Projects
Telepalliative care in intensive care units: an ethical analysis KU Leuven
This PhD research project aims to develop an ethical framework to evaluate the use of telepalliative care in intensive care units. The sub-aims of this project are (1) to analyze the main ethical concepts used in the debate on the use of telecare in palliative care settings and the arguments built on these concepts; (2) to understand what citizens (general public, relatives of palliative patients, etc.) perceive as ethical issues in the use ...
Clinical prediction models in intensive care. KU Leuven
Implementation of computerized decision support in the intensive care unit KU Leuven
In the modern intensive care unit (ICU) a wealth of valuable data is generated. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models use advanced analytics to display and interpret these signals. AI could potentially improve treatment strategies and long-term patient outcomes. However, the introduction of AI-driven decision support tools in the ICU has been scarce. Meanwhile, the potential impact of the use of these AI-driven ...
Exposure of premature neonates to bisphenol A and phthalates at the intensive care unit: accumulation in hair and long-term neurodevelopmentel and pulmonary toxicity. University of Antwerp
Persisting muscle weakness after prolonged intensive care stay: incidence, risk factors, pathomysiology and contribution to long-term physical disabilities. KU Leuven
As ICU survival has markedly increased during the past decades, devastating sequellae of critical illness are becoming clear. ICU survivors manifest long-term physical disability and decreased quality of life. Several factors may contribute to this ‘legacy’ of critical illness. One of the main suggested contributors is delayed recovery from neuromuscular weakness acquired in the ICU (ICUAW). In this project we focus on the gap in knowledge on ...
Exposure to plasticizers leaching from plastic medical devices in Neonatal Intensive Care and impact on the long-term neurocognitive and pulmonary development. University of Antwerp
Intensive care extended beyond the “adaptive” time window: from impact on the adrenocortical ‘fight or flight’ response towards a possible new treatment KU Leuven
The hormone cortisol is an essential component of the ‘fight or flight’ response to illness and trauma. Normally, when the brain senses a stressful event, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is activated, and the hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which drives cortisol synthesis and secretion from the adrenal cortex. Cortisol ...
''Stealing effect'' during weaning from mechanical ventilation: The role of blood flow competition between respiratory muscles and cerebral cortex on weaning outcomes in the medical intensive care unit. KU Leuven
Weaning covers the entire process of liberating the patient from mechanical ventilation support and the endotracheal tube. For the majority of mechanically-ventilated patients weaning can be successfully accomplished quickly and easily, however this is not the case for 15-30% of ventilated patients. Prolonged mechanical ventilation secondary to weaning failure sacrifices a significant amount of intensive care resources, thus increasing the ...
AspICU - An international, multicentre epidemiologic study on Aspergillus species in intensive care unit patients with the objective to identify specific risk factors and the validation of a diagnostic algorithm to discriminate Aspergillus colonization Ghent University
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a fungal disease with high mortality. Because of difficulties in diagnosis the true incidence of t his disease is unknown. There are no validated diagnostic criteria for intensive care patients. Our reserach group retrospectively developed a diagnostic algorithm with high sensitivity and specificity. The objective is to prospectively validate this diagnostic algorithm.