CRITICAL ILLNESS

This study tested whether giving a special, easy-to-digest protein drink soon after surgery helps critically ill mothers who had a C-section. Researchers compared mothers who received the drink within hours of surgery to those who followed the standard protocol of waiting for nor…

This study tested whether giving intravenous amino acid supplements combined with in-bed cycling could help prevent muscle loss in critically ill patients during their first week in the ICU. Fifty adult patients expected to stay in the ICU for at least a week were randomly assign…

This study aimed to find the best way to help patients in intensive care breathe on their own after being on a ventilator. Researchers tested two common methods on 20 patients to see which one caused less muscle strain and fatigue. They used special sensors to measure muscle acti…

This study tested whether using an ultrasound scan of the stomach and intestines could help guide feeding decisions for patients in intensive care. Researchers wanted to see if this approach helped patients get the nutrition they needed through a feeding tube and improved their r…

This study tested whether an intravenous form of the drug guanfacine could help treat delirium (acute brain confusion) in patients who are critically ill in the ICU. The goal was to see if the treatment could reduce the number of days patients experienced delirium or coma, help t…

This study tested a new electronic device designed to automatically keep the pressure in a breathing tube just right for ICU patients. When the pressure is wrong, it can cause stomach fluids to leak into the lungs or damage the windpipe. Researchers compared how well the device w…

This study tested whether using specific blood tests (fungal biomarkers) could help doctors safely stop antifungal medication sooner in critically ill ICU patients who started the drugs as a precaution. It involved 110 adult ICU patients who were started on antifungal treatment w…

This study tested whether a combined program of personalized physiotherapy and optimized nutrition, started right after leaving intensive care, is practical and acceptable for patients and staff. It involved 60 adult patients who needed ongoing rehab after a serious illness. The …

This study tested if a new communication strategy could reduce aggressive, unhelpful treatments for very sick patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Doctors and families agreed to try treatments for a set time to see if the patient improved, aiming to avoid prolonged sufferin…

This study tested whether adding a bronchoscopy procedure to standard care helps adults with severe pneumonia who are on a ventilator. Bronchoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube to look into the lungs, clear mucus, and get better samples for treatment. Researchers compared 100 patie…

This study tested whether a special near-infrared light device helps nurses insert IV lines more successfully on the first try in intensive care patients. It compared the light device to the traditional 'feel and look' method in 380 patients whose arms were often swollen from the…

This study tested a new program designed to check for memory and thinking problems in older adults after they leave the intensive care unit (ICU). It involved 109 people aged 60 and older who had a long ICU stay. The program screened patients at 6 weeks and 6 months after dischar…

This study tested a new, easier way to measure blood flow in the lungs of patients who are breathing on their own with oxygen support. Instead of requiring patients to hold their breath, the new method takes measurements during normal breathing. Researchers compared the new metho…

This study tested if a specially shaped breathing tube cuff could better seal the airway and reduce the leakage of stomach and mouth fluids into the lungs of critically ill patients on ventilators. The goal was to see if this new design could help prevent ventilator-associated pn…

This study tested whether a small, wearable leg stimulator (called Geko) is a practical alternative to standard compression sleeves for preventing blood clots in critically ill adults. Researchers compared the two methods in 40 patients to see if the new device could be reliably …

This study tested whether having a live musician play in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) could help patients feel better. Researchers wanted to see if the music reduced patients' pain and anxiety, and if it was helpful for their families and the medical staff. They measured how pat…

This study tested if letting critically ill patients on breathing machines control their own sedation medicine (using a button) works better than having nurses manage it. Researchers wanted to see if this self-management approach could reduce patient anxiety, shorten the time nee…

This small, completed study tested whether a new smartphone app could help adults who were distressed by memories of a past stay in an intensive care unit (ICU). The app guides users to record and process a difficult memory from their hospitalization at their own pace. Researcher…

This study tested if listening to music could help reduce the body's stress and inflammation in critically ill adults who were sedated and on a breathing machine. 110 patients in a Spanish ICU were randomly assigned to either listen to a music session or receive standard quiet ca…

This study tested whether a special mobile app program, used by family members, could help patients in intensive care. The program guided families through a structured plan to improve patient sleep, reduce feelings of social stigma, and manage pain. Researchers compared this fami…

This small pilot study tested whether a special device could help critically ill patients who are on breathing machines stand up more often. The goal was to see if this early, assisted movement could help prevent severe muscle weakness and improve recovery. Researchers compared p…

This study tested whether listening to familiar voices or nature sounds could help critically ill comatose patients. Researchers compared these sounds to silence to see which was better at improving consciousness, reducing pain, and stabilizing vital signs like heart rate and blo…

This study tested whether adding a special eye-tracking communication device to standard ICU care could help prevent or lessen delirium in critically ill patients on breathing machines. It involved 160 patients aged 50 and older who were expected to need ventilation for at least …

This study tested if a non-opioid drug called nefopam, given through a continuous IV drip, could safely reduce the need for strong opioid painkillers in critically ill adults on breathing machines. Researchers compared the drug to standard pain care in 60 patients to see if it lo…

This study looked back at medical records to see if three simple ratios calculated from common blood tests could predict which critically ill patients are most likely to die in the hospital. Researchers analyzed data from 212 adults admitted to a Polish intensive care unit in 202…

This study observed if using a brain wave monitor (pEEG) alongside standard checks helps manage sedation for adults in the ICU on breathing machines. Researchers compared outcomes like delirium, time on the ventilator, and post-ICU symptoms between patients monitored with the bra…

This study investigated whether feeding critically ill patients on a scheduled, intermittent basis could help restore their natural 24-hour body rhythms, compared to the standard method of continuous feeding. Researchers enrolled 24 adult ICU patients and measured changes in gene…

This study aimed to understand the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital staff, especially those working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Researchers surveyed 701 doctors, nurses, and other caregivers to measure rates of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depressi…

This study looked back at data from over 1.5 million intensive care unit (ICU) admissions across France between 2013 and 2019. Its goal was to understand how ICU care changed, including death rates, length of stay, and patient sickness levels. Researchers analyzed hospital record…

This study observed how often doctors reduced or stopped antifungal medications in critically ill patients with weakened immune systems who were suspected of having a serious yeast infection. Researchers tracked 275 patients across 14 intensive care units to see if this 'de-escal…

This study looked back at the medical records of 238 critically ill burn patients who needed a special type of kidney dialysis called CRRT. The goal was to understand how this treatment relates to patient survival and how long they stayed in the hospital. Researchers analyzed whe…

This international study observed how doctors prescribe specific antibiotics called aminoglycosides to critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Researchers collected data from 964 patients across multiple countries to understand current dosing practices and identif…

This study aimed to develop a new computer algorithm to assess insulin resistance in real time for patients in intensive care. Researchers used data from continuous glucose monitors worn by 179 critically ill patients to create a less invasive tracking method. The goal was to see…

This study looked at whether a life-saving dialysis treatment for people with sudden kidney failure in intensive care also removes important vitamins and nutrients from their blood. Researchers compared 43 critically ill patients who received the dialysis treatment to those who d…

This study looked back at medical records of 325 adult crush syndrome patients in intensive care. Researchers wanted to see if simple ratios calculated from routine blood tests could predict which patients were most likely to die within 28 days. They compared these blood test rat…

This study aimed to find a simpler way to monitor the body's energy use in critically ill patients. Researchers followed 140 patients in intensive care to see if the difference between blood sugar and fluid around cells could predict their risk of death and other complications. T…

This study aimed to understand how two different feeding formulas affect the gut bacteria of critically ill children. Researchers compared a common formula (Pediasure) with an organic, high-fiber formula (Nourish) in 32 children aged 1-17. The main goal was to see if either formu…

This study aimed to create a standard training program for doctors who place breathing tubes in critically ill patients. International experts used a structured survey method to agree on the essential skills and knowledge needed. The goal is to improve patient safety and reduce c…

This international study aimed to understand how doctors around the world give fluids and blood pressure medications to critically ill patients who are on breathing machines. Researchers observed over 2,500 patients to see if treatment practices differ between countries and how t…

This study aimed to understand how safe it is to move critically ill patients within a hospital while they are receiving oxygen through a special portable high-flow device. Researchers observed 175 adult patients in intensive care who needed to be moved for tests or between depar…

This study looked back at medical records to see if a number calculated from a routine blood test (called the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index or SII) could help predict which critically ill patients were more likely to die in the intensive care unit (ICU). Researchers analyzed…

This small study tested whether breathing muscle training exercises are safe and practical for adults in intensive care who are on or recently off ventilators. Researchers worked with 22 patients to see if they could complete the exercises and measured their breathing strength. T…

This study aimed to understand if measuring the difference in glucose levels between a patient's blood and their body tissue could help doctors predict their metabolism and recovery chances. Researchers observed 140 critically ill adults in the ICU to see if this glucose gap was …

This study aimed to understand if poor blood flow back to the heart is linked to gut injury in critically ill patients. Researchers used ultrasound scans and blood tests on 200 adults with sepsis in the ICU to see if signs of blood flow congestion matched signs of gut problems. T…

This study tested a new training program designed to help doctors communicate more effectively and fairly with Black family members of seriously ill patients. Researchers worked with 22 doctors, having them practice difficult conversations with actors playing family members. They…

This small pilot study tested whether doctors could find and use a personalized 'ideal' blood pressure target for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Researchers monitored patients' brain blood flow for 24 hours to find this target, then tried to keep their blood pressure …

This study looked back at the records of 1,248 adult patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) to see if the type of illness they had when admitted (like sepsis or respiratory failure) was linked to their chance of dying in the ICU. Researchers wanted to know if these diagnoses pr…

This study aimed to understand how doctors around the world give fluids to critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). It observed over 4,700 patients to see if the amount, type, and method of giving fluids are linked to how well patients recover, including survival a…

This study aimed to find better blood or urine tests to predict which patients will develop serious kidney injury after heart surgery. Researchers followed over 3,000 patients who had heart surgery and developed early signs of kidney problems. The goal was to identify tests that …

This study aimed to better understand how anxiety, sadness, breathing difficulty, and pain change over time in patients staying in intensive care. Researchers analyzed data from 62 ICU patients to see how these symptoms are connected and whether they affect patients' thinking abi…