Clinical trials

Tracheal intubation in paediatric patients is a high-risk procedure in which failure to achieve successful intubation on the first attempt is associated with an increased risk of complications, including hypoxaemia and airway trauma. Videolaryngoscopes have been increasingly adopted in clinical practice because they improve glottic visualisation; however, evidence of their benefit in paediatric patients remains inconsistent. The VIDEOKIDS trial is a large, pragmatic, international, multicentre, randomised controlled trial designed to compare videolaryngoscopy with direct laryngoscopy as the initial technique for tracheal intubation in paediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia. The primary objective is to determine whether videolaryngoscopy increases the rate of successful intubation on the first attempt compared with direct laryngoscopy.

Tracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with high incidence of difficult intubation and complications. Videolaryngoscopes (VLs) devices have been proposed to improve airway management, and the use of VLs are recommended as first-line or after a first-attempt failure using direct laryngoscopy in ICU airway management algorithms. Although until relatively few years ago there were doubts about whether videolaryngoscopes had advantages over direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation (ETI) in critically ill patients, two recent studies (DEVICE (1), INTUBATE (2)), and a Cochrane review (3) have confirmed that videolaryn should be used?, and what is the best blade? . There are two types of blades commonly used with videolaryngoscopes: the "Macintosh" blade with a slight curvature, and hyperangulated blades. The "Macintosh" blades have a lower angle of vision, but they have the advantage of being similar to the blades commonly used in direct laryngoscopy, making them easy to use for the person performing the ETI. Hyperangulated blades have a greater angle of vision, improving glottic visualization, especially in patients with an anterior glottis. However, the need to overcome this angulation could potentially hinder the passage of the endotracheal tube to the vocal cords. It is unknown if either blade has any advantage for intubating critically ill patients.

When preparing an ICU patient for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy, correct positioning of the endotracheal tube is important. During the procedure, it is possible to puncture the cuff. Tracheal tube cuff puncture can lead to failure of ventilation, loss of positive end-expiratory pressure, and possible aspiration of gastric contents blood or secretions. To minimize the risk, in our ICU, we withdraw the endotracheal tube under direct laryngoscopic vision until the cuff is visible at the vocal cords. This maneuver would also facilitate insertion of the Seldinger needle and insertion of the tracheostomy tube below the endotracheal tube. However, this maneuver to remove the endotracheal tube under direct laryngoscopy can sometimes be difficult. ICU patients present frecuently difficult laryngoscopic vision due to airway edema or secretions. In ICU, the videolaryngopy has been shown to be superior to direct laryngoscopy in visualization the upper airway, allowing better laryngoscopic vision.

\- This will a be an open label, multicentre, randomized, controlled study in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, locally advanced or metastatic, with significant weight loss, and the tumour located in the head of the pancreas associated with dilated main pancreatic duct. Pancreatic Exocrine Replacement Therapy (PERT) in these patients will be given on top of other required therapies (best standard of care, BSC), including oncologic therapies, diabetes mellitus therapies and acid suppressants and nutritional support as appropriate. The duration of the study will be up to six months. Consecutive patients meeting inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be evaluated for the study. Those patients signing the informed consent for study participation will be randomized to one of the following two arms: * The experimental arm will receive the best standard of care (BSC) and PERT (capsules containing pancreatin 35,000 Ph.U.) at a fixed dose of 3 capsules with main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and 2 capsules with snacks over 6 months. * The control arm will receive the BSC over 3 months, followed by a further 3-month open uncontrolled phase of BSC + PERT at the dose mentioned above. All patients will receive in addition a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) bid (any PPI at standard dose is acceptable -omeprazole 20 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg, rabeprazole 20 mg, esomeprazole 40 mg) while on PERT, 20-30 minutes before breakfast and dinner. To make the two arms comparable, patients will be stratified in two groups (locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer) for randomization using computer generated random numbers.

Although VLs improve glottic visualization, on many occasions it may not be accompanied by intubation at the first attempt, because the endotracheal tube has to pass a sharp angle to enter the trachea. To avoid this limitation, a new flexible tip bougie is designed to flexibly navigate the distal tip and help facilitate precise insertion of the endotracheal tube in the trachea. The flexible tip bougie has an integrated slider along the surface which moves the tip anterior and posterior while the pre-curved distal portion of shaft allows the angulation to provide anterior flexion. This new flexible tip bougie could be used as a rescue when first intubation failure using the videolaryngoscopy, or as a first option to improve the percentage of patients intubated at the first attempt.

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, often effectively treated with standard canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRMs). However, approximately 12.5% of cases remain refractory, leading to persistent symptoms and increased healthcare burden. Variations in the anatomical orientation of the semicircular canals (SCCs) may explain the resistance to conventional maneuvers. This study explores a personalized medicine approach, utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based on MRI reconstructions to tailor CRMs with the help of mechanical rotation chair according to individual inner ear anatomy. Methods: The investigators conducted a randomized, multicenter, open-label study targeting patients with refractory posterior canal BPPV. Participants were allocated to either a control group (receiving repeated standard CRMs and Brandt-Daroff exercises) or an intervention group (receiving personalized CRMs based on CFD simulations derived from MRI scans). The intervention group's maneuvers were executed using a mechanical rotational chair designed for precise angulation. Primary outcomes included resolution of nystagmus and vertigo symptoms, while secondary outcomes measured the reduction in healthcare visits and improved quality of life (Dizziness Handicap Inventory score).

The objective of this observational study is to assess the outcomes of a hospital-based Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORe) program focused on exercise in cancer patients undergoing cardiotoxic treatment. This evaluation will be conducted by analyzing disease-related health indicators, functional capacity, and quality of life. Patients at risk of cardiotoxicity attending the Cardio-Onco-Hematology Unit will be offered the exercise program, which includes two modalities: in-person (center-based) and remote (home-based) options. The assignment to either modality is non randomized, based on the functional assessment conducted in the Rehabilitation Unit and the agreement between healthcare professional and patient. All participants will perform a 3-month supervised exercise intervention. There are 3 time points for assessment: at baseline (T0), 3-month after the exercise program (T1) and follow-up at 9 months from baseline (T2).

The main objective is to estimate the annual symptomatic incidence of Bordetella pertussis and RSV infections in patients aged 18 years and over with asthma, which will be identified by PCR, for Bordetella pertussis and by PCR for RSV performed at a specific timepoint from onset of symptoms for each symptomatic Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI). A multicentre prospective cohort study will be undertaken in Spain. Thirty-five centres from different autonomous communities in Spain will participate in the study. Participants will be asked to report to the investigator if they experience an asthma exacerbation or symptoms of acute respiratory infection with 2 years follow up