Acute respiratory failure

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 compares two modes of noninvasive ventilation in adults with acute respiratory failure: standard pressure support (PSV) and a newer mode called Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA). NAVA uses electrical signals from the diaphragm to trigger breathing support, wh…

This study looked at whether using a non-invasive ventilation (NIV) mask right after removing a breathing tube can prevent respiratory failure in obese intensive care patients. About 1000 obese adults were randomly assigned to receive either NIV or oxygen therapy. The goal was to…

This study compared two common sedatives, ketamine and etomidate, used when critically ill adults need a breathing tube placed in an emergency. About 2,367 patients took part to see which drug leads to fewer deaths and heart problems. The goal is to find the safer option for this…

This study tested whether giving high-flow heated oxygen through nasal prongs helps more people survive severe breathing failure than standard oxygen masks. Over 1,500 adults with low blood oxygen levels were randomly assigned to one of the two oxygen methods. The main goal was t…

This study tested a new way of using mechanical ventilators, called VentCoach, to better protect the lungs of ICU patients with breathing failure. 18 adults on ventilators were randomly assigned to either the VentCoach protocol or standard care. The main goal was to see if doctor…

This study tested whether using a mask that helps with breathing (non-invasive ventilation) can prevent the need for a breathing tube in patients who develop respiratory failure after abdominal surgery. 300 adults who had abdominal surgery and then had trouble breathing were rand…

This study explores whether ultrasound can identify the reasons some patients fail to come off a mechanical ventilator. Researchers will scan the heart, lungs, and diaphragm of adults who have been on a ventilator for at least 24 hours and have not passed a spontaneous breathing …

This study tests whether virtual reality (VR) can help patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) relax, improve their mood, and keep their minds active. Participants will use a VR headset for about 15 to 45 minutes each day for up to 5 days, doing breathing exercises, brain games…

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 tested whether giving propofol sedation during a lung exam (bronchoscopy) under noninvasive ventilation helps patients with severe breathing failure stay more comfortable and maintain oxygen levels. Forty-six adults with acute respiratory failure needing a diagnostic l…

This study tested whether physiotherapy (special breathing exercises and early movement) could prevent acute respiratory failure within 7 days after a breathing tube is removed in ICU patients at high risk. 245 patients took part. The goal was to see if physiotherapy reduces the …

This study tested a team-based approach to managing sedation in children with acute respiratory failure who need a breathing machine. The goal was to reduce the number of days on the ventilator. Over 2,400 children from multiple hospitals participated, comparing the team approach…

This study looked at whether giving the drug salbutamol (often used in asthma inhalers) through a nebulizer helps people with severe COPD who are having a flare-up and need a breathing machine. The trial included 43 adults and compared the drug to a placebo. The main goal was to …

This study tested a modified high-flow oxygen device in 160 adults with acute respiratory failure who needed a bronchoscopy (a tube inserted into the lungs to diagnose or treat disease). The device delivers oxygen through one nostril while the procedure uses the other. The goal w…

This pilot study tested whether a therapy that combines behavioral activation for depression with physical rehabilitation is feasible for survivors of acute respiratory failure. Fifty-two adults who had been on life support in the ICU received home visits and phone calls from the…

Researchers at Erasmus Medical Center are studying whether switching patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from controlled to assisted mechanical ventilation earlier than usual changes the stress on different parts of the lungs. The study enrolls 20 adults on a breath…

This study looked at whether giving nutrition through a tube into the stomach (enteral) or through a vein (parenteral) early on affects survival in very sick patients who need a breathing machine and heart-support medications. Over 2,400 adults in intensive care units were random…

This study looks at whether adults with acute respiratory failure who need non-invasive ventilation (a breathing mask) are getting enough calories and protein. Researchers will track what each patient eats for five days after starting ventilation and compare it to recommended tar…

This study tests whether machine learning can predict death in the intensive care unit for patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF), a common cause of ICU admission. Researchers will analyze data from over 1,200 patients, using several machine learning algorithms …

This study tests whether machine learning can predict if a patient with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure will need a breathing machine for a week or longer. Researchers analyzed data from over 1,200 ICU patients in Spain, using information from the first 48 hours to build a pr…

This study tested a new breathing test to decide when to remove breathing tubes in patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure. The test uses noninvasive ventilation to see if patients can breathe on their own earlier. Researchers hope this approach reduces time on invasive v…

This study looks at how breathing machines (mechanical ventilators) might injure the diaphragm, the main muscle used for breathing. Researchers will monitor 50 ICU patients over their first 7 days on the ventilator, measuring diaphragm activity and function. The goal is to unders…

This study aimed to predict whether high-flow nasal oxygen therapy would fail within 30 minutes for patients with acute respiratory failure. Researchers used data from 164 participants, including a special imaging technique called electrical impedance tomography, to build a predi…

This study looked at two breathing treatments—high-flow oxygen and non-invasive ventilation—in 16 adults with sudden breathing failure from pneumonia. The goal was to see which one better opens up the lungs. The results showed no major difference in lung opening, though non-invas…

This pilot study tested a new algorithm that estimates how hard patients are working to breathe while on high-flow nasal oxygen. Researchers enrolled 20 ICU patients and used a noninvasive sensor to collect pressure and flow data. The goal was to see if the algorithm could reliab…

This study looked at 50 ICU patients with acute respiratory failure to see if a heart ultrasound test (measuring how the main vein collapses) could predict who would die or need a breathing tube. The goal is to help doctors give fluids more safely. It was an observational study, …

This study looked at 500 adults on breathing machines to see if measuring airway pressure at a specific moment (P1) versus a later moment (P2) better predicts lung damage. The goal is to find which measurement helps doctors set safer ventilator settings. No new treatment was test…

This study looked at whether lying face down (prone position) while awake can improve how air moves through the lungs in COVID-19 patients with breathing failure. Twenty adults with COVID-19 and low oxygen levels were monitored using a special imaging technique (EIT) to measure l…

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 tested whether an asymmetrical high-flow nasal cannula reduces the work of breathing compared to a conventional one in 40 patients with acute respiratory failure. Participants received both devices at different flow rates, and researchers measured diaphragm and chest m…

This study tested a new way to predict if patients on breathing machines can safely have the tube removed. Researchers used a special imaging technique called electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to measure how well the lungs fill with air during a breathing trial. The goal was …

This study compared two common sedatives, propofol and ketamine, used when placing a breathing tube in critically ill patients. Researchers wanted to see which drug better keeps blood pressure stable after the procedure. The trial involved 207 adults in intensive care who needed …

This study tested whether giving high-flow oxygen through the nose just before removing a breathing tube is safe and acceptable for patients in intensive care with severe breathing problems. Only 2 patients took part, and the main goal was to see if a larger study is possible. Th…

This completed study looked at 55 adults with acute respiratory failure to understand how their breathing, diaphragm, and lung ventilation relate to the need for a breathing tube. Researchers used ultrasound and electrical imaging to measure diaphragm movement and lung function. …

This completed study tested whether a telemedicine-based program could improve quality of life for adults who needed a breathing machine (ventilator) due to acute respiratory failure. The program included rehabilitation strategies during the ICU stay, hospital ward, and for two m…

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 study looked at 600 COVID-19 patients with severe breathing problems who were treated with high-flow nasal oxygen and asked to lie face-down (awake prone position). The goal was to see if this combination reduced the need for a breathing tube and lowered death rates. Researc…

This study compared two methods—automatic tube compensation (ATC) and pressure support ventilation (PSV)—for helping adults with respiratory failure come off a breathing machine. Fifty patients were monitored during short breathing trials to see which method improved oxygen excha…

This study surveyed 534 physicians worldwide to understand how they use humidification (adding moisture to air) when treating hospitalized adults with non-invasive ventilation (breathing support through a mask). The goal was to find out how often humidification is used, what type…

This study tested a personalized online decision-support tool called TRACH-Support. The tool is designed to help families and doctors make shared decisions about tracheostomy and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Researchers enrolled 105 participants, including family members of …

This study looked at 16 adults with acute respiratory failure who were on a type of breathing machine called pressure-support ventilation. Researchers compared three different methods to measure the risk of lung injury caused by the ventilator itself. The goal was to see which me…

This study tested three different ways to manage pain and sedation in 90 adults on breathing machines (mechanical ventilation) for at least 48 hours. The goal was to see which approach was most practical and how it affected time in the ICU. The study did not aim to cure or treat …

This study looked at whether a helmet or a facemask is better at helping people with acute low-oxygen respiratory failure breathe easier. Twenty adults each tried both devices in a random order, and researchers measured how hard their breathing muscles worked and how well their l…

This study tested whether personalizing noninvasive breathing support based on a patient's inspiratory effort improves breathing mechanics compared to standard CPAP or NIV. Twenty adults with moderate-to-severe acute hypoxic respiratory failure were enrolled. Researchers measured…

This study tested whether a wearable eye-tracking device could help critically ill patients on breathing machines communicate. Thirty ICU patients tried the device, which lets them call for help or answer questions by moving their eyes. The goal was to see if it was safe, easy to…

This study tracked 862 adults in intensive care who had high carbon dioxide levels in their blood (hypercapnia). Researchers aimed to learn how common this condition is, what causes it, and how it affects patient outcomes. No new treatment was tested; instead, the goal was to gat…

This study looked at 20 adults in the ICU who were on breathing machines (ventilators) and ready to try breathing on their own. Researchers compared two methods: one using low pressure support and another using automatic tube compensation (ATC) to offset the tube's resistance. Th…

This study followed 60 people who survived a severe breathing crisis in the ICU. Researchers wanted to learn about their health, sleep disorders, and why some need to return to the hospital. Participants had sleep tests three months after leaving the ICU and were tracked for a ye…