How giving fluids changes tiny blood flow in critically ill patients with venous congestion.

Evaluation of the Microcirculatory Response to Fluids in Critically Ill Patients With Venous Congestion: A Prospective Observational Study

Observational Università Politecnica delle Marche · NCT07499401

This project will see if giving a fluid bolus makes tiny blood flow worse in ICU patients who have venous congestion compared with similar patients without congestion.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment30 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversità Politecnica delle Marche Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ancona, Italy)
Trial IDNCT07499401 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective observational study enrolling critically ill patients in the intensive care unit who have invasive or minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Patients who receive a clinician-ordered fluid challenge will have microcirculatory measurements taken before and after the fluid is given. Investigators will compare microcirculatory changes between patients with clinical signs of venous congestion and those without. The aim is to determine whether fluid administration worsens microvascular perfusion in patients with venous congestion.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Critically ill ICU patients with invasive or minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring who are undergoing a clinician-ordered fluid challenge are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, those who cannot have oral-cavity or bedside microcirculatory measurements (for example due to facial trauma), or those without appropriate hemodynamic monitoring are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If the study shows harm from fluids in congested patients, it could help clinicians avoid fluid strategies that worsen tissue perfusion.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has looked at how fluids affect microcirculation in critically ill patients, but the specific effect in patients with venous congestion is less well characterized.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit
* Invasive or minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring

Exclusion Criteria:

* Suspected or confirmed pregnancy
* Inability to access the oral cavity (e.g., facial trauma, oral bleeding)

Where this trial is running

Ancona, Italy

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Venous CongestionMicrocirculationVolume Expansion
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.