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Mechanically Ventilated ICU PatientsPhase 3NCT00326365

Effect of Homeopathic Remedy Kalium Bichromicum on Viscosity and Amount of Sputum Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients.

A Phase 3 study testing Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30) in people with Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients, run by Shaare Zedek Medical Center at 1 site in Israel.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the homeopathic remedy Kali Bichromium is effective in reducing the amount of tracheal secretions in patients intubated with a conventional endotracheal tube and receiving controlled mechanical ventilation in the ICU setting. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients
What is being tested?
Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30)
How many people
56 participants
Where
1 siteIsrael
Study dates
Jun 2006to not given
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • any endotracheally intubated ICU patient on mechanical ventilation support for at least 3 days prior to study enrollment.
  • profuse tenacious, stringy tracheal secretions

Who cannot join

  • Unstable septic patients
  • Concomitant disease of the larynx and trachea obstructing the airway or inhibiting the extubation process.
  • Patients with Tracheostomy
  • Concomitant active heart disease.
  • Need for catecholamines.
  • Pregnancy.
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Patient with underlying neuromuscular disorder or any other condition preventing patient cooperation with voluntary coughing and expectoration of secretions.
  • Patients with underlying conditions requiring continuous therapy with bronchorrheic medications (i.e. myasthenia gravis)
  • Failure of the patient or legal guardian to give written informed consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Menachem Oberbaum, M.D. contact

972-2-6666395

oberbaum@szmc.org.il

Israel1 site
  • Intensive Care Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center

    Jerusalem, 91031

    Menachem Oberbaum, M.D., 972-2-6666395, oberbaum@szmc.org.il

Other trials in Israel

About this study

Official title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of the Homeopathic Remedy Kalium Bichromicum (Potassium Dichromate) to Decrease Viscosity and Amount of Sputum as Well as Time to Extubation, in Intubated Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the homeopathic remedy Kali Bichromium is effective in reducing the amount of tracheal secretions in patients intubated with a conventional endotracheal tube and receiving controlled mechanical ventilation in the ICU setting.

Read the detailed description

Profuse and tenacious tracheal secretions are a significant factor impeding the weaning process in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In homeopathy, high dilutions of plant extracts, minerals, and other biological substances are used as remedies for the treatment of illness, which is based on the "Law of Similars" (the higher the dilution, the stronger the effect). Kali Bichromicum (potassium dichromate) is a drug that is commonly used in homeopathy, mostly for conditions involving profuse, stringy, tenacious mucous and tracheal secretions. A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study found a statistically significant effect of this remedy on improving the amount of tracheal secretion, timing to extubation and discharge from the ICU among critically ill patients, with no side effects observed.

The proposed study will compare the efficacy of Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30) versus placebo in reducing the amount of tracheal secretions in patients intubated with a conventional endotracheal tube and receiving controlled mechanical ventilation in the ICU setting. Both the quantity and viscoelasticity (measured by rheometry) of the secretions will be studied, as well as sputum neutrophil count (using direct microscopy). Time to extubation and the need for re-intubation will also be evaluated. 56 patients over the age of 18 years treated with mechanical ventilation for at least 3 days will be recruited from the ICU departments of 4 medical centers in Israel. The preparations will be administered in the form of small pellet-like globules, which will be placed on the mucosa of the mouth, to the side of the endotracheal tube. Patients will be randomly allocated to either verum (n=28) or placebo (n=28) treatment, with the remedies administered twice daily with an interval of 12 hours, for a period of up to 14 days or until the patient is extubated. Any adverse event will be recorded.

Being tested
Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30)
Keywords
mechanical ventilation, secretions, viscosity, homeopathy, kalium bichromate, extubation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30)Drug

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. To compare efficacy of Kali bichromicum (C30) in reducing tracheal secretions in mechanically ventilated patients

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. To compare the proportion of patients with grade 3 tracheal secretions;number of suctionings;reduction of tracheal secretions;effects on the mucus viscoelasticity and sputum neutrophil count; shortening time to extubation and need for re-intubation.

  2. effect in shortening the time to discharge from the ICU. To evaluate the safety of of Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30) as compared with placebo.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 May 2006 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2006

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Enrolment
56 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00326365
Sponsor's protocol ID
KAL.ICU.2006
Status last verified
May 2006
First submitted
15 May 2006
Last updated
31 Oct 2007
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Frass M, Dielacher C, Linkesch M, Endler C, Muchitsch I, Schuster E, Kaye A. Influence of potassium dichromate on tracheal secretions in critically ill patients. Chest. 2005 Mar;127(3):936-41. doi: 10.1378/chest.127.3.936.

    PubMed 15764779

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Kali bichromicum 10-60 (C30) in people with Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients, run by Shaare Zedek Medical Center at 1 site in Israel.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Oct 2007. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Israel. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Menachem Oberbaum, M.D. (972-2-6666395, oberbaum@szmc.org.il), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

To compare efficacy of Kali bichromicum (C30) in reducing tracheal secretions in mechanically ventilated patients. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00326365, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Oct 2007.

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