How common pain is in adults on mechanical ventilators in intensive care units
Prevalence of Pain in Mechanically Ventilated Patients in Intensive Care Units
The researchers will measure how often adults on invasive mechanical ventilation in ICUs experience pain and which clinical factors are linked to it.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 370 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centro Universitário Augusto Motta Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro and 3 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07182851 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, multicenter cohort in Rio de Janeiro that will estimate the prevalence and intensity of pain in adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Pain will be measured using behavioral and physiological indicators before and after procedures such as tracheal aspiration, and investigators will record sedation, analgesia use, and other clinical variables. The study will analyze how pain relates to outcomes including ventilator duration, delirium, infection rates, and length of hospital stay. Patients on neuromuscular blockers or with conditions that alter pain perception or behavioral responses will be excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) on invasive mechanical ventilation in participating ICUs who are not receiving neuromuscular blockers, do not have conditions that alter pain perception, and for whom tracheal aspiration is clinically indicated are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients receiving neuromuscular blockers, those with neurological conditions that alter pain perception or behavioral responses, and people not on invasive ventilation are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help clinicians detect and manage pain better in ventilated patients, potentially reducing delirium, ventilator days, and hospital stays.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational studies have commonly found pain is frequent in mechanically ventilated patients and linked to worse outcomes, so this study builds on established evidence rather than testing a new treatment.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria Participants of both sexes, aged 18 or over; Participants who are using invasive mechanical ventilation, Exclusion Criteria: Participants undergoing treatment with neuromuscular blockers,; Participants with any condition associated with altered pain perception (e.g., Guillain-Barré Syndrome, SCI, etc.); Participants with any condition that would likely interfere with behavioral assessments of pain (e.g., decortication or decerebration posture) As the assessments will be carried out before and after the tracheal aspiration procedure, if the patient does not have objective criteria for tracheal aspiration, he/she will be excluded from the study, irrefutably preventing the procedure from being carried out without express need.
Where this trial is running
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro and 3 other locations
- Hospital Central da Aeronáutica — Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Recruiting)
- Hospital Central da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro — Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Recruiting)
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho — Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Recruiting)
- Hospital Universitário Gafrée Guinle — Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Arthur S Ferreira, Dsc
- Email: asferreira@unisuam.edu.br
- Phone: +552238829797
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.