View clinical trials related to Acute Lung Injury.
Filter by:Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV) refers to the provision of mechanical ventilation without an artificial airway (for example, an endotracheal tube). Over the past decade, evidence from randomized control trials has accumulated to demonstrate effectiveness of the technique in avoiding intubation, reducing complications associated with intubation, shortening ICU and hospital lengths of stay, and reducing mortality rates in selected patients with acute respiratory failure. However, NIV is still underutilized at many medical centers. The purposes of this project will be to acquire information related to NIV use, to identify reasons for underutilization, to implement interventions that encourage more appropriate use of NIV, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. Reliable information on NIV use as well as analysis of reasons for underutilization will provide insight into ways of enhancing NIV use. We will determine utilization rate, technology used, patient diagnoses, duration of ventilator use and hospital stay, and success rates as recorded on case report forms (CRFs). After completing the survey, we will provide an educational program to randomly selected institutions (one-half of the total) aimed at increasing the knowledge and skill of physicians, nurses, and therapists regarding use and implementation of NIV. Data will be gathered for a second round with the same data-gathering instruments used during
The study is aimed to assess safety of Depelestat treatment, as well as efficacy on prevention and treatment of alveolar inflammation in early pulmonary fibrosis in patients suffering from persistent Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) is a condition of severe inflammation and excess fluids in the lungs that impairs their function of oxygen uptake to the point of needing a ventilator (breathing machine) to help them obtain enough oxygen into the body. Because of the high amounts of gas that the ventilator has to give to these patients, high pressures may develop deep into the lungs and produce complications for the patient. However, physicians sometimes cannot recognize it because it requires special equipment to measure pressure deep in the lungs. The goal of this study is to determine if the amount of this pressure can be calculated using mathematical formulas and the routine numbers provided by ventilators. The study consists on making the conventional measurement of this deep pressure and at the same time calculate this same pressure from other measurements that the ventilator routinely provides, to see if the calculated value can replace the more complicated conventional measurement. The measurements will be done by: 1. placing a small device along the tubing connecting the patient to the ventilator; 2. giving medicines to relax the muscles (if the patient is not already receiving them); and 3. making the ventilator hold the patient's breath for a few seconds to take measurements. This is repeated after the breathing rate of the ventilator is increased or decreased mildly. Risks related to the medicine to be used and the measuring maneuvers are rare but include transient narrowing of windpipes, transiently low heart rate, blood pressure or blood oxygen, and allergic reactions. This is not a treatment. The information obtained during the study will be shared with the treating doctors who may find it useful to make adjustments to the ventilator. The patient may receive no direct benefit from being in this study; however, the findings may contribute to better care for this kind of patients in the future.
Transforming Growth Factor-b1 (TGF-b1) is involved in the development of acute lung injury and in the fibroproliferation during acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Procollagen III Peptide (PIIINP) is a validated marker of fibroproliferation. PIIINP is associated with death in ARDS patients. The simultaneous changes of TGF-b1 and PIIINP were never studied in patients with ARDS. The relationships between TGF-b1 and the outcome of ARDS are unknown. The aim of the study is to analyse the changes of TGF-b1 and PIIINP during ARDS and to show the relationships between TGF-b1 - PIIINP and the outcomes of ARDS.
Current American-European Consensus Conference (AECC) definitions for ALI and ARDS are inadequate for inclusion into clinical trials due to the lack of standardization for measuring the oxygenation defect. We questioned whether an early assessment of oxygenation on specific ventilator settings would identify patients with established ARDS (persisting over 24h).
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and a lesser condition that occurs prior to ARDS, Acute Lung Injury (ALI), are medical conditions that occur when there is severe inflammation and increased fluids (edema) in both lungs, making it hard for the lungs to function properly. Patients with these conditions require treatment that includes the use of a breathing machine (ventilator). The purpose of this study is to find out whether giving albuterol (a drug commonly used in asthmatics) or not giving albuterol to patients with ALI or ARDS makes a difference in how long it takes for a patient to be able to breath without the ventilator.
The pathogenesis of ARDS appears to be from damage to the alveolar-capillary barrier, which is composed of the microvascular endothelium and the alveolar epithelium. This damage may occur from direct or indirect lung injury. The mechanism of injury to the alveolar capillary barrier appears to be through neutrophil-mediated injury, pro-inflammatory cytokines, ventilator-induced lung injury with alveolar over distention and abnormalities of the coagulation system. This results in blood clot formation in the microcirculation of the lung. Thrombolytics can dissolve blood clots and result in increased blood flow to the organs. This treatment may benefit ARDS patients, thus the purpose of this study. Hardaway, et al.studied the effects of thrombolytics on ARDS in pigs. The experimental group showed improved oxygenation and survival as compared to controls. There was no bleeding complications noted with this therapy. Dr. Hardaway followed this animal study with a phase I clinical trial involving 20 patients with ARDS. The patients were treated with IV streptokinase or urokinase. Nineteen of the 20 patients showed an increase in PA02 after thrombolytic therapy. There were no significant bleeding complications in patients that were critically ill on ventilators. We propose an additional phase I pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tenecteplase for the treatment of ARDS. Unlike the other fibrinolytics studied in this disease state, Tenecteplase, is more fibrin specific and has increased resistance to plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-I) at greater levels than other available fibrinolytics. We have chosen an experimental dose escalation trial design of tenecteplase that has demonstrated initial safety trends in a Phase I acute ischemic stroke trial. The initial dose is 0.1 mg/kg IV and will increase to 0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, with a final cohort of patients receiving 0.4 mg/kg. Drug administration will be a single dose bolus in each cohort. Advancement of dose will occur if safety is not in question in the previous cohort. We hope this will provide an acceptable benefit risk ratio as the mortality of ARDS is approximately 30 - 60%. All patients will be closely monitored for any change in clotting parameters and signs of bleeding. Tenecteplase will be administered via a peripheral IV as described in the package insert.
Many patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome or ARDS need breathing support that is provided by a machine called a ventilator or respirator. The purpose of this study is to find out if a new method of setting the ventilator for patients with severe ARDS is better than the standard, commonly used way of setting the ventilator.
Given the possible prognostic relationship between exhaled breath condensate pH and clinical symptoms, it is quite plausible that exhaled breath condensate pH can prove useful in the intensive care unit. For example, if exhaled breath condensate pH falls prior to the onset of clinical symptoms, it is likely that it can be useful as an early marker, heralding the onset of various inflammatory lung diseases. Specifically, exhaled breath condensate pH could be used as a safe, non-invasive screening tool for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. Similarly, just as changes in exhaled breath condensate pH might predict the onset of disease, exhaled breath condensate pH changes might also mark the progression or resolution of disease (e.g. alerting clinicians to possible readiness for extubation). Although such notions are hypothetical, they are beginning to be supported by anecdotal evidence.
In the past five years, there is a growing body of published evidence on the feasibility, and oxygenation and lung protection benefits of high frequency oscillation (HFO) in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The investigators have recently demonstrated the short term feasibility and additional benefits with respect to oxygenation of HFO combined with tracheal gas insufflation (TGI). In the present clinical trial, the investigators intend to test the hypothesis that HFO-TGI may result in improved respiratory physiology and clinical course compared to low tidal volume conventional mechanical ventilation in patients with severe ARDS.