Critical Illness

This is a pilot study to examine the effects of melatonin on the sleep patterns of critically ill patients. Patients will have their sleep patterns measured with a device attached to their head with a headband then be given a dose of melatonin. Their participation in the study will last two days.

This prospective observational cohort study investigates the subset-specific metabolic adaptation and functional remodeling of cytotoxic γδT cells in critically ill patients with and without sepsis. Emerging evidence indicates that γδT cells, as a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity, play a critical role in early anti-infection defense during sepsis. However, the functional status and underlying regulatory mechanisms of cytotoxic γδT cells in septic patients remain incompletely understood. Our preliminary single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that cytotoxic γδT cells from septic patients exhibit significant alterations in cytotoxicity-associated molecules (GZMB, PRF1, GNLY) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway genes, particularly COX6C, which correlates with cytotoxic effector molecule expression. This study aims to systematically characterize the proportion, cytotoxicity, and mitochondrial metabolic function of circulating cytotoxic γδT cells across three cohorts: healthy controls, critically ill non-septic patients, and critically ill septic patients. By integrating flow cytometry, mitochondrial function assays, and functional validation experiments, we seek to elucidate the role of COX6C-mediated mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities in cytotoxic γδT cell dysfunction, providing theoretical basis for understanding immune dysregulation in sepsis and identifying novel therapeutic targets.

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.

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent among patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Critical illness, environmental factors, and routine clinical care frequently result in fragmented sleep, reduced sleep quality, and disruption of normal circadian rhythms. Previous studies have shown that poor sleep in ICU patients may be associated with delirium, impaired recovery, decreased functional outcomes, and lower patient satisfaction. Environmental factors such as noise generated by alarms and medical equipment, continuous light exposure, frequent nursing interventions, pain, anxiety, and discomfort related to invasive devices have been identified as major contributors to sleep disruption in critically ill patients. Several non-pharmacological interventions, including earplugs, eye masks, environmental modifications, and nursing care bundles, have demonstrated potential benefits in improving sleep quality. However, most studies have focused on isolated interventions, and evidence regarding comprehensive multimodal approaches remains limited. This two-center non-randomized controlled pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal sleep promotion intervention in adult postoperative ICU patients. The intervention combines individualized sleep hygiene education, provision of earplugs and eye masks, environmental measures to reduce nighttime noise and light exposure, and reorganization of nursing care activities to minimize unnecessary sleep interruptions. Patients admitted to the intervention ICU will receive the multimodal sleep promotion program, while patients admitted to the control ICU will receive usual care. The primary objective is to assess the effect of the intervention on patient-reported sleep quality. Secondary objectives include evaluating patient experience during ICU stay and exploring the relationship between sleep outcomes and selected demographic and clinical variables. The findings of this pilot study will provide preliminary evidence regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of multimodal sleep promotion strategies in adult ICU settings and may support the development of future larger-scale studies.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a new medical device that sends electrical signals to the thigh muscles is safe and easy to use for people in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) who are at risk of losing muscle strength. It will also explore whether this treatment can help slow down muscle weakening. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Do participants develop medical problems when receiving electrical muscle stimulation in the ICU? * Is electrical muscle stimulation a practical way to help reduce muscle weakness in critically ill patients? Researchers will compare the control group (standard of care) to the intervention group (standard of care plus 60-minute sessions of electrical muscle stimulation daily during the ICU stay) to see if the device is safe and easy to use. Participants will: * Receive either standard of care or standard of care plus electrical muscle stimulation of the thigh muscles * Have their muscle strength checked during the study * Complete a survey three months after ICU discharge to check on their recovery

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection, representing one of the leading causes of death in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Gut microbiota disruption is increasingly recognized as a key driver of persistent inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction in septic patients. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising approach to restore gut microbial homeostasis. This study hypothesizes that FMT acts not through long-term engraftment of donor microbes, but via a "functional pulse" - a potent, transient biological intervention that delivers high-dose microbial metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids), competitively inhibits pathogens, and rapidly modulates intestinal immune cell functions. This is a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in the ICU of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. A total of 60 adult patients diagnosed with sepsis according to Sepsis-3 criteria within 24 hours of ICU admission will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ICU standard care alone (control group) or ICU standard care plus FMT administered via a nasojejunal tube for three consecutive days (intervention group). The primary endpoint is all-cause mortality at 90 days. Secondary endpoints include ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, 28-day mortality, changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolites, serum citrulline levels as a marker of intestinal barrier function, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, vasopressor requirements, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels, fluid balance, incidence of ICU delirium and feeding intolerance, and 90-day hospital readmission rate. Safety outcomes include gastrointestinal symptoms and transient fever.

Every year in the United States, millions of adults make crucial medical decisions for loved ones in the intensive care unit while facing extreme emotional stress. This project will assess REFRAME, a brief tablet-based program designed to help decision-makers manage their emotions in these situations. Results from this study may lead to the creation of a widely accessible tool that alleviates emotional suffering and enhances the quality of medical decision-making for families in crisis.

Mechanically ventilated intensive care patients will be sampled for a small amount of exhaled breath condensate from the ventilator circuit and for venous blood. Proteomic analysis of the exhaled breath condensate will be performed using mass spectrometry and in the blood sample, corresponding changes in the DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites will be studied. Resulting profiles will be correlated with routinely monitored parameters in order to identify patterns corresponding to various pathologies in order to enable their early detection.

The overarching goal of the proposed study is to determine the trajectories of physical recovery and cellular markers involved with the underlying failure to recover muscle after critical illness, while exploring which characteristics are associated with sustained physical disability. This proposal will examine muscle pathophysiology carefully aligned with physical function outcomes in order to longitudinally assess the recovery, or failed recovery, of muscle function in participants after critical illness: 1. to examine the recovery of muscle and physical function in ICU survivors through longitudinal assessments 2. to investigate the underlying cellular markers and mechanisms of muscle recovery in ICU survivors 3. to determine which cellular markers contribute to physical disability in ICU survivors up to 1 year after hospital admission

A growing number of patients are surviving a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) but may experience long-lasting psychological problems, but research evaluating such treatment for ICU patients is scant. The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefit of an evidence-based psychological intervention for anxiety and associated outcomes for ICU patients. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * Is this intervention feasible and acceptable in ARF patients? * Is this intervention in the ICU and hospital associated with reduced anxiety symptoms? Participants will participate in a cognitive behavioral therapy informed self-management intervention aimed to reduce anxiety symptoms. Researchers will compare the intervention group to patients who receive usual care to see if the intervention reduces symptoms at the the conclusion of the intervention and at 3 months follow-up.

Survivors of critical illness frequently develop persistent cognitive and emotional impairments, known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which substantially impact quality of life and long-term recovery. While prior research has mainly focused on identifying risk factors, the mechanisms underlying resilience to these sequelae remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests that biological factors, including inflammatory responses and genetic vulnerability, together with cognitive reserve, may play a key role in shaping recovery trajectories. The aim of this multicenter, prospective observational study is to investigate how cognitive reserve, inflammatory phenotype, and genetic profiles interact to influence cognitive and emotional recovery after critical illness. Adult patients will be recruited at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission across two centers in Spain. Clinical and sociodemographic data will be collected during the ICU stay, and biological samples obtained early after admission will undergo transcriptomic and genetic analyses. Cognitive and emotional outcomes will be assessed at hospital discharge and at 3 and 12 months post-discharge using standardised neuropsychological and telemedicine-based evaluations. By integrating clinical, biological, and cognitive data, this study seeks to identify recovery phenotypes and resilience mechanisms in PICS. The results may contribute to improved risk stratification, inform personalized interventions, and support the development of future strategies aimed at reducing the long-term burden of critical illness.

Extubation failure, defined as the need for reintubation after planned removal of the endotracheal tube, occurs in up to 20% of critically ill patients and is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and increased mortality. Current assessments of extubation readiness focus primarily on respiratory performance and do not routinely evaluate upper airway protective function. The Airway Protection for Extubation (APEX) score is a bedside assessment tool based on swallowing biomechanics designed to evaluate airway protection before extubation. In a pilot prospective cohort study, the APEX score demonstrated promising performance for identifying patients at increased risk of extubation failure. This prospective multicenter cohort study will be conducted across ICUs in Brazil to externally validate the APEX score in critically ill adults undergoing planned extubation. The study will evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the APEX score for predicting extubation failure and will assess its performance across different patient populations and hospital settings. The results of this study may support the incorporation of a simple bedside assessment of swallowing biomechanics into extubation readiness evaluation and contribute to more individualized decision-making regarding extubation in critically ill patients.

Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) is an established airway clearance technique for patients with chronic conditions like neuromuscular diseases. However, its use in critically ill ICU patients remains inconsistent and lacks standardized guidelines. Despite growing research, current practices vary widely in patient selection, treatment protocols, and safety management, with limited high-quality evidence to support clear recommendations. To address this gap, an international, multidisciplinary Delphi consensus study is needed to establish expert-based best practices and feasible guidelines for the safe and effective implementation of MI-E in the intensive care setting.

This is a prospective longitudinal study that will evaluate the unmet needs of older adults (65 and older) who return home (either directly or after short-term rehab) after an ICU hospitalization, evaluate the association of these unmet needs with clinically relevant outcomes, and assess barriers and facilitators to addressing these unmet needs. The proposed research will inform the development and evaluation of a subsequent intervention to improve functional outcomes among older ICU survivors, in alignment with the NIH's mission to reduce disability.

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.

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional pilot study aims to evaluate the short-term physiological effects of intravenous anisodamine on sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall parameters in adult patients with septic shock. Eligible patients will have septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria, will require norepinephrine support after adequate fluid resuscitation, and will be receiving invasive mechanical ventilation and PiCCO-based hemodynamic monitoring. After baseline assessment, participants will receive intravenous anisodamine according to the study protocol. Anisodamine will be administered as a loading dose of 0.5 mg/kg within 3 minutes, with a minimum dose of 20 mg and a maximum dose of 40 mg, followed by continuous infusion at 0.02-0.1 mg/kg/hour, with a maximum total daily dose of 200 mg. Sublingual microcirculatory variables, including microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and heterogeneity index, as well as vascular-waterfall parameters, including estimated critical closing pressure, estimated mean systemic filling pressure, and the Pcc-Pmsf gradient, will be measured at baseline, 3 hours, and 6 hours after initiation of anisodamine. Systemic hemodynamic, perfusion, vasopressor, PiCCO-derived variables, and safety outcomes will also be collected. The primary objective is to characterize immediate changes in sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall physiology after anisodamine administration and to provide preliminary data for future controlled studies.

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional pilot study aims to evaluate the short-term physiological effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine on sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall parameters in adult patients with septic shock. Eligible patients will have septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria, require norepinephrine support after adequate fluid resuscitation, receive invasive mechanical ventilation, and have PiCCO-based hemodynamic monitoring available before dexmedetomidine initiation. After baseline assessment, participants will receive intravenous dexmedetomidine according to the study protocol. Dexmedetomidine will be administered as a continuous intravenous infusion at 0.2-0.7 µg/kg/hour without a loading dose. The infusion rate may be adjusted according to the target sedation level, hemodynamic status, and adverse effects. Sublingual microcirculatory variables, including microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and heterogeneity index, as well as vascular-waterfall parameters, including estimated critical closing pressure, estimated mean systemic filling pressure, and the Pcc-Pmsf gradient, will be measured at baseline, 3 hours, and 6 hours after initiation of dexmedetomidine. Systemic hemodynamic, perfusion, vasopressor, PiCCO-derived, sedation-related, and safety outcomes will also be collected. The primary objective is to characterize immediate changes in sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall physiology after dexmedetomidine administration and to provide preliminary data for future controlled studies.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients and is frequently associated with fluid overload, which can worsen clinical outcomes. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) allows fluid removal through net ultrafiltration (UFNET), but some patients develop hemodynamic instability or signs of poor tissue perfusion during this process. The purpose of this prospective observational study is to evaluate tolerance to net ultrafiltration in critically ill patients with AKI receiving CRRT. The study will assess clinical, hemodynamic, ultrasound, perfusion, and biochemical parameters before and during fluid removal to identify factors associated with ultrafiltration intolerance. The investigators hypothesize that alterations in hemodynamic, perfusion, and congestion-related parameters can identify patients at increased risk of ultrafiltration intolerance before the development of overt hypotension. The results may help improve individualized fluid removal strategies and optimize the safety of CRRT in critically ill patients.

A multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, no-inferiority clinical trial conducted across 5 tertiary medical centers in China. The objective of this RCT is to evaluate the sedative efficacy and safety profile of remimazolam besylate compared with dexmedetomidine in patients requiring mechanical ventilation following non-cardiac surgery. The study hypothesized that remimazolam besylate is non-inferior to dexmedetomidine regarding the primary efficacy outcome.

Accurate measures of kidney function is important for precision dosing of many medications. The current methods of determining kidney function largely hinge on the use of equations that use common laboratory values such as serum creatinine \& static variables like age \& weight. These are helpful for trending over time, but often are inaccurate during times of medical illness. Other more accurate methods of measuring kidney function include urine collection, although this is not commonly used because of various reasons that make the collection inconvenient or unreliable. The new transdermal glomerular filtration (tGFR) device permits accurate, real-time evaluation of kidney function. This novel method has not been rigorously compared with urine collection \& other methods of determining kidney function in hospitalized patients. The goal of the study is to compare tGFR with other accepted methods of determining kidney function.

Serious acute heart and lung illnesses like heart failure, severe COVID, and sepsis often leave survivors struggling not only physically, but also with lasting depression, anxiety, and stress. These problems that are hard to treat because access to mental health care is often limited. To help address this, the researchers created Lift, a fully automated mindfulness program designed with patient input and delivered through a mobile app. The investigators now plan a large, multi-site study to test whether Lift improves mental health and quality of life over six months compared to a critical illness education program called Enlighten Recovery. Overall the goal is to make an easy-to-use, widely accessible program available to people across the U.S., including those who speak Spanish.

This study prospectively observes changes in critical closing pressure (Pcc) and derived hemodynamic parameters in mechanically ventilated distributive shock patients when clinically indicated norepinephrine dose reduction is performed by the attending physician. Pcc is measured before and 30 minutes after dose reduction using a stepwise inspiratory hold maneuver via PiCCO monitoring.

Delirium is a common syndrome in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Those experiencing delirium may suddenly feel confused, have trouble thinking clearly, struggle to pay attention, or see and hear things that are not real. Delirium is associated with worse long-term outcomes such as cognitive impairment, depression, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). This study examines whether an investigational medical-grade ketone supplement drink (ketone monoester \[brand name: Ultrapure Ketone Monoester\]) is safe and feasible to use in ICU patients, and to look for signals that it might reduce delirium or shorten its duration compared to a volume-, taste-, and calorie-matched placebo.

This study aims to investigate how sepsis and critical illness can impair the cardiovascular system and microcirculation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, which can lead to long-lasting muscle weakness/dysfunction or ICU-Acquired Weakness (ICU-AW) and exercise limitations.

Intravenous (IV) fluids-fluids given directly into a vein-are among the most common treatments used in intensive care units (ICUs). They are given for several reasons, such as supporting blood pressure, providing daily water and salts, replacing losses, or diluting medications. However, the type of fluid, the amount given, and the salt (sodium and chloride) load can vary widely between hospitals and doctors. In Turkey, there is currently no up-to-date, multicenter information describing how IV fluids are used in adult ICUs in everyday practice. This study, called TR-FLUID, aims to describe IV fluid use in adult ICUs across Turkey. It is an observational study, meaning the researchers only observe and record care that is already being provided. No extra tests, medications, or procedures are added, and the study does not change how patients are treated in any way. On a single pre-selected study day at each participating ICU, the research team will identify all adult patients (18 years and older) who are in the ICU at 8:00 a.m. For each patient, the team will record the IV fluids given over the following 24 hours-including the fluid type, the volume, the reason it was given, and the resulting sodium and chloride load-together with the patient's fluid balance. All information is taken from the patient's existing medical records. The main goal is to determine what proportion of patients receive fluids for resuscitation and which fluid types are used. The study will also describe the total fluid, sodium, and chloride given by indication; the 24-hour fluid balance; and how fluid use relates to short-term events such as the need for blood-pressure-supporting medications, new kidney injury, and ICU and hospital survival. These relationships will be explored to generate hypotheses and are not intended to prove cause and effect. The findings will provide a national picture of current fluid practice in Turkish ICUs, help identify where practice differs from guidelines, and serve as a foundation for future quality-improvement and research efforts.