Platform of Randomized Adaptive Clinical Trials in Critical Illness

EXPAND-ECLS domain: The EXPAND-ECLS pilot trial is a multi-center, randomized, open-label, feasibility trial, embedded as a domain within the PRACTICAL platform trial. The ULTIMATE arm of this domain will evaluate the effect of ultra-low intensity ventilation facilitated by CO2 removal through VV-ECMO versus best current conventional ventilation on all-cause hospital mortality among patients with early moderate-severe AHRF with high respiratory system elastance receiving potentially injurious mechanical ventilation. The PROACTIVE arm of this domain will evaluate the effect of ECMO-facilitated strategy of earlier awakening, extubation, and rehabilitation versus best current conventional ventilation on all-cause hospital mortality among patients with early moderate-severe AHRF with high respiratory system elastance receiving potentially injurious mechanical ventilation. Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (IMV) Strategies domain: The IMV Strategies domain will evaluate multiple novel invasive ventilation strategies in comparison to conventional lung-protective ventilation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Multiple approaches to mechanical ventilation are used, and the optimal approach is unknown. An efficient strategy to identify the best strategy is to compare multiple potential approaches simultaneously to determine more rapidly (a) which interventions are least effective (and should be dropped), and (b) which interventions result in the best outcomes for patients. In the current domain design, we will compare the current recommended ventilation strategy to two new approaches: a strategy that targets lung-inflating (driving) pressure instead of lung-inflating (tidal) volume, and a strategy that aims to maintain an optimal level of breathing effort to prevent diaphragm atrophy and injury while maintaining safe lung-inflating pressures. CORT-E2 domain: The Corticosteroid Early and Extended (CORT-E2) Trial is a phase III, multicentre Bayesian randomized controlled trial (RCT), which includes two cohorts within the domain; one examining the role of early corticosteroids as compared to not extending in persisting AHRF due to COVID or non-COVID (Extended Cohort). ESCAPE domain: Evaluating Subphenotypes in Immunocompromized Patients with ARF (ESCAPE) Domain is a prospective, multicentre observational cohort study, to identify subphenotypes across immunocompromised patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) using clinical characteristics and biomarkers. This study will prospectively collect biomarkers at the onset of AHRF which will allow us to characterize the underlying pathophysiology of AHRF with better precision. WAVEFORM domain: The Clinical Implications of Potentially Injurious Patient-Ventilator Interactions (WAVEFORM domain) a prospective, multicentre observational cohort study, that aims at understanding the short- and long-term clinical consequences of longitudinal exposure to abnormal patient ventilation interactions in patients with AHRF, role of sedation as a mediator in this relationship. It aims at also exploring the heterogeneity of treatment effect of various mechanical ventilation strategies tested in the IMV based on the presence and burden of abnormal patient-ventilator interactions. FLUDRO domain: The Fludrocortisone in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure with Airspace Disease (FLUDRO-1) domain is a phase II I trial. The trial aims to provide direct clinical evidence to resolve a critical long-standing question regarding the use of steroids in the treatment of AHRF with airspace disease. FAST-3 domain: The Nebulized Furosemide for the Treatment of Pulmonary Inflammation in Patients with Respiratory Failure Secondary to Pulmonary Infection domain is a phase III trial. It aims to use nebulized furosemide as supportive therapy to improve Advanced Respiratory Support (ARS) free days up to day 28 in critically ill patients with AHRF. IMV-ECLS domain: The Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Strategies in Venovenous-Extracorporeal Life Support (PRESSURE; Positive Pressure to Maintain Lung Recruitment during Extracorporeal Life Support for Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory failure) is a pilot and feasibility trial. It aims to identify which positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) strategies improve lung function in patients with AHRF supported by ECLS. IMPROV domain: The Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients Receiving Ongoing Mechanical Ventilation is a pilot and feasibility RCT. It is designed to establish the feasibility of a definitive RCT of inspiratory muscle training to accelerate recovery from AHRF.