Respiratory failure
MONDO:0021113The significant impairment of gas exchange within the lungs resulting in hypoxia, hypercarbia, or both, to the extent that organ tissue perfusion is severely compromised. Causes include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, emphysema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, and congestive heart failure. Treatment requires intubation and mechanical ventilation until the time the lungs recover sufficient function.
Also known as: failure, respiratory, respiratory failure, acute respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, acute and chronic respiratory failure, acute-on-chronic respiratory failure
789 clinical trials for this condition and its sub-types, 279 tagged with Respiratory failure itself.
Follow this condition to get notified about new trialsWhere it sits in the disease tree
Browse by category →Part of
Sub-types of Respiratory failure
-
Acute respiratory failure 153 trials · 588 incl. sub-types
3 sub-types
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome 298 trials · 417 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Pulmonary edema 27 trials · 32 incl. sub-types Sub-types →
- Neonatal respiratory failure 13 trials
-
Respiratory paralysis 20 trials
Most studied deeper sub-types
-
Can a new ventilation mode keep lungs healthier after heart surgery?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial tests whether a newer ventilation method, called flow-controlled ventilation, keeps the lungs and diaphragm in better shape than the standard pressure-controlled method during elective heart bypass surgery. About 154 adults scheduled for on-pump coronary artery bypass …
Sponsor: Koşuyolu Kartal Heart Training and Research Hospital • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Sep 04, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Smart mask alarms may spot breathing trouble before it turns critical
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial tests a new monitoring device, the Linshom CPRM, which fits into an oxygen mask or nasal cannula and alerts nurses when a patient's breathing starts to fail. Researchers will compare standard monitoring plus the Linshom alarm against standard monitoring alone in about …
Sponsor: Linshom Medical, Inc. • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Sep 03, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can a smart oxygen device outperform manual care in recovery?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial tests whether an automated oxygen titration system, called FreeO2, can improve oxygen weaning in patients recovering from acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The device continuously adjusts oxygen flow based on oxygen saturation levels, potentially reducing episodes o…
Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Sep 02, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can a blood filter ease breathing in severe COPD without a tube?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial asks whether adding a device that removes carbon dioxide directly from the blood (ECCO2R) to standard noninvasive ventilation can help adults hospitalized with a severe COPD flare-up. Participants have high CO2 and acidic blood despite ventilation and cannot have a bre…
Sponsor: Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM) • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Aug 27, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Spinal zaps could reboot breathing after brain injury
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial tests whether epidural spinal cord stimulation can help people with severe brain injury breathe without a ventilator. Ten patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury who need mechanical ventilation will receive a surgically implanted electrode that delivers electric…
Sponsor: Zhongda Hospital • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Aug 16, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can a new painkiller prevent breathing crises after surgery?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether a newer opioid painkiller, oliceridine, is less likely than the standard sufentanil to cause breathing problems after surgery in people at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. About 851 adults with known or suspected sleep apnea will receive one of th…
Sponsor: Peking University First Hospital • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Aug 13, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
New breathing vest could reduce need for Re-Intubation in ICU patients
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study compares a new type of breathing device (biphasic cuirass ventilator) to standard non-invasive ventilation in 50 high-risk patients who are about to have their breathing tube removed. The goal is to see if the new device can reduce the number of patients who need to be…
Sponsor: University of Missouri-Columbia • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jul 30, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
AI takes the wheel: could a computer outthink doctors on ventilator settings for kids?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial tests whether an AI system can help doctors choose better ventilator settings for children (ages 1 month to 18 years) in the pediatric ICU who need a breathing machine. Half of the children will receive standard care, while the other half will have their ventilator adj…
Sponsor: Wu Rongzhou • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jul 29, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can High-Flow oxygen through a tracheostomy speed ventilator weaning?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial compares two oxygen methods for tracheostomized patients who are being weaned off a mechanical ventilator. Half receive high-flow oxygen directly into the tracheostomy tube, while the other half receive conventional oxygen. The goal is to see if high-flow oxygen helps …
Sponsor: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jul 22, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Which humidifier prevents airway blockages in trauma ICU patients?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis trial compares two ways to humidify air for trauma patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation: active heated humidifiers and passive heat-and-moisture exchangers. The goal is to see which method reduces airway complications like mucus plugs and tube blockages, and improves…
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jul 22, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Smart breathing machines at home could cut hospital visits for COPD patients
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether adding a home telemonitoring system to standard nighttime breathing support (non-invasive ventilation) can help people with severe COPD and high carbon dioxide levels. About 92 participants will be split into two groups: one using standard home ventila…
Sponsor: Air Liquide Healthcare Spain • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jul 03, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Electric belly zaps may help spinal cord injury patients cough better
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether a device that electrically stimulates the abdominal muscles can improve cough strength in 150 adults with a recent spinal cord injury. Participants will use the device during breathing exercises for up to 6 weeks. The goal is to see if it helps clear mucu…
Sponsor: Liberate Medical • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:03 UTC
-
Smart ventilator settings may cut Post-Surgery lung failure
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study tests a new method for setting ventilators during abdominal surgery to prevent postoperative respiratory failure. The approach adjusts settings based on 'mechanical power,' a measure that combines several ventilator parameters. The trial will enroll 490 adults having a…
Sponsor: University Hospital, Montpellier • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:00 UTC
-
Could a bag CPAP device save lives in Low-Resource hospitals?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether a Bag CPAP device, added to standard oxygen, can reduce the need for breathing tubes in adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Researchers in Rwanda will randomly assign 250 patients to receive either Bag CPAP plus oxygen or oxygen alone. The ma…
Sponsor: Prof RWABIHAMA Jean Paul • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 11:02 UTC
-
Can a simple oxygen trick prevent dangerous drops during emergency intubation?
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether giving high-flow nasal oxygen during the intubation procedure can prevent severe drops in oxygen levels in ICU patients with acute respiratory failure. 500 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the extra oxygen or usual care. The goal i…
Sponsor: University Hospital, Tours • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:51 UTC
-
New sedative trial aims to cut delirium and save lives in elderly ICU patients
Disease control Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether dexmedetomidine, a sedative that keeps patients more awake and has fewer side effects, can improve survival and reduce confusion in older adults (65+) on breathing machines in the ICU. Researchers will compare it to a placebo (salt water) in 300 patients …
Phase 4 • Sponsor: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton • Aim: Disease control
Last updated Jun 26, 2026 16:25 UTC
-
Can a simple ultrasound combo predict breathing failure before it happens?
Diagnosis Not yet recruitingBlunt chest trauma can lead to serious breathing problems, but current imaging tools have limits. This study tests whether adding a diaphragm ultrasound to the standard lung ultrasound helps doctors predict which patients will develop hypoxemic respiratory failure. Adults with is…
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Diagnosis
Last updated Sep 10, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
AI-Powered ECG may spot hidden lung clots in minutes
Diagnosis Not yet recruitingThis study is testing whether a simple, 1-minute heart recording (ECG) analyzed by a computer can help detect pulmonary embolism, a serious blood clot in the lungs. Researchers will enroll 500 adults who need to be checked for this condition. The goal is to see if this quick, non…
Sponsor: I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University • Aim: Diagnosis
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:28 UTC
-
AI guides Doctors' lungs scope in pneumonia battle
Diagnosis Not yet recruitingThis study tests an AI system that helps doctors navigate a bronchoscope (a thin tube with a camera) into the lungs of patients with severe pneumonia. The AI provides real-time visual cues and voice prompts to guide the doctor to the right spot and describe what they see. About 1…
Sponsor: Chinese Medical Association • Aim: Diagnosis
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:58 UTC
-
Can a heated oxygen tube stop lung complications after abdominal surgery?
Prevention Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether using a high-flow nasal cannula (a device that delivers warm, moist oxygen at high speeds) for 24 hours after major abdominal surgery can prevent lung complications like pneumonia or collapsed lungs. Researchers will compare this to standard oxygen therap…
Sponsor: Uijeongbu St. Mary Hospital • Aim: Prevention
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:07 UTC
-
New drug aims to stop Post-Surgery breathing danger
Prevention Not yet recruitingThis Phase 2 trial tests whether the drug ENA-001 can prevent respiratory depression (dangerously slow or shallow breathing) after major surgery under general anesthesia. About 200 adults having elective surgery will receive either ENA-001 or a placebo as an IV drip. The study is…
Phase 2 • Sponsor: Enalare Therapeutics Inc. • Aim: Prevention
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:09 UTC
-
Zapping breathing muscles may help ventilator patients wean faster
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether electrical stimulation of the muscles used to breathe in (inspiratory) versus out (expiratory) can help patients on mechanical ventilators wean off the machine faster. The trial will include 48 adults aged 45-65 who have been on a ventilator for at least …
Sponsor: Beni-Suef University • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:00 UTC
-
Simple breathing exercises may cut hospital time after bypass surgery
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether adding a special breathing exercise device (IMT Threshold) to standard rehab can help people recover faster after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The goal is to reduce time in the hospital and prevent serious breathing complications like pneumonia. …
Sponsor: Riphah International University • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:31 UTC
-
New combo therapy aims to speed up breathing tube removal in ICU
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether adding a type of stretching called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) to standard breathing exercises helps patients get off a breathing machine faster. About 93 adults in the ICU who are stable and awake will be split into three groups: o…
Sponsor: Beni-Suef University • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:09 UTC
-
New mask aims to reduce breathing effort in ventilation patients
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests a redesigned non-invasive ventilation mask that may help people with respiratory insufficiency breathe more easily. Sixty adults who are stable on NIV will wear their usual mask for one hour and then the new mask for one hour. Researchers will measure breathing r…
Sponsor: Fisher and Paykel Healthcare • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 11:03 UTC
-
Nerve-Freezing technique could revolutionize rib fracture recovery
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests a procedure that freezes the nerves around broken ribs to see if it reduces pain and helps people breathe better. About 30 adults with at least two broken ribs and severe pain will either get the freezing treatment or standard pain medicine. Researchers will trac…
Sponsor: Loma Linda University • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:03 UTC
-
New study aims to help ventilator patients breathe on their own faster
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests two methods to train the breathing muscles of patients with respiratory failure who are on mechanical ventilators. One method slowly increases the effort needed to trigger a breath, while the other gradually reduces the machine's support. The goal is to see which…
Sponsor: Cairo University • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 08:13 UTC
-
New oxygen device aims to ease breathing at home for chronically ill patients
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests whether a new type of home oxygen therapy, called high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), can improve breathing comfort and quality of life for people with long-term lung or heart conditions. Participants will try both HFNC and standard oxygen therapy for two weeks each …
Sponsor: Università degli Studi di Ferrara • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 07:53 UTC
-
New breathing masks aim to make Life-Saving treatment more comfortable
Symptom relief Not yet recruitingThis study tests new breathing devices for people with breathing failure and high carbon dioxide levels. Standard masks can be uncomfortable, causing patients to stop treatment. The study compares a new nasal cannula and a redesigned mask to standard masks, measuring breathing ef…
Sponsor: Unity Health Toronto • Aim: Symptom relief
Last updated Jun 26, 2026 14:05 UTC
-
Why do some preterm babies need breathing machines longer?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingResearchers at Assiut University Children Hospital are tracking 100 preterm infants who need invasive mechanical ventilation in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study aims to identify which early factors predict prolonged ventilation, defined as more than 7 days or frequent …
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Sep 18, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
The breathing muscle that may hit pause: scientists probe diaphragm hibernation in ICU
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingResearchers at Radboud University Medical Center are studying whether the diaphragm, the main breathing muscle, enters a hibernation-like state in ICU patients who need a breathing machine. The study follows 112 adults on invasive mechanical ventilation for at least three days. S…
Sponsor: Radboud University Medical Center • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Sep 17, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can a bedside ultrasound predict which septic shock patients will stop breathing on their own?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingResearchers are studying whether repeated bedside ultrasound scans of the diaphragm can predict breathing failure in adults with septic shock. The study follows 120 patients in intensive care for up to 72 hours, measuring how far the diaphragm moves and how thick it is. The team …
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Sep 17, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
A global effort to make moving critically ill patients safer
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis international study follows about 565 patients who need advanced breathing support, such as high-flow oxygen or a ventilator, while being transported within or between hospitals. Researchers will track what happens during these trips, including any equipment problems or inte…
Sponsor: Medipol University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Sep 06, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Scientists seek to unravel hidden subtypes of Sepsis-Linked lung failure
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study will closely monitor 180 adults with sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are on breathing machines. Researchers will take fluid samples from the lungs and blood at several time points to measure inflammation and injury markers. The goal is to …
Sponsor: Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Aug 30, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Could a simple ultrasound predict ventilator success in elderly COPD patients?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at elderly patients (60 and older) with COPD who need a breathing machine in the ICU. Researchers will check their nutritional status and measure the thickness of their diaphragm muscle using ultrasound. The goal is to see if these factors can predict how well pa…
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Aug 28, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Could a spirometer test guide breathing support in respiratory failure?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether the amount of air a person breathes in on their own matches the amount they breathe when using a non-invasive ventilation (NIV) mask. It involves 30 adults with acute respiratory failure who are in intensive care. Researchers will measure tidal volume …
Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Departemental Vendee • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Aug 09, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Can inhaled sedation save money and improve outcomes for ventilated ICU patients?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis observational study looks at whether inhaled sedation with isoflurane is a more cost-effective option than intravenous propofol for mechanically ventilated adults in the intensive care unit. Researchers will compare total care costs, duration of ventilation, ICU length of st…
Sponsor: Hospital H+ Queretaro • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jul 31, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Tweaking ventilator settings could ease breathlessness and cut PTSD risk in ICU survivors
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis pilot study investigates how standard changes to mechanical ventilator settings—such as breath size, flow rate, and pressure—affect shortness of breath in awake patients on ventilators. Many ICU patients experience breathlessness despite sedation, which may contribute to PTS…
Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jul 16, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
Smart sensors aim to predict dangerous COPD attacks before they happen
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study follows 250 adults with severe COPD who use a breathing machine at home. Researchers collect data from sensors and regular check-ups to build a model that can warn of an upcoming flare-up. The goal is to catch problems early and reduce hospital visits.
Sponsor: Beijing Chao Yang Hospital • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jul 16, 2026 00:00 UTC
-
New study aims to simplify oxygen weaning for breathing patients
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether a standard step-by-step plan can help adults on high-flow oxygen therapy stop it more quickly and safely. About 2,000 patients across 8 hospitals will be involved. The goal is to see if the plan leads to more patients successfully coming off oxygen wit…
Sponsor: Rush University Medical Center • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:05 UTC
-
Can a simple ventilator setting during surgery prevent breathing problems?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study will test whether using higher or standard pressure on a ventilator during surgery helps patients breathe better after waking up. About 360 adults having planned non-chest, non-heart surgery will be randomly assigned to one of two pressure levels. The main goal is to s…
Sponsor: Moscow Multidisciplinary Clinical Center "Kommunarka" • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 13:00 UTC
-
New turkish questionnaire aims to improve care for breathing machine users
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study checks if a Turkish version of a questionnaire called S3-NIV is reliable and accurate for people with chronic breathing failure who use a home breathing machine. Researchers will ask 120 stable patients to fill out the questionnaire to see how well it measures their di…
Sponsor: Istanbul Saglik Bilimleri University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:38 UTC
-
Can a simple gas help severely obese patients breathe better on ventilators?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at how inhaled nitric oxide affects oxygen levels and lung function in severely obese patients who have severe breathing failure and are on a ventilator. Researchers will compare these patients to those with normal weight to see if obesity changes how the gas wor…
Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:35 UTC
-
ER study to determine best breathing aid for oxygen crisis
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study will compare two non-invasive breathing support methods—a face mask that pushes air in and a special nasal tube that delivers high-flow oxygen—for adults in the emergency room with dangerously low blood oxygen. About 500 participants will be randomly assigned to one me…
Sponsor: Ohio State University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:31 UTC
-
New ultrasound method could prevent lung injury in obese patients on ventilators
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether a bedside lung ultrasound can help doctors see how well the lungs of obese patients are opening during a breathing machine procedure. The goal is to find the best air pressure to keep lungs open and improve oxygen levels. About 45 adults with a BMI of …
Sponsor: Assiut University • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 12:23 UTC
-
Pilot study to test best ventilator approach for severe lung failure
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis pilot study will enroll 80 ICU patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure to compare two ventilator strategies: one that allows patients to breathe spontaneously and one that fully controls their breathing. The goal is to see if a larger trial is possible and to gathe…
Sponsor: Oslo University Hospital • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 11:00 UTC
-
New strategy aims to prevent breathing trouble after hernia repair
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at a new way to close the belly wall during large hernia surgery to prevent breathing problems right after the operation. Doctors will use standard breathing measurements during surgery to decide the best closure method. The study will include 50 adults who are a…
Sponsor: Swissmed Hospital • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 09:06 UTC
-
Caribbean ECMO registry launches to track Life-Saving machine outcomes
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study will collect information from 1,200 patients in the French West Indies and Guiana who received ECMO, a machine that helps the heart and lungs. Researchers aim to track survival rates and complications to better understand how ECMO works in this region. The study does n…
Sponsor: University of Genova • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 08:12 UTC
-
Do ICU patients really need that extra CT scan?
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at whether a chest CT scan gives important new information beyond a simple chest X-ray for ICU patients with respiratory failure. Researchers will review records of 50 patients to see if CT findings changed their treatment. The goal is to find out if some CT scan…
Sponsor: Meir Medical Center • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 27, 2026 08:00 UTC
-
ICU survivors: new study tracks lingering health problems years later
Knowledge-focused Not yet recruitingThis study looks at patients who needed a breathing machine for more than 48 hours in the ICU between 2021 and 2023. Researchers will interview 90 adults in 2025 to see if they still have physical, mental, or thinking problems (called post-ICU syndrome) and how it affects their q…
Sponsor: Dr. Negrin University Hospital • Aim: Knowledge-focused
Last updated Jun 26, 2026 15:02 UTC