Will adaptive trial design improve clinical research for acute lung injury?

Does the addition of albumin to fluid conservative management of ALI (ARDSnet FACTT trial protocol, Wiedemann et al) further shorten ventilator time and/or improve survival?

Critical care medicine comprises a diffuse array of diseases, syndromes, illnesses and symptoms arising from those sources requiring advanced care by highly trained teams of interdisciplinary professionals. Research is sorely needed on generating evidence that is broadly applicable to a heterogeneous group of patients. This is a major challenge for researchers who enroll critically ill patients into their clinical trials. ...more »

Palliation of symptoms associated with a number of pulmonary conditions; promotion of patient participation in symptom self-management across the spectrum of illness, from ICU admission to rehabilitation to home; requires a multi-disciplinary perspective and team. There are a plethora of distressing symptoms (anxiety, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, weakness) associated with a number of chronic pulmonary conditions, ...more »

We know that vasopressin layered on to norepinephrine treatment for septic shock tends to produce better outcomes (VASST trial, Russell et al) than norepinephrine alone. We still need to know if norepinephrine should be first line or if vasopressin should be first line (and perhaps monotherapy) for septic shock.

What is the relation of environmental factors such as cigarette smoke exposure to the risk of developing acute lung injury as well as the outcome from acute lung injury and sepsis?

Large scale implementation of “change of culture” studies by which to revamp the approach to early removal of sedation and mechanical ventilation, coupled with monitoring of the brain and early mobility.

Does early cognitive rehabilitation (while on vent) improve long term cognitive function in ALI survivors?

Does early mobilization, i.e. as soon as mechanical ventilation begins, improve long term outcomes in ALI survivors??

Do statins improve the outcome of ICU patients with sepsis or at great risk of developing sepsis?

What is the most effective way to phenotype (classify) patients with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation?

Ventilating patients in the operating room constitutes the largest number of patients exposed to mechanical ventilation in this country and world wide [many millions of patients]. Postoperative pulmonary problems may, in part, due to the mechanical ventilation received in the OR. Yet, this cohort has never been systematically studied in terms of the effect of specific ventilatory patterns on postoperative outcomes. Data ...more »