CRITICAL ILLNESS

This study tests whether fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can help ICU patients with sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening infection that can cause organ failure. The trial will give 60 adults either standard care or standard care plus FMT through a tube into the gut for thr…

This Phase 2 trial tests whether adding the drug nogapendekin alfa inbakicept (NAI) to standard sepsis care can improve survival in critically ill adults with sepsis and persistently low lymphocyte counts (a sign of immune suppression). About 50 participants will be randomly assi…

This study tests whether giving sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) intravenously can reduce major kidney problems or death in critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis and acute kidney injury. About 660 adults in intensive care will receive either sodium bicarbonate or a stan…

This study tests a combination of high-protein supplements, mobility-based physical therapy, and neuromuscular electric stimulation in older adults (60+) who have been in the ICU for at least two weeks and now have muscle weakness. The goal is to see if this approach can improve …

This study will test whether a standardized set of emergency steps—including early screening, blood tests, fluids, and antibiotics—can improve survival for sepsis patients. Researchers will compare outcomes for 120 adults treated before and after the new protocol is introduced. T…

This study looks at whether feeding through the gut (enteral nutrition) or through a vein (parenteral nutrition) leads to better outcomes for critically ill adults recovering from shock in the ICU. About 1,150 patients will be randomly assigned to one of the two feeding methods. …

This study tests whether a daily capsule of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila, a type of beneficial gut bacteria, can help adults recover after being treated for sepsis in the ICU. Fifty participants will take either the supplement or a placebo for 56 days. Researchers will che…

This trial tests whether giving ICU patients a break from tube feeding (4 or 6 hours daily) improves outcomes compared to continuous 24-hour feeding. About 150 critically ill adults on ventilators will be randomly assigned to one of three schedules. Researchers will track ICU sta…

This study tests whether giving extra human albumin—a natural blood protein—along with standard care can help people survive septic shock after surgery. Septic shock is a life-threatening condition where infection causes dangerously low blood pressure. The trial will enroll 304 a…

This study tests a telehealth program for people aged 65 and older who have survived a critical illness in the ICU. Participants get a recovery navigator who helps with discharge planning, coordinates with their doctor, and provides weekly check-in calls for 12 weeks. The goal is…

This study will test a new wearable device that measures kidney function in real time, compared to the standard 8-hour urine collection method. Researchers will give 200 critically ill patients two dyes (relmapirazin and iohexol) and use a skin sensor to track how quickly their k…

This study will test whether a kidney ultrasound and a urine test can predict acute kidney injury in people with sepsis. Researchers will measure kidney blood flow and specific urine markers in 130 adults shortly after sepsis diagnosis. The goal is to see if these tests can spot …

This pilot study tests whether rapid analysis of the airway microbiome can guide inhaled antibiotics to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in ICU patients. 70 adults on ventilators will receive either microbiome-guided inhaled antibiotics or a placebo for up to 5 days.…

This study tests a program to help adult patients sleep better in the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery. The program includes sleep education, earplugs and eye masks, reducing noise and light at night, and grouping nursing tasks to avoid waking patients. Researchers will co…

This study tests REFRAME, a short tablet-based program designed to help family members manage overwhelming emotions when making medical decisions for critically ill loved ones in the ICU. About 387 participants will be randomly assigned to either REFRAME or an informational suppo…

This study tests a mobile mindfulness program called Lift for people who survived a serious illness in the ICU and now struggle with depression, anxiety, or stress. About 450 adults will use either the Lift app or a health education app for 6 months. The goal is to see if the min…

This study tests whether using a special brain monitor (BIS) to guide sedation can reduce the amount of sedative drugs given to adults in the ICU after heart surgery. About 144 participants will be randomly assigned to either BIS-guided sedation or standard care. The goal is to s…

This study tests whether adding low-dose ketamine to standard sedatives helps critically ill patients on breathing machines recover faster and spend more days alive at home. About 640 adults who need unplanned ventilation and sedation will receive either ketamine or a placebo for…

This study tests whether a virtual reality program can help adults who have been in the intensive care unit (ICU) feel less stressed and in less pain after moving to a regular hospital room. About 150 participants will either get standard care or extra VR sessions designed to rel…

This study tests a new rehab program for adults with severe burns who are on breathing machines. The program uses brain stimulation, virtual reality, and special sedation to try to prevent muscle loss. Thirty patients will be split into two groups: one gets standard care, the oth…

This study tests whether a sleep medication called lemborexant can help older adults in the intensive care unit (ICU) sleep better and reduce their risk of delirium, a state of sudden confusion. The trial will involve 100 patients aged 65 and older who are in the surgical ICU. Pa…

This study compares two sedatives, remimazolam and midazolam, to see which one causes less confusion (delirium) after heart valve surgery in people aged 65 and older. Delirium affects up to 70% of older heart surgery patients and can lead to longer hospital stays and memory probl…

This study looks at why some people recover their thinking and emotional skills better than others after a serious illness requiring intensive care. Researchers will follow 114 adults admitted to ICUs in Spain, collecting blood samples and testing memory, attention, and mood at d…

This study tests a bedside tool called the APEX score, which evaluates swallowing biomechanics, to predict whether critically ill patients will need their breathing tube reinserted after planned removal. Researchers will enroll 800 adults on ventilators for at least 48 hours acro…

This study looks at how the sedative dexmedetomidine affects the smallest blood vessels in people with septic shock, a life-threatening condition caused by severe infection. Researchers will measure blood flow in the tongue's tiny vessels and other key blood pressure indicators b…

This pilot study will test a drug called anisodamine in 20 adults with septic shock who are on a ventilator. The goal is to see if the drug can improve blood flow in small blood vessels and help with a phenomenon called 'vascular waterfall.' This is a very early study to gather i…

This study tests whether it is possible to run a larger trial comparing two ways of using a breathing machine (ventilator) in critically ill heart patients who need help breathing. The two modes are volume-controlled (delivers a set amount of air each breath) and pressure-control…

This study will observe 128 critically ill patients with acute kidney injury who need dialysis to remove excess fluid. Researchers want to understand why some patients become unstable during fluid removal. They will monitor heart function, blood flow, and other signs before and d…

This study will observe how intravenous (IV) fluids are given to adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs) across Turkey. Researchers will record the types and amounts of fluids used over 24 hours without changing any treatments. The goal is to describe current practices and …

This study observes 800 adults who need breathing help after major non-cardiac surgery and are moved from the operating room to the ICU. Researchers will compare manual bag ventilation versus portable ventilator use during transport, tracking vital signs and complications. The go…

This study looks at how often ICU patients silently inhale food or liquid into their lungs after a breathing tube is removed, without showing obvious signs like coughing. Researchers will compare a routine bedside swallowing test with a more detailed camera test to see if the bed…

This study looks at whether a blood test for a marker of heavy drinking (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, or CDT) can help predict how well critically ill patients will do in the intensive care unit. Researchers will follow 800 adults admitted to the ICU through the emergency …

This study looks at whether a measurement called Body Roundness Index (BRI), which uses waist size and height, can predict death in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Researchers will measure BRI in 550 adults when they enter the ICU and track their outcomes, including dea…

This study will use a non-invasive ultrasound test called Transcranial Doppler to measure blood flow in the brains of 125 children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Researchers want to see how brain blood flow changes during critical illness and whether those patterns relate …

This study looks at whether changes in how the pupils react to light can predict recovery in critically ill patients. Researchers will measure pupil responses daily for the first week in the ICU. They aim to see if these measurements relate to how well patients do at discharge an…

This study will collect information from 100,000 critically ill patients worldwide who receive continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a type of kidney dialysis, in intensive care units. Researchers want to understand how CRRT is used and how it affects patient survival and …

This study looks at whether adding a measure of gut function to a standard organ failure score can better predict which critically ill patients are at highest risk of dying. Researchers will follow 800 adults in Turkish ICUs, using only routine data—no extra tests or treatments. …

This study looks at over 500,000 critically ill adults in Swedish ICUs to see if starting continuous kidney dialysis (CRRT) earlier affects how long they stay in the ICU. About 5% of these patients receive CRRT. Researchers will compare early versus late initiation of dialysis an…

This study involves 35 critically ill adults to see if different ultrasound methods give consistent measurements of left diaphragm movement. Researchers will compare standard and modified positions to find the most reliable technique. The goal is to improve how doctors assess dia…

This study looks at whether giving critically ill patients on breathing machines less protein (0.6-0.8 g/kg per day) during their early ICU stay leads to a better quality of life after leaving the hospital, compared to the standard amount (1.3 g/kg per day). About 1,026 adults wi…

This study looks at how certain metabolic changes in the body might help predict kidney injury after heart surgery. Researchers will study 540 high-risk patients to find patterns that could warn doctors early. The goal is to improve patient safety and outcomes by catching kidney …

This study looks at how acute kidney injury (AKI) impacts the process of removing a breathing tube (weaning) in critically ill adults in the ICU. Researchers will track 85 patients to see if AKI makes weaning harder, slower, or more risky. The goal is to learn whether kidney prob…

This study looks at a new way to assess pain in intensive care patients who are on breathing machines and cannot speak. It uses a special tool (AlgiScan) and a behavioral checklist to adjust pain medicine more safely. Researchers will compare data from 400 adults to see if the ne…

This study looks at how sepsis changes the RNA in white blood cells over time. Researchers will follow 200 sepsis patients, 50 other critically ill patients, and 40 healthy people to map these changes. The goal is to understand why some people have long-term immune problems after…

This study will follow 500 critically ill adults in the ICU to see if changes in a blood protein called prealbumin can predict who will die or get infections. Researchers will track prealbumin levels over time and compare them to patient outcomes. No new treatment is given—partic…

This study looks at whether ultrasound can help predict a sudden drop in blood pressure when ICU patients start a type of dialysis. Researchers will monitor 80 adults using heart and body scans before and during treatment. The goal is to find early warning signs to prevent compli…

This study checks if a special camera that looks at tiny blood vessels under the tongue can give consistent results. Researchers will measure 200 people—healthy volunteers and ICU patients—multiple times to see if the method is reliable. The goal is to improve how doctors monitor…

This study looks at how doctors in Swedish intensive care units (ICUs) make decisions about whether to continue or stop life-sustaining treatment for critically ill children. Researchers will interview 30 specialist physicians to understand their experiences, attitudes, and the e…

This study follows 40 adults with serious burn injuries to collect blood, tissue samples, and medical record data. Researchers will look for patterns that could help predict who will develop sepsis or other complications. The goal is to build a computer-based 'digital twin' model…

This study checks if a Turkish version of the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (RDOS) accurately measures breathing distress in critically ill patients who cannot speak. Researchers will compare RDOS scores with end-tidal carbon dioxide levels, an objective breathing measur…

This study follows 80 adults with serious burns to understand how their bodies respond to injury and treatment. Researchers collect blood and tissue samples and review medical records to find patterns that might predict sepsis and other complications. The goal is to build compute…

This study looks at how the blood thinner enoxaparin works in critically ill ICU patients with kidney failure, some on dialysis and some not. Researchers will measure drug levels in the blood over 24 hours after a daily shot. The goal is to see if current dosing is enough to prev…

This study will follow 300 adults with severe infections in the ICU to see how levels of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)—natural molecules that help stop inflammation—change over time. Researchers will use blood samples already collected during routine care, so no extr…

This study will compare diluted and undiluted tube feeding in 80 critically ill adults after major abdominal surgery. Half will get extra fluids mixed with their feed, the other half will get undiluted feed with fluids given separately through an IV. The goal is to see which appr…

This study will follow 4,000 people who had a stem cell transplant and later became critically ill, requiring intensive care. Researchers will collect information on their health, treatments, and survival. The goal is to learn more about what happens to these patients and how to …

This study looks at 48 critically ill adults on breathing machines to see which method better predicts if they need more fluids. Doctors will compare a standard blood pressure measure with an ultrasound-based heart measurement during a leg-raising test. The goal is to help ICU te…

This study looks at whether measuring changes in exhaled carbon dioxide (a breath test) during a leg-raising maneuver can help predict if a critically ill patient needs more fluids. Doctors often struggle to balance giving enough fluids without causing harm from too much. The stu…

This study tests whether an AI model (ChatGPT-5) can help doctors make better decisions for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). About 1000 adults admitted to the ICU will be randomly assigned to standard care or care where the AI provides diagnostic and trea…

This study will look back at the records of 1,000 surgery patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Villavicencio, Colombia, between 2022 and 2024. The goal is to understand what patient and surgery factors are linked to worse outcomes, such as death in the I…