Critical Care Reviews Meetings

eCritical Care Reviews Meeting 2021

In what seems like a blink of an eye, the meeting has come and gone. Five major trials reported their results and another 14 major trials published in 2020 were presented by their chief investigators. We also had panel discussions on publishing during the pandemic and pilot trials, as well as our annual John Hinds Lecture.

Ourt thanks to our diverse faculty from across the world who joined us at all times of the day and night to make the programme work.

In 2022, we return home to Titanic Belfast for another three days of trial results, trial reviews and discussions on trial methodology, interpretation and publishing.

Major Trial Results Presentations

REST Trial Results Presentation

Dr James McNamee (Belfast) presents the results of the REST trial, investigating extracorporeal CO2 removal in acute respiratory failure, at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2021.

Dr McNamee is joined by Prof Danny McAuley, chief investigator for the trial. The editorial is delivered by Prof Eddy Fan (Toronto), and the discussion panel includes Prof Art Slutskey (Toronto), Prof Kathy Rowan (London), Prof Carol Hodgson (Melbourne) and Dr Liz Wilcox (Toronto).

The trial is currently unpublished.

Session Timings

1:44 - James McNamee - REST Trial Results Presentation
33:30 - Eddy Fan - Editorial
54:27 - James McNamee & Danny McAuley - Reply to the Editorial
1:00:25 - Phil Gillen - Questions from Viewers
1:05:50 - Rob Mac Sweeney chairs the Panel Discussion

BACLOREA Trial Results Presentation

Prof Karim Asehnoune (Nantes, France) presents the results of the BACLOREA trial, investigating baclofen for the prevention of agitation in the alcohol addicted patient in the ICU, at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2021.

Prof Waleed Al-Hazzani (Hamilton, Canada) delivers an editorial on this trial, with a panel discussion following, including co-investigator Dr Mickael V'ourch (Nantes), and external experts Prof Marion Campbell (Aberdeen, Scotland), Dr Morten Hylander Moller (Copenhagen, Denmark), Prof Kathy Rowan (London, England) and Dr Chris Nickson (Melbourne, Australia).

Session Timings

1:50 - Karim Asehoune - BACLOREA Trial Results Presentation
24:57 - Waleed Alhazzani - Editorial
42:23 - Karim Asehnoune & Mickael V'ourch - Reply to the Editorial
50:30 - Catriona Kelly - Questions from Viewers
59:28 - Rob Mac Sweeney chairs the Panel Discussion

Published Paper

Vourc’h, Effect of High-Dose Baclofen on Agitation-Related Events Among Patients With Unhealthy Alcohol Use Receiving Mechanical Ventilation. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2021;325(8):732-74

RADAR2 Trial Results Presentation

Dr Jon Silversides (Belfast) presents the results of the phase II RADAR2 trial, investigating active deresuscitation after resuscitation, at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2021.

Prof Marlies Ostermann (London) delivers an editorial on this trial, with a panel discussion following, including Dr Tine Sylvest Myhoff (Copenhagen), Dr Fernando Zampieri (Sao Paulo), Dr Andrew Althouse (Pittsburgh) and co-investigator, Prof John Marshall (Toronto)

Session Timings

2:15 - Jon Silversides- RADAR2 Trial Results Presentation
31:00 - Marlies Ostermann - Editorial
44:55 - Jon Silversides - Reply to the Editorial
49:00 - Phil Gillen - Questions from Viewers
55:56 - Rob Mac Sweeney chairs the Panel Discussion

Published Paper

The trial is currently unpublished

HOT-ICU Trial Results Presentation

Prof Bodil Steen Rasmussen (Aalbrog, Denmark) presents the results of the HOT-ICU trial, comparing liberal with conservative oxygenation targets in patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure, at the virtual eCritical Care Reviews Meeting 2021.

Paul Young (Wellington, New Zealand) delivers an independent editorial. Co-investigator Anders Perner (Copenhagen, Denmark), joins Hallie Prescott (Ann Arbour, USA), Gilles Capellier (Breascon, France), Marion Campbell (Aberdeen, Scotland) and Margaret Herridge (Toronto, Canada) for a discussion on the trial.

Session Timings

1:30 - Bodil Steen Rasmussen - HOT-ICU Trial Results Presentation
32:28 - Paul Young - Editorial
50:48 - Bodil Steen Rasmussen - Reply to the Editorial
56:20 - Catriona Kelly - Questions from Viewers
1:05:10 - Rob Mac Sweeney chairs the Panel Discussion

Published Paper

Schjørring. Lower or Higher Oxygenation Targets for Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure. N Engl J Med 2021;384:1301-1311

SANDWICH Trial Results Presentation

Prof Bronagh Blackwood (Belfast) presents the results of the SANDWICH trial, investigating sedation and weaning in critically ill children, at the Critical Care Reviews Meeting 2021.

The editorial is delivered by Prof Martha Curley (Philadelphia), and the discussion panel includes Prof Kevin Morris (Birmingham), Prof Robinder Khemani (Los Angeles), Prof Karla Hemming (Birmingham) and Prof Padmanabhan Ramnarayan (London).

Session Timings

2:12 - Bronagh Blackwood - SANDWICH Trial Results Presentation
31:22 - Martha Curley - Editorial
48:03 - Bronagh Blackwood - Reply to the Editorial
52:20 - Phil Gillen - Questions from Viewers
1:01:35 - Rob Mac Sweeney chairs the Panel Discussion

Published Paper

SANDWICH is currently unpublished

Best Trials of 2020

TXA in TBI Trial

Prof Susan Rowell (Chicago) presents the TXA in TBI trial, investigating tranexamic acid in acute traumatic brain injury at eCCR21. Prof Karim Brohi (London) follows with an independent editorial, providing insight and critique of the trial.

Published Paper

Rowell. Effect of Out-of-Hospital Tranexamic Acid vs Placebo on 6-Month Functional Neurologic Outcomes in Patients With Moderate or Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. JAMA 2020;324(10):961-974

ARREST Trial Presentation

Prof Demetris Yannopoulos (Minnesota) presents the ARREST trial, investigating advanced reperfusion strategies for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest & refractory ventricular fibrillation. Prof Eddy Fan (Toronto) follows with an independent editorial.

Published Paper

Yannopoulos. Advanced reperfusion strategies for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and refractory ventricular fibrillation (ARREST): a phase 2, single centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2021;396(10265):1807-1816

ITACTIC Trial Presentation

Prof Karim Brohi (London) presents the ITACTIC trial, investigating viscoelastic guided trauma management with standard coagulation assay guided management, at the eCritical Care Reviews Meeting 2021. Nikolay Bugaev (Boston) follows with an editorial on the trial.

Published Paper

Baksaas-Aasen. Viscoelastic haemostatic assay augmented protocols for major trauma haemorrhage (ITACTIC): a randomized, controlled trial. Intensive Care Med 2021;47:49–59

RELAx Trial Presentation

Prof Marcus Schultz (Amsterdam) presents the RELAx trial, comparing a lower vs higher positive end-expiratory pressure strategy on ventilator-free days in icu patients without ARDS. Prof Ewan Goligher (Toronto) provides the editorial.

Published Paper

Writing Committee and Steering Committee for the RELAx Collaborative Group. Effect of a Lower vs Higher Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Strategy on Ventilator-Free Days in ICU Patients Without ARDS. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2020;324(24):2509-2520

LOCO2 Trial Presentation

Prof Gilles Capellier (Beascon, France) presents the LOCO2 trial, comparing liberal with conservative oxygen therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS. Prof Lennie Derde (Utrecht, the Netherlands) delivers the independent editorial.

Published Paper

Barrot. Liberal or Conservative Oxygen Therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. N Engl J Med 2020;382:999-1008

NONSEDA Trial Presentation

Prof Palle Toft (Odense,Denmark) presents the NONSEDA trial, comparing nonsedation or light sedation in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients, at the eCritical Care Reviews Meeting 2021. Murali Shyamsundar (Belfast) follows with an editorial on the trial.