View clinical trials related to Critical Illness.
Filter by:Systemic inflammation and sepsis cause multi organ failure including severe neurologic impairment in the course of disease. Neurologic failure typically presents as critical-illness-polyneuropathy/-myopathy and septic encephalopathy during sepsis and is associated with an increased mortality rate. Clinical parameters to determine the neurologic entities during the course of sepsis are heterogeneous. Further research for an association of clinical parameters and the patients' outcome is needed. The study aims toward differences in the clinical and neurological outcome of surgical and non-surgical septic patients in comparison to non-septic patients on ICU. The aim of the study is to identify clinical and diagnostic outcome predictors in septic patients.
Since critically ill patients are exposed to stressful conditions, the investigators evaluated the effectiveness of a multicomponent program to reduce perceived discomforts in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) .
The primary objectives of this study are to examine whether augmented renal clearance (ARC) compromises renally eliminated drug therapeutic serum concentrations in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to estimate the optimal dose needed to achieve therapeutic serum concentrations of the probe medication levetiracetam in patients with TBI.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a systematic approach to pain assessment in the critically ill patients' outcome The investigators hypothesize that, patients who will undergo systematic pain assessment and they will have their results notified to physicians and nurses, will demonstrate favorable effects on pain intensity, more efficient use of sedatives and analgesics, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, mortality, adverse events and complications, in relation to patients who will receive standard care alone. Moreover it is expected that they will demonstrate altered levels of plasma neuropeptides and biochemical markers in peripheral blood.
Title: "Role of biomarkers in predicting contrast-induced acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: a prospective observational study" Objective: To analyse the role of plasma and urinary biomarkers (Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), Cystatin C and Kidney Injury Molecule-1) in predicting contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in critically ill patients. Summary of the project: Acute deterioration of renal function after intravenous administration of radiocontrast media, i.e. increase in serum creatinine concentration of more than 0.5 mg/dl or 25% above baseline within 48 hours, is referred to as contrast-induced kidney injury (CI-AKI). The increasing number of diagnostic procedures requiring radiographic contrast has parallel increase in the incidence of CI-AKI. CI-AKI is described as the third most common cause of new AKI in hospitalized patients. Occurrence of CI-AKI is reported up to 55% in high risk patients like presence pre-existing chronic renal dysfunction, diabetes, hypertension, chronic heart failure, advanced age, volume depletion, uses of concurrent nephrotoxic medication. These risk factors for CI-AKI are common in critically ill patients. Recently, different urinary and serum proteins have been intensively investigated as possible biomarkers for the early diagnosis of AKI, which includes Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), Cystatin C and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM 1). At present, there is scarcity of prospective study on CI-AKI and role of biomarkers in critically ill medical or medical-surgical mixed ICU patients. The investigators plan to enroll about 100 ICU patients during 2 years, requiring computed tomography (CT) scans with parenteral administration of iodinated radiographic contrast for any diagnostic purposes as decided by the clinicians during the treatment of the patients. In this prospective observation study, the investigators want to analyse the role of plasma and urinary biomarkers in predicting CI-AKI in critically ill patients. Key Words: acute kidney injury, radiographic contrast, critically ill, biomarker
Children differ from adults with respect to growth and development but also immaturity of various pharmacological mechanisms. Dosing schemes in children are usually derived in an empirical manner from clinical trials in adult patient groups. All this poses neonates to an increased risk for therapeutic failure and adverse drug reactions. Medicinal products studied during this project are among the ones with the highest needs for research in the pediatric intensive care. This project focuses on the necessity to integrate subject's individual characteristics to assist clinical decision-making in drug therapy. The investigators explore the mechanisms defining the dose response in pediatric populations. The results obtained with these studies will help to find safer drug dosing regimens in this delicate patient population.
The study evaluates how outcome varies among critically ill patients with and without acute kidney injury. Data from the Swedish Intensive care register and other Swedish national registers is used to compare how survival and post discharge renal function differ between critically ill patients with and without acute kidney injury.
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a psycho-cognitive nursing intervention including relaxation, guided imagery, touch and music listening can improve the clinical and psychological outcome of critically ill patients. The investigators hypothesize that, patients who receive the proposed psycho-cognitive nursing intervention will report lower stress, less pain and have altered level of stress neuropeptides in peripheral blood, lower levels of inflammatory molecules, less complications and better self reported lived experience than patients who receive standard care alone.
The complexity of critical illness can result in both physical and psychological consequences for survivors, which can extend past the intensive unit care stay and after hospital discharge. A need for information and empowerment in the recovery process are highlighted for developing treatment strategies. It is suggested that there is a relationship between physical problems and psychological symptoms, but this has not been researched. This pilot study aims to test the effectiveness of a physiotherapy directed Rehabilitation after Critical illness Assisted discharge Pack (RECAP) on the physical and psychological function of patients recovering from critical illness in the first three weeks post discharge from ICU to the general ward area. The study will rely on a randomized controlled clinical trial design, with patients assigned to either a "usual care" control group vs. the treatment group. It is expected that engaging patients in their rehabilitation plan will focus physiotherapy treatment and improve physical recovery. It is hypothesized that the RECAP will reassure, support and empower patients to directly affect their psychological recovery in the first three weeks after critical illness.
Background Intraoperative hypotension is a common problem that significantly contributes to perioperative mortality and morbidity. At the moment the "gold standard" for perioperative fluid management is the so called "goal-directed therapy" that features fluid resuscitation followed if necessary catecholamines if needed for perioperative cardiocirculatory support. Worldwide the so called "physiological" sodium chlorid (0.9% NaCl) solution is the most often used infusate for perioperative fluid management. Despite its widespread use physiological saline has its major disadvantages such as the increased incidence of metabolic acidosis. Nevertheless catecholamines have their significant side effects as well (eg diminished renal perfusion, increased cardiovascular morbidity) and they therefore should be used with caution. In a prior study by group members on patients undergoing renal transplantation receiving either physiological saline or an acetate-buffered infusate showed a 50% decrease in catecholamine necessity in the acetate-buffered infusate group. The investigators therefore would like to evaluate the effects of the perioperative fluid choice on the necessity of catecholamine use. Aim - Evaluation of the perioperative fluid choice on the necessity of catecholamines for cardiocirculatory support. - Description of the relationship between perioperative fluid choice and minimal blood pressure as well as the time to catecholamine use and their dosage. Methods The investigators plan a prospective randomized-controlled trial of all patients undergoing major abdominal surgery at the Vienna General Hospital and Medical University of Vienna. Fluid management and catecholamine use will be based on a oesophageal Doppler -based treatment scheme.