MECHANICAL VENTILATION

This 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 …

This study looks at whether a specific type of breathing support (adaptive support ventilation) combined with carefully controlled fluid replacement can help adults with severe burns who need a breathing machine. The goal is to see if this approach improves oxygen levels, lung fu…

This study compares two ways of using breathing machines in adults with severe burns (covering 20% or more of the body). One method, called Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV), automatically adjusts the machine's settings to the patient's needs. The other is standard lung-protecti…

This study tests a device that automatically monitors and adjusts the pressure of the cuff on a breathing tube, keeping it at a steady 25 cmH2O. The goal is to see if this reduces leaks of fluids into the lungs, which can cause pneumonia. About 54 critically ill patients on venti…

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 whether playing a recording of a mother's voice can help reduce pain and the need for sedation in young children (ages 1-3) who are on mechanical ventilators in the intensive care unit. Half the children will listen to a 10-minute recording of their own mother re…

This study looks at whether a special breathing tube procedure (bronchoscopy) can help clear mucus and improve lung function in patients on ventilators who have collapsed lung areas (atelectasis). About 104 adults will be randomly assigned to either standard care or standard care…

This study looks at whether a team-based rehabilitation program in a high-dependency unit (a step-down from the ICU) can improve physical, mental, and emotional recovery for 250 adults with post-intensive care syndrome. Participants will receive coordinated medical, nursing, and …

This study tests whether adding a low-dose ketamine infusion to usual care can improve sedation and pain control for adults on breathing machines in the ICU. About 54 patients across Canadian hospitals will be randomly assigned to receive either ketamine or a placebo, without kno…

This 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…

This observational study tracks how critically ill patients on breathing machines regain consciousness after sedation is reduced or stopped. Researchers will monitor patients for 72 hours to identify different patterns of recovery and see if those patterns relate to outcomes like…

This study tests whether giving intensive care nurses feedback on their heart rate variability (HRV) during shifts can help them make better decisions and respond faster to patient alarms. Nurses will wear HRV monitors, keep a diary, and attend coaching sessions to reflect on the…

This 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…

This study tests a new ventilation method called flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) during lung surgery, comparing it to standard volume-controlled ventilation. About 140 adults having elective thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation will take part. The goal is to see if FCV is…

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 whether synchronizing the ventilator with the patient's own breathing during gallbladder surgery can reduce the amount of muscle relaxant drugs needed and improve the surgeon's working conditions. Sixty adults having elective laparoscopic gallbladder removal w…

This study will observe 220 adults who have had cardiac surgery to see how respiratory acidosis (too much acid in the blood from breathing problems) affects the right side of the heart. Researchers will measure heart function and track ICU stay, breathing tube time, and medicatio…

This study aims to see if ultrasound can reliably measure a small muscle under the jaw (geniohyoid) in sedated patients on a breathing machine. The muscle is important for swallowing, and may shrink during ICU stays. Researchers will take pictures of the muscle and check if the m…

This study surveys 200 healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and students) about how they remove breathing tubes after a patient has been on a ventilator. The goal is to describe which techniques are used most often, especially the use of positive pressure during removal. Th…

This study looks at whether a special breathing maneuver during heart surgery can improve heart and lung function in children with congenital heart disease. About 80 children will be randomly assigned to receive either the maneuver or standard care. The goal is to see if this app…

This study looks at three different ways to set the breathing machine during robotic surgery to find which one best protects the lungs and helps patients breathe better after surgery. About 120 adults having elective robotic surgery will take part. The goal is to see if adjusting…

This simulation study tests whether a 'Digital Twin' lung display—a 3D animation of lung function—can reduce mental workload and speed up diagnosis for doctors managing breathing machines. Thirty-four ICU physicians will handle four simulated breathing emergencies, once with stan…

This study looks at 100 adults who needed a breathing machine after a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Researchers want to see how often acid-base problems happen and compare the settings doctors used with those suggested by a computer algorithm. The goal is to improve future care…

This study looks back at medical records from 2,000 adults on breathing machines in the ICU. Researchers want to understand how nutrition-related blood tests change over time and how they relate to patient outcomes like survival and length of hospital stay. The goal is to build a…

This study looks at how different levels of breathing support (PEEP) affect blood flow congestion in the veins of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Researchers will use ultrasound to grade congestion in the liver, kidney, and portal veins as absent, modera…

This study looks at how air moves in the lungs of brain-injured patients when doctors are removing their breathing tube. Using a special imaging belt (electrical impedance tomography), researchers will track changes in lung ventilation patterns. The goal is to find patterns that …

This study tests whether a special ultrasound technique, called VExUS, can predict which ICU patients will have trouble breathing on their own after being on a ventilator. Researchers will scan the veins of 350 patients just before a breathing trial. The goal is to see if signs o…

This study looks at whether measuring how the diaphragm moves with ultrasound can help predict when patients on breathing machines are ready to have the tube removed. Researchers will observe 100 ICU patients and compare diaphragm movement in those who successfully come off the v…