Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Researchers are testing whether a higher dose of dexamethasone works better than a lower dose for adults on ventilators with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by infections, including COVID-19. The trial enrolls 980 patients in Spanish intensive care units and randomly a…

This trial tests two mechanical ventilation strategies in adults with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a serious lung condition that makes breathing difficult. Half the participants receive airway pressure release ventilation (APRV), while the other …

This study tested a special nursing strategy to prevent pressure sores in patients with severe lung problems who need to lie face down (prone position). The trial included 160 adults in intensive care who were on breathing machines. The strategy involved protecting the eyes, tilt…

This trial tests three steroid drugs, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone, in people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition that often requires a ventilator. The goal is to see if one steroid works better than the others at redu…

This phase II trial tested whether inhaling low doses of carbon monoxide (200 ppm for 90 minutes daily for 3 days) is safe and helpful for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition. Only 4 intubated adults participated, making this a very sma…

This study tested whether early hemofiltration, a continuous dialysis procedure, could improve survival in children who develop respiratory failure after a bone marrow transplant. Only 6 children took part. The idea was to filter out inflammatory molecules that drive lung damage.…

This Phase 2 trial tested whether adding reparixin, an anti-inflammatory drug, to standard care could improve lung function in adults with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The study enrolled 66 patients on mechanical ventilators. Researchers measured…

This study tested whether adding regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) to standard heparin can reduce clotting in continuous kidney dialysis circuits for patients on ECMO. Eighteen ICU adults with ARDS and acute kidney injury were enrolled. Each patient received alternating peri…

This clinical trial tested a drug called sivelestat sodium in 324 adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and systemic inflammation. The drug aims to block a harmful enzyme that damages lung tissue. Researchers measured whether it improved oxygen levels and reduced…

This early-stage study tested a single dose of mesenchymal stromal cells in 7 COVID-19 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were on ventilators. The main goal was to check safety, looking for serious side effects like heart problems or blood clots w…

This study tested whether a newer breathing support method called NAVA helps patients with ARDS come off mechanical ventilation faster than standard PSV. 130 tracheotomy patients were randomly assigned to one of the two methods. The main goal was to see how many days patients wer…

This study tested whether using lung CT images to guide ventilator settings could reduce deaths in people with ARDS. 420 adults were assigned to either standard ventilator care or a strategy based on their lung morphology. The goal was to see if personalized ventilation could imp…

This study tested whether inhaling sevoflurane, a gas usually used for anesthesia, for the first 48 hours could improve oxygen levels and reduce inflammation in 50 adults with moderate to severe ARDS. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either sevoflurane or a standard…

This study tested whether using sevoflurane (an inhaled anesthetic) for sedation could lower death rates and shorten time on a ventilator in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 700 adults were randomly assigned to receive either sevoflurane or standard propo…

This study tested whether a single dose of stem cells (mesenchymal stromal cells) could help patients with severe COVID-19 lung inflammation breathe better. Twenty adults with confirmed COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome were randomly assigned to receive either the …

This completed study tested a breathing machine strategy that uses lung pressure measurements to guide settings, aiming to protect the right side of the heart in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Forty adults on ventilators for less than 72 hours were incl…

This study tested whether using a special imaging technique (EIT) to set breathing machine pressure helps people with severe lung injury (ARDS) survive longer compared to using a standard pressure table. Over 600 adults on breathing machines took part. The main goal was to see if…

This study tested whether N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, could help people with severe COVID-19 lung failure in the ICU. 59 adults received either NAC or a placebo alongside standard care. Researchers measured changes in inflammation markers and tracked survival and leng…

This completed study tested a technique called continuous anterior chest compression (CACC) in 20 adults with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The goal was to see if manually pressing on the chest could improve how air and blood move through the lung…

This phase II study tested an injectable drug called TISA-818-Inj in 57 adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition. Participants received either a low dose, a high dose, or a placebo for 14 days. The main goal was to check safety, with seconda…

This early-stage trial tested a new cell therapy called agenT-797 in 20 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe breathing distress. The therapy uses immune cells from a healthy donor to calm inflammation and fight the virus. The main goals were to check safety and …

This study tested whether giving muscle relaxants along with sedation helps improve oxygen levels in patients with severe COVID-19 lung failure (ARDS) who need a breathing machine. Forty adults were enrolled. The goal was to see if this approach could reduce complications and imp…

This study tested whether placing patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) face down (prone) for at least 16 hours a day could lower their risk of dying. 474 adults on ventilators were randomly assigned to prone or standard (semi-recumbent) positioning. The…

This study tested whether using very small breaths (ultraprotective ventilation) on a breathing machine, without a heart-lung bypass machine, could improve survival and reduce time on the ventilator for COVID-19 patients with severe lung injury. About 220 adults with confirmed CO…

This study looked at 90 adults with severe ARDS (a serious lung condition) who were on breathing machines. It compared two ways of using the machine to open up the lungs and improve oxygen levels. The goal was to see which method works better using ultrasound and blood oxygen mea…

This study tested whether a single infusion of stem cells from donor bone marrow could help people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition. 120 adults on ventilators received either stem cells or a placebo. Researchers measured changes in oxygen l…

This study tested whether using a special antiseptic dressing on ECMO tubes can reduce serious infections in critically ill patients. About 270 adults on ECMO for heart or lung failure were randomly assigned to get either the special dressing or a standard one. The goal was to se…

This completed Phase 3 trial tested the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir in 87 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (severe breathing failure). Participants received either remdesivir plus standard care or a placebo plus standard care for …

This phase 3 trial tested whether the drug aviptadil can help hospitalized COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). 471 participants received either aviptadil plus standard care or a placebo plus standard care. The main goal was to see how well patients …

This study tested a device called PrismaLung+ that removes carbon dioxide from the blood, allowing doctors to use gentler breathing machine settings to help lungs heal. It included 63 adults with mild to moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were already on a ve…

This study tested whether filtering the blood (therapeutic plasma exchange) could help severe COVID-19 patients by removing harmful immune molecules that cause lung damage. Twenty-one adults in intensive care with COVID-19 and lung failure were randomly assigned to receive either…

This study tests two new devices (imPulse Una and TOR) that use sound waves to detect COVID-19, flu, and RSV without needles or swabs. About 300 adults with or without symptoms will have a quick, painless scan. The goal is to see if these e-stethoscopes can accurately identify th…

This study looked at 277 ICU patients on breathing machines to see how well chest X-rays (read by intensive care doctors) agreed with CT scans (read by radiologists) for diagnosing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The results showed only fair agreement, meaning X-rays …

This study tested whether measuring a protein called Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) in the blood can help doctors tell the difference between two types of lung fluid buildup: one caused by heart problems and another caused by lung injury. Researchers measured CC16 levels in 100 ICU…

This completed study tested an artificial intelligence model that analyzes chest CT scans to help diagnose and manage Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Researchers used data from 400 ICU patients to train the AI to classify ARDS severity, recommend treatments, and predi…

This study looked at whether a quick diaphragm ultrasound in the emergency room can predict which patients with severe breathing problems will need a ventilator within the first four hours. Researchers measured diaphragm movement in 104 adults upon arrival and again four hours la…

This pilot study tested a non-invasive device that stimulates the vagus nerve (nVNS) in patients hospitalized with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury. The goal was to see if adding nVNS to standard care could prevent severe lung inflammation and the need for a breathing mach…

This trial tests a new inflatable cushion called the BathMat, designed to help reposition patients lying on their stomachs (proned) in the ICU. Proning helps patients with severe breathing problems get more oxygen, but repositioning them every few hours currently requires at leas…

This study tested two ways of positioning patients with severe lung injury (ARDS) who are on ventilators and placed face-down (prone) to help breathing. The goal was to see if a 'swimmer' position—where the head is turned and one arm is bent—causes fewer severe pressure sores tha…

This study tested a treatment called radial shock wave phonophoresis for people with shoulder impingement syndrome. 70 adults aged 25-40 with shoulder pain were split into two groups: one got shock wave therapy plus standard physical therapy, the other got shock waves alone. The …

This study tested whether a high-flow oxygen system (Optiflow) works better than a standard oxygen mask for patients with breathing failure. About 100 adults in intensive care who needed non-invasive ventilation (NIV) took part. The goal was to see if Optiflow keeps oxygen levels…

This study looked at whether lying face down (prone positioning) helps hospitalized COVID-19 patients who have low oxygen levels but are not candidates for breathing machines. About 596 adults took part. The goal was to see if this simple position change could lower the chance of…

This study looked at 80 children aged 1 month to 5 years with severe breathing problems from pneumonia or bronchiolitis. It compared two non-invasive breathing support methods: High Velocity Nasal Insufflation (HVNI) and Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). The goal …

This study tested whether having conscious COVID-19 patients with breathing problems lie face down (prone position) while on high-flow oxygen could reduce the need for a breathing tube. Over 400 adults with COVID-19 pneumonia and mild to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome…

This study tested whether adding functional electrical stimulation (FES) to cycling exercises helps people who survived severe COVID-19 recover more quickly. Twenty-two patients who had been on ventilators in the ICU took part in a 4-week rehab program. Half did cycling with FES,…

This study looks at 20 patients who have both high pressure in their belly (intra-abdominal hypertension) and severe lung injury (ARDS). Researchers will compare two methods for setting the ventilator's positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP): one based on lung pressure measureme…

This study investigates whether electrical impedance tomography (EIT) — a non-invasive imaging technique — can help doctors choose the best ventilator settings for each patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Researchers will compare different methods of setting …

This study looks at 377 adults with severe lung failure (ARDS) who were treated with prone positioning (lying face down to help breathing). Researchers will use computer models to predict which patients are at highest risk of dying in the ICU. The goal is to help doctors make bet…

This trial investigates whether a recruitment maneuver—a brief procedure to open collapsed lung areas—affects blood levels of sRAGE, a marker of lung cell injury, in patients with diffuse acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The study involves 24 mechanically ventilated IC…

This study tests whether gradually tilting patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) upright—from lying flat to a 90° seated position—improves how their lungs handle mechanical ventilation. Researchers will measure lung pressure, aeration, and oxygen levels at each…

This study looks at whether certain proteins linked to the RAGE receptor—found in lung fluid and blood—are elevated in ICU patients with acute lung injury or ARDS. Researchers will measure these proteins in 60 mechanically ventilated patients within the first day of injury and tr…

This study asks 350 critical care doctors and advanced practice providers to review fictional patient cases of sepsis and ARDS. Each case includes treatment recommendations that were either made by a real clinician or generated by an artificial intelligence system. The participan…

This study looks at whether placing patients face-down (prone) to help them breathe can damage nerves in the shoulder area. Researchers will use electrical tests to check for nerve injury in adults with severe lung failure who are sedated and on a ventilator. The goal is to find …

This study investigates why COVID-19 causes severe lung injury (ARDS) by looking at tiny blood vessels in the lungs. Researchers will compare 39 patients with COVID-19 ARDS to those with ARDS from other causes. They measure 'alveolar dead space' — lung areas that get air but not …

This study investigates how the immune system responds to COVID-19 in people with chronic lung conditions like asthma, COPD, or cystic fibrosis, compared to those without lung disease. Researchers collect blood, sputum, and nasal samples to measure immune signals and gene activit…

This study tested a non-invasive imaging method called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to measure airway opening pressure in 6 adults with acute lung injury or ARDS. The goal was to see if EIT could detect where and when small airways open during a slow breath, which might …

This pilot study tested whether a heart MRI could be done safely and effectively in children with cancer who recently had sepsis. The goal was to see if the MRI could find hidden heart inflammation or weakness that standard tests might miss. Only 7 children took part, and the foc…

This completed study looked at 686 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to see how their immune status affects the risk of secondary infections like herpes or cytomegalovirus. Researchers measured immune cells and virus reactivation in blood and lung samples. …

This study looked at 13 adults who had been on a breathing tube for at least 2 days and were at risk for breathing trouble after the tube was removed. Researchers compared two types of noninvasive breathing support: one that senses the patient's own breathing signals (NAVA) and o…

This study looked at whether neck muscle activity during sleep affects breathing recovery in 17 COVID-19 patients who were on ventilators in the ICU. Researchers used sleep tests and activity monitors to track sleep quality and breathing patterns. The goal was to understand why s…

This completed study tested whether an AI system could improve how ventilators are set for children (ages 1 month to 18 years) in the pediatric ICU with breathing problems like pneumonia or respiratory failure. Researchers compared AI-generated recommendations to the actual adjus…

This study looked at ways to improve the care, environment, and daily routines of children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to support their healing and natural sleep-wake cycles. Researchers observed 56 children aged 6 months to 18 years who were on breathing machines…

This study looked at 10 adults with moderate-to-severe ARDS who were on breathing machines. Researchers used a non-invasive imaging method (EIT) to adjust ventilator pressure settings and then checked how the heart's right side responded using ultrasound. The goal was to find the…

This study observed over 4,000 patients in Chinese ICUs who needed breathing support for acute respiratory failure. Researchers tracked treatments, outcomes, and costs to better understand the disease burden. The goal is to improve care and identify risk factors, not to test a ne…

This study looked at how well CPAP therapy works for COVID-19 patients who have trouble breathing. Researchers collected data from 250 patients in a hospital to see how they responded to treatment. The goal was to learn more about managing severe COVID-19 in real-life settings.

This study followed 38 children who survived acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a severe lung condition. One year after leaving the hospital, researchers checked for lasting breathing problems like cough, wheeze, and lung stiffness using scans and tests. The goal was to …

This study tested whether a special imaging method called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) can help doctors choose the best ventilator settings for patients with severe lung injury (ARDS). The goal was to see if EIT could identify which patients would benefit from higher or …

This study tested whether a miniaturized ultrasound probe placed in the esophagus could help predict outcomes in 50 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The probe measures a blood vessel collapse index that may indicate heart strain. Researchers tracked how m…

This study looked at 513 children with a severe lung condition called ARDS to find different subtypes of the disease. Researchers collected blood samples to measure proteins and gene activity. The goal was to better understand the disease and help design more targeted treatments …

This study looked at a new way to set breathing machines for people with severe lung injury (ARDS). The method uses pressure measurements inside the lungs to adjust settings. Nine adults took part to see if the approach is safe and works well. The goal was to learn more, not to c…

This study reviewed medical records of over 640,000 people in the US who had acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and were in the ICU. Researchers wanted to find out what new health problems—physical, mental, or emotional—arise after such a stay, known as post-intensive car…

This study looked at 319 adults with severe lung failure (ARDS) who were placed face-down to help them breathe. Researchers wanted to see if feeding through a tube placed past the stomach (post-pyloric) caused fewer stomach problems than standard feeding. The goal was to find the…

This study looked at whether a blood test measuring suPAR levels can predict which adults hospitalized with COVID-19 will develop severe breathing failure requiring a breathing tube. Researchers analyzed stored blood samples from about 367 patients. The goal was to see if a suPAR…

This study looked at how the pressure used in mechanical ventilators affects the right side of the heart in people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Researchers measured lung pressure and heart function in 50 adults and children. The goal was to find out if high lu…

This University of Oxford study looked at 48 ICU patients on ventilators for respiratory failure. Doctors sometimes inflate the lungs briefly (a recruitment manoeuvre) to reopen collapsed areas, but it's unclear when this helps. Researchers used a device to measure lung volume an…

This study tested a new method called continuous anterior chest compression (CACC) to help people with severe lung injury (ARDS) breathe better. Twenty adults on ventilators were studied to see if pressing on the chest improved lung function compared to lying on the stomach. The …

This study followed 283 adults who needed intensive care for severe COVID-19 lung damage (ARDS) in Poland. Researchers tracked who survived up to 4 years later and asked survivors about their quality of life, breathing, and daily function. No new treatment was tested—the goal was…

This study examined over 1,200 adults admitted to an intensive care unit to see if the reason they were admitted (like sepsis or breathing failure) could predict their risk of dying in the ICU, beyond what standard severity scores show. Researchers looked back at medical records …

This completed study looked at 543 people who survived severe COVID-19 with lung failure (ARDS) to see if their socioeconomic status affected their recovery. Researchers checked breathing, mental health, and quality of life six months after leaving the ICU. The goal is to use thi…

This study looked at 76 ICU patients with severe pneumonia who were placed on a lung machine (ECMO) and given minimal ventilator support. Researchers wanted to see if this approach changed how well the kidneys worked. They reviewed medical records from 2019 to 2023, comparing uri…

This study looked at 380 adults in the intensive care unit with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Researchers tracked organ problems like kidney injury and lung failure, and measured survival rates at 30 days and one year. The goal was to learn how COVID-19 causes organ damage, no…

This study looked at anonymous medical records from over 55,000 past ICU patients to find patterns that could help predict three life-threatening conditions: sepsis (body-wide infection), ARDS (severe lung injury), and acute kidney injury. Researchers used computer models to anal…

This study looked at 33 adults with ARDS (a serious lung condition) who were lying on their stomachs (prone position) and needed help breathing. Doctors wanted to know if certain heart measurements could tell them when a patient needs more fluids. The study tested different ways …

This study looked at a new way to measure airway closure in patients with severe lung injury (ARDS) who are on breathing machines in the ICU. Researchers tested a simple method to see if the lungs are trapping air, which can help doctors adjust ventilator settings. The study invo…

This study looked at 30 people in the ICU with severe H1N1 flu who needed a breathing machine. Researchers collected fluid from the lungs to study the virus and the body's immune response. The goal was to learn more about what causes severe illness, not to test a new treatment.

This study looked at why antibiotics often fail to treat pneumonia in COVID-19 patients on ventilators. Researchers measured how much of the antibiotic piperacillin reaches the lungs in 34 adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The goal was to understand if poor lung penetration …

This study looked at whether two different doctors can get the same diaphragm measurements using ultrasound in patients with severe breathing problems in the emergency room. 26 adults with acute respiratory distress were each scanned twice by two separate investigators. The goal …

This completed study looked at why placing patients with severe lung failure (ARDS) on their stomachs (prone positioning) improves oxygen levels. Researchers used lung ultrasound to measure changes in 60 patients, including those with COVID-19. The goal was to understand who resp…

This study looked at 60 adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on breathing machines. It compared two ventilation methods—airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) and low tidal volume (LTV) ventilation—to see which one better protects the right side of the heart…

This study looked at whether the angle of a patient's head (flat at 0° or raised at 30°) changes the esophageal pressure reading used to set ventilators. Eleven adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had their pressures measured in both positions. The goal was to …

This study looked at 32 adults with severe lung injury (ARDS) who were placed face-down (prone) to help them breathe. Researchers measured pressure inside the lungs using a small balloon in the esophagus. They wanted to see if the face-down position changes lung pressure enough t…

This study looked at 94 adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who needed a breathing tube and were placed on their stomachs (prone position). Researchers used a non-invasive imaging tool called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to measure how air and blood fl…