Autonomic Imbalance in Sepsis

Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. It is the most expensive healthcare condition to treat in United States and has a mortality rate of nearly 30%. It is widely known that exaggerated inflammation and imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) contribute to progression and adverse outcomes in sepsis. The role of unchecked inflammation and unregulated ANS as a potential treatment target is an important gap in our knowledge that should be explored. Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) is an intricate network where the ANS senses inflammation by vagus nerve afferents and tries to regulate it by vagus nerve efferents to the reticuloendothelial system. The central hypothesis of this pilot clinical trial is that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (TVNS) at tragus of the external ear can activate the CAP to suppress inflammation and improve autonomic imbalance as measured by inflammatory cytokine levels and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. The investigators plan to randomize patients with septic shock into active and sham stimulation groups and study the effects of vagal stimulation on inflammatory cytokines, HRV and a clinical severity score of sepsis. Both groups will continue to receive the standard of care treatment for sepsis irrespective of group assignments. The investigators hypothesize that 4 hours of TVNS will suppress inflammatory markers and improve the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic arms of ANS as measured by HRV, resulting in improved Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA). The preliminary data generated from this pilot study will lay the foundation for a larger clinical trial.

The PvCO2-PaCO2/CaO2-CvO2 Ratio in Septic Shock

The ratio of the venous-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference to the arteriovenous oxygen content difference (Pv-aCO₂/Ca-vO₂) may be a marker of anaerobic metabolism in patients with acute circulatory failure. This study aims to assess the prognostic value of the PvCO2-PaCO2/CaO2-CvO2 in the early phase of septic shock.

Veno-arterial Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure Difference (CO2gap) for Early Resuscitation of Septic Shock

Sepsis is a dysregulated host response to infection that leads to life-threatening organ dysfunction and represents a major healthcare problem. Septic shock is the most severe form, characterized by increased capillary permeability and vasodilation, resulting in hypotension and tissue hypoxia. Early identification and treatment of tissue hypoperfusion are pivotal components of initial resuscitation to limit progression to multiple organ dysfunction and death. The 2021 Surviving Sepsis Guidelines recommend guiding initial resuscitation by targeting decreases in serum lactate levels in patients with elevated lactate. However, although elevated lactate levels may reflect tissue hypoxia, serum lactate is not a direct marker of tissue perfusion. Hyperlactatemia may be attributable to mechanisms other than tissue hypoperfusion, such as accelerated aerobic glycolysis driven by excessive β-adrenergic stimulation or impaired clearance (e.g., in liver failure). The venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure difference (CO₂ gap), which is inversely related to cardiac output, has been shown to reflect the adequacy of venous blood flow to remove CO₂ from tissues. The CO₂ gap is closely linked to microcirculatory blood flow during the early resuscitation phase of septic shock and may effectively identify persistent tissue hypoperfusion in shock states. A persistently high CO₂ gap during early resuscitation has been associated with significantly higher 28-day mortality and increased Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Moreover, the CO₂ gap has been shown to respond to changes in cardiac output during inotrope infusion in patients with low blood flow, suggesting that its assessment could be useful for therapeutic adjustments. Therefore, there are compelling arguments to evaluate the usefulness of the CO₂ gap in guiding early resuscitation in patients with septic shock. The investigators postulated that CO₂ gap-guided early resuscitation may be more effective in improving outcomes than lactate-guided resuscitation.

Mechanistic Assessment of Norepinephrine Therapy vs. Angiotensin-II in Septic Shock

Despite best therapy efforts, sepsis and septic shock are associated with mortality rates of up to 40%. This clinical trial will determine the benefit of exogenous Angiotensin II versus norepinephrine (conventional care) treatment in septic shock patients. This trial will determine whether there are better predictors of septic shock severity. This approach may inform more appropriate treatment regimens and improve outcomes for these patients.

Early Methylene Blue in the Microhemodynamics of Septic Patients

The aim of the study is to evaluate the viability and feasibility of its protocol in order to conduct a larger clinical trial to assess whether methylene blue can improve patient-centered clinical outcomes such as mortality or length of hospital stay in septic shock patients.

Assessing the Efficacy of Dapagliflozin as a Vasculoprotective Treatment in Septic Shock Patients With Microcirculatory Dysfunction

Microcirculatory dysfunction is a key driver of organ failure and mortality in septic shock, characterized by endothelial injury and impaired vasoregulation. Despite its strong prognostic value, it remains unaddressed by current therapies. SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have shown promising vasculoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and glucose-lowering effects that may help restore endothelial function, reduce vascular leakage, and manage stress-induced hyperglycemia-factors central to septic shock pathophysiology. Preclinical and clinical observational studies suggest potential benefits, but clinical research in this specific context is lacking. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT-2i in septic shock patients with clinical signs of microcirculatory failure, addressing a critical unmet medical need. Septic shock management relies on rapid infection control, hemodynamic stabilization with fluids and vasopressors, and supportive care, with corticosteroids used in select cases. However, this standardized approach faces major limitations due to patient heterogeneity, treatment-related complications (e.g., fluid overload, vasopressor side effects), and rising antimicrobial resistance. Adjunctive therapies have largely failed to improve outcomes, reflecting the complex pathophysiology of septic shock. These challenges highlight a pressing need for novel, targeted interventions and a shift toward personalized treatment strategies. The investigators hypothesize that early administration of SGLT-2 inhibitors within 14 hours of septic shock onset in patients showing signs of microcirculatory dysfunction will improve 28-day outcomes mainly by targeting endothelial and microvascular injury. Expected benefits include reduced mortality and organ dysfunction, faster recovery with lower resource use, a favorable safety profile, and potential for global implementation as a cost-effective adjunctive therapy. This study will be a multicenter, prospective, randomized, and comparative double-blind trial. All patients admitted with septic shock in the ICU will be screened for trial eligibility criteria. After verifying the eligibility criteria and obtaining patient or family consent, or after an emergency inclusion procedure, eligible patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Dapagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo in addition to standard-of-care. Patients will be followed up for 1 year or until death, whichever occurs first.

Validation of the Use of the Arteriovenous Tension Difference in CO2 Under Hyperbaric Conditions

The central venous-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference is used daily in intensive care to establish peripheral tissue hypoperfusion, mainly mediated by a low cardiac index. The partial pressures of gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide) increase in the blood of patients breathing 100% oxygen in hyperbaric conditions. Thus, the validity of this biomarker in situations of acute circulatory failure during a hyperbaric oxygen therapy session has not been established. The objective of the study is therefore to establish the diagnostic performance of the central venous-arterial carbon dioxide tension difference in the diagnosis of a low cardiac index in patients with septic shock undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing fasciitis.

Ivabradine for Heart Rate Control In Septic Shock

Septic shock is a major health problem, with several million cases annually worldwide and a mortality approaching 45%. Tachycardia is associated with excess mortality during septic shock. This pejorative effect could be related to the increase in cardiac metabolic demand, impaired cardiac diastolic function, and/or poorer tolerance of administered exogenous catecholamines. Recent studies suggest that controlling the heart rate with the use of beta blockers has beneficial effects on the morbidity and mortality of septic shock. However, the negative effects of beta-blockers on cardiac contractility and blood pressure complicate their use during septic shock, particularly because about one-half of patients exhibit a septic-associated systolic dysfunction, which often requires the use of inotropes. Ivabradine is a selective inhibitor of If channels in the sinoatrial node. It is a pure bradycardic agent with no deleterious effect on other aspects of cardiac function (contractility, conduction and repolarization) nor on blood pressure. Ivabradine can therefore alleviate sinus tachycardia without negative inotropic effects nor hypotension. Moreover, the improvement in diastolic function (ventricular filling) with ivabradine may increase stroke volume, even in case of severe impairment of systolic function. Controlling sinus tachycardia with ivabradine during septic shock would allow reducing cardiac metabolic demand (and potentially associated ischemic events) and improving the chronotropic tolerance of exogenous catecholamines. The effectiveness of ivabradine in controlling the heart rate was demonstrated in various clinical settings such as coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Encouraging preliminary data are reported in critically ill patients.

Sepsis: From Syndrome to Personalized Care

This is a prospective, observational study designed to examine the performance of biomarkers, molecular biological methods and other analysis in blood from patient with suspected sepsis in the Emergency department, as well as identidying novel sepsis endotypes. Around 1500 patients will be enrolled.

Association Between Muscle L3 CT Scan Muscle Derived Parameters of Muscle Function Upon Intensive Care Unit Admission and 3 Months Mortality After ICU Discharge for Patients Admitted for Septic Shock. The SIMS Study

Muscle dysfunction in intensive care units is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. During septic shock, there is an increased catabolism and systemic inflammation resulting in quantitative and qualitative muscle impairment. In the intensive care setting, quantitative and qualitative assessment of muscle function is challenging due to critical care environments (general anesthesia, altered consciousness, etc.). CT scan measurement at the 3rd lumbar level has been proposed to evaluate muscle function. Recent retrospective studies have highlighted increased mortality among patients with muscle mass impairment and/or decreased muscle density.

Sepsis in the ICU-II

Sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction (SIMD) is a well-known phenomenon yet its diagnosis remains elusive with no accepted definition, or defining pathophysiological mechanism associated with this disease. Systolic dysfunction occurs in 20-70% of patients, and may be severe, yet does not appear to have any prognostic value for mortality. Diastolic function has also been variably described and seems to be related to short-term mortality. However, the contribution of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction to mortality in sepsis are still far from clear, with uncertain contribution from previous cardiovascular disease, vasopressor and inotropic drugs and mechanical ventilation. Another poorly investigated area is right ventricular dysfunction. Cor pulmonale occurs in up to 25% of patients with septic shock, and is invariably related to pulmonary haemodynamics and mechanical ventilation, yet very little is known about how this affects prognosis. Finally, although the outcome of disease is a function of multiple parameters, septic cardiomyopathy is most frequently characterized based on individual echocardiographic parameters, without considering their interactions or placing them in the context of biomarkers and clinically available haemodynamic data. Available relevant studies are often monocentric, and many fail to consider the various confounders that influence the clinical outcome in sepsis. Therefore, the diagnostic and prognostic value of combinations of clinical, biochemical and haemodynamic variables remains to be established. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to identify biomarkers and echocardiographic and haemodynamic signatures characteristic of specific outcomes in SIMD to support the diagnosis and prognosis in SIMD. Specific aims are: 1. To determine the association between left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and adverse outcome in SIMD; 2. To determine the association between right ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and adverse outcome in SIMD; 3. To determine the association between novel biomarkers and adverse outcome in SIMD; 4. To determine the combined value of biomarker, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic variables for predicting adverse outcomes in SIMD; 5. To explore if there are different phenotypes of SIMD using unsupervised machine learning algorithms, and whether they are associated with adverse outcomes. 50 patients will be enrolled in a feasibility study to evaluate the logistical setup for acute echocardiography and biobanking facilities. A further 280 patients will be enrolled with inclusion from peripheral centers once feasibility is confirmed. Note 15 Mar 2026: typing mistake noted in prior text, the sample size was originally for 330 patients (i.e. 50 + 280), not 350 (50 + 300) patients.

Study on the Efficacy and Timing of ECMO Therapy in Children With Refractory Septic Shock

Severe sepsis and septic shock remain the leading causes of child mortality worldwide. Sepsis is a complex process that ultimately leads to circulation disorders, organ perfusion abnormalities, capillary leakage, tissue hypoxia, and organ failure. The difficulty of clinical treatment is microcirculation and mitochondrial dysfunction in septic shock. Once shock enters the stage of microcirculation failure, conventional treatment is ineffective. ECMO can effectively support the circulatory system and provide good oxygen delivery, but there are many controversies in clinical treatment. 1) whether ECMO can effectively improve the clinical prognosis of children with septic shock; 2) appropriate timing for ECMO intervention; 3) which key clinical factors affect the effect of ECMO treatment. This study intends to adopt a multi-center, prospective, non-randomized controlled trial design, and the main research hypothesis is whether ECMO treatment can improve the success of discharge survival of children with septic shock.

Early Dexmedetomidine and Sympathetic Regulation in Sepsis

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether early administration of dexmedetomidine can improve autonomic nervous system regulation and clinical outcomes in adult patients with septic shock. It will also evaluate the safety of dexmedetomidine in this population. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does early dexmedetomidine improve sympathetic nervous system activity, as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV)? Does dexmedetomidine reduce endogenous catecholamine levels and vasopressor requirements? Does early autonomic modulation improve organ function and survival outcomes in septic shock? Researchers will compare dexmedetomidine to a placebo (normal saline) to determine whether dexmedetomidine improves hemodynamic stability and prognosis in patients with septic shock. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg/h) or placebo by continuous intravenous infusion for 48 hours Undergo continuous ECG and invasive blood pressure monitoring Have blood samples collected at predefined time points to measure inflammatory markers and endogenous catecholamine levels Be assessed for organ function, vasopressor use, and perfusion parameters during the first 48 hours Be followed up for 28-day and 90-day survival outcomes

Early Versus Late Adjunctive Vasopressin in Septic Shock

The goal of the CASPER-Pilot study is to develop clinical decision support (CDS) technology within Epic to randomize patients with septic shock to early versus standard of care vasopressin initiation. The primary aim of this study will be to test the hypothesis that CDS technology can be utilized to create two distinct cohorts of patients reflecting different times of vasopressin initiation based on norepinephrine dose requirements. Secondarily, this study will evaluate the proportion of patients whose norepinephrine dose at the time of vasopressin initiation is within the specified range for the intervention arm they were randomized to. Other outcomes of evaluation will include adherence to the developed CDS technology and comparison of clinical outcomes between the two treatment arms.

Early Angiotensin II in the Emergency Department

This pilot study will enroll 20 patients with septic shock and require emergent vasopressor support in the emergency department (ED). The primary objective of the study is to determine the feasibility of early peripheral administration of angiotensin II for treatment of septic shock in the ED

Implementation of Timely Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock Protocol in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit: A Quality Improvement Project at AFHJ

Study Title: Implementation of a Sepsis Management Protocol at Armed Forces Hospital Jazan (AFHJ). Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to determine if implementing a standardized, evidence-based "sepsis bundle" can improve the care and survival of patients with sepsis and septic shock in the Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). What the Study Involves: Researchers will implement a specific set of clinical guidelines based on the international Surviving Sepsis Campaign. This include: Using a scoring system (NEWS2 and SOFA) to identify sick patients earlier. Ensuring patients receive five critical treatments (the "one-hour bundle") within 60 minutes of diagnosis, including blood tests, IV fluids, and antibiotics. Comparison: The study will compare the outcomes of 74 patients treated before the protocol was introduced (the "Pre-protocol group") to 46 patients treated after the new protocol was put into effect (the "Protocol group"). Expected Outcome: The goal is to increase the number of patients who receive all necessary treatments within one hour from less than 15% to at least 60%. The study also aims to see if this protocol leads to shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates.

The Multicentre Prospective Observational Study on the Management of Septic Shock

Although there are published guidelines for the management of shock in general and septic shock in particular, the extent to which these guidelines are adhered to or achievable is unknown. Our study aims to describe, in a large population of critical care patients, the management procedures for septic shock, the applicability of existing guidelines, and the characteristics of the centres. The primary objective is to assess current clinical practices for the treatment and monitoring of patients with septic shock. The secondary objectives are to investigate the association of current clinical practices for the treatment and monitoring with 28-day all-cause mortality, to assess the association of current clinical practices for the treatment and monitoring with other outcomes, including 90-day all-cause mortality, ICU length of stay, days without renal replacement therapy, days without vasopressors support and days without invasive mechanical ventilation, to assess the factors that influence the disparity of practices, among the severity of the patients, the country, the availability of drugs and devices and to measure the relative frequency of balanced fluid and isotonic saline administration.

Adjunctive Fludrocortisone in Septic Shock

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's dysregulated response to an infection. While corticosteroids are known to help stabilize blood pressure in septic shock, their ability to reduce mortality is still debated. Recent analyses suggest that combining fludrocortisone with hydrocortisone may be more effective at saving lives than hydrocortisone alone. To test this hypothesis, a large, definitive international trial is needed. However, this research proposal is for a smaller pilot study (Phase II) involving 32 critically ill patients. The primary goal of this pilot is to determine the feasibility of conducting the subsequent large-scale trial that would compare hydrocortisone alone against the combination therapy and potentially change medical practice.

Hydrocortisone and Fludrocortisone for the Treatment of Septic Shock

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone among adult patients with septic shock.

Cardiovascular Phenotypes in Sepsis

This prospective observational study will investigate cardiovascular phenotypes in adults with sepsis and hemodynamic instability. Approximately 400 patients requiring vasopressor support will be enrolled across multiple hospital sites. Within 72 hours of admission, participants will undergo peripheral vascular assessments, echocardiography, and blood sampling for cardiac, endothelial, and inflammatory biomarkers. Patients will be classified according to the presence or absence of peripheral vascular dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction. The primary aim is to examine the association between these cardiovascular phenotypes and one-year mortality. Secondary aims include evaluating biomarker profiles, characterizing myocardial injury, and assessing cardiac function at a 3-month follow-up. The study seeks to improve understanding of sepsis-related cardiovascular dysfunction and support development of more individualized management strategies.

Septic Shock Hemodynamic Respond to Volume Resuscitation Versus Vasopressor Administration

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the change of hemodynamic response from intravenous fluid versus medical (vasopressor) resuscitation by echocardiogram in septic shock patient. The main question it aims to answer is: How hemodynamic response change from intravenous fluid versus medical (vasopressor) resuscitation by echocardiogram in septic shock patient? Participants already receiving the appropriate resuscitation at that time by their medical staff as part of their regular medical care for septic shock. The echocardiogram will assess before and after resuscitation.