View clinical trials related to Acute Respiratory Failure.
Filter by:Tracheostomy is worldwide performed in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). According to the current literature, indication for percutaneous tracheostomy (PDT) in ICU are: difficult prolonged weaning, prolonged mechanical ventilation, loss of airway reflex, copious secretions, upper airway obstruction. Many studies have focused on the comparison between different PDT techniques and complication. The aim of our study is to evaluate the procedural features, complications, ICU mortality, quality of life, post-discharge mortality of patients undergoing different PDT techniques performed in ICU.
Percutaneous tracheostomy in Intensive care unit (ICU) is performed with the use of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope inside the conventional single lumen endotracheal tube owned by the patients. This situation may lead to many disadvantages for ventilation and airway protection of critically ill patients during the procedures. The use of double lumen endotracheal tube dedicated to the percutaneous tracheostomies may: 1. improve the ventilation of patients during the procedure, 2. protect the posterior tracheal wall from damage related to the different step of tracheostomies, 3. protect the lungs from blood and secretions coming down from the chosen site of tracheostomy. So the aim of this study is to evaluate the oxygenation, gas exchange, ventilation and complications of percutaneous tracheostomies performed in ICU with a dedicated double lumen endotracheal tube.
A single center, observational, prospective study to improve knowledge about non-invasive ventilation, obtaining data about compliance, efficacy, imaging in patients who already receive non-invasive ventilation as standard of care.
Mechanical ventilation is a therapeutic method used in order to keep gas exchange adequate to cell metabolism in patients with acute respiratory failure. It is currently proved that, although on one hand the use of this method keeps gas exchange, on the other hand it promotes and supports pulmonary inflammatory processes (VILI). A recent study about the effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on DLCO (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation has proved that patients without any evident pulmonary disease (negative medical history, negative chest clinical examination, normal chest X-ray radiography and normal arterial oxygen tension [PaO2]) after 24 hours of invasive mechanical ventilation show a significant worsening of pulmonary gas exchange properties. The authors have supposed that this worsening may be caused by an early alteration of alveolar-capillary membrane caused by mechanical ventilation itself. This hypothesis finds support in some studies carried out on animal models which founds that mechanical ventilation, even when low tidal volumes (Vt) are set for a few hours, is able to induce lung injury (as shown by histologic findings). The most sensitive and specific tools the investigators can currently rely on for the study of alveolar-capillary membrane are the measurement of diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and the evaluation of plasmatic levels of pulmonary surfactant protein B (SPB). DLCO is a standard, widely diffused technique for the evaluation of functional alterations of alveolar-capillary membrane and it is currently available also for patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. SBP is produced by type II pneumocytes in the alveoli. An increase of its plasmatic levels is correlated to a decay of pulmonary gas exchange; SPB thus can be considered an alveolar-capillary membrane anatomical damage marker. The primary end-point of this study is to evaluate the changes of anatomical (SPB) and functional (DLCO) features of alveolar-capillary membrane between the spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation as well as the progressive changes affecting DLCO and SPB over time during general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in patients with otherwise healthy lung undergoing elective surgery. This in order to check the timing of the observed worsening of alveolar-capillary membrane function, and to find out if the process is progressive in time. The secondary end point is to check if the alterations of functional features of alveolar membrane (DLCO) are proportionate to the increase of alveolar injury marker (SPB), in order to understand if the worsening of alveolar-capillary membrane function is to be attributable to an anatomical damage or to a physiologic change of the ventilation-perfusion matching.
In patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) undergoing noninvasive ventilation (NIV), the main complication of the use of the mask is the development of decubitus, sometimes so severe and painful as to force a suspension of the NIV itself . The lesions are mainly located at the nasal bridge, as at this level the skin thin and placed directly on the bone is particularly vulnerable to the injury as consequence of the friction and pressure induced by the movement of the mask. The strategy of prevention and treatment commonly adopted is the application of hydrocolloids. However, precise data are lacking about the demonstration of the effectiveness of these devices and the possibility of using other protective devices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of large-scale three different systems of protection vs. no protection in preventing the development of decubitus lesions in patients receiving NIV for an episode of ARF.
In ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure endotracheal suctioning may lead to alveolar derecruitment, which can be monitored by means of functional residual capacity (FRC) measurements. Regional distribution of ventilation can be followed at bedside using electrical impedance tomography. The investigators hypothesize that a FRC guided recruitment strategy, aimed at restoring a baseline FRC value after open endotracheal suctioning, improves oxygenation and regional distribution of ventilation. In addition the investigators research the impact of such a strategy on the inflammatory response to mechanical ventilation.
Most patients admitted to intensive care units require mechanical ventilation. Weaning from assisted/controlled ventilation begins when we recognize that the patient has recovered adeguately from acute respiratory failure. If weaning is delayed, costs are increased, as are the risks of nosocomial pneumonia, cardiac-associated morbility, and death. On the other hand, weaning too soon often results in reintubation, which is associated with complications similar to those of prolonged ventilation. The aim of this trial is to establish an evidence-based approach to weaning and to determine when a patient is ready to be weaned from mechanical ventilation, and what is the best weaning technique.