Restrictive Fluid Administration vs. Standard of Care in Emergency Department Sepsis Patients (REFACED Sepsis)

March 24, 2022 updated by: Marie Kristine Jessen, MD

Restrictive Fluid Administration vs. Standard of Care in Emergency Department Sepsis Patients - a Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Feasibility Trial (REFACED Sepsis)

This is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-labeled, feasibility trial investigating volumes of fluid within 24 hours in 124 patients with sepsis allocated to two different IV fluid regimens enrolled at three emergency departments in Central Region Denmark. The primary outcome is total intravenous, crystalloid fluid volume within 24 hours and key secondary outcomes include protocol violations, total fluids (intravenous and oral) within 24 hours, SAEs/SUSARs, and inhospital-, 30- and 90-day mortality.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

Sepsis is common in emergency department (ED) patients. Traditionally, intravenous (IV) fluids are used to optimise the circulation, and the use of higher volumes is recommended by international guidelines, but there are no recommendations for sepsis without hypotension or shock. Studies in septic shock seem to favour fluid restriction. Whether this is true in sepsis without hypotension/shock is unknown.

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of the REFACED Sepsis trial is to test if an IV fluid restrictive protocol in ED patients with sepsis is feasible, i.e., if the protocol decreases the IV fluid volumes administered.

DESIGN:

REFACED Sepsis is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-labeled, feasibility trial

POPULATION:

ED patients with sepsis expected to be admitted for ≥ 24 hours

EXPERIMENTAL INTERVENTION:

In the IV fluid restriction group no IV fluids should be given unless one of the below mentioned occurs;

A fluid bolus of 250 ml isotonic crystalloid may be given within 15 minutes if one of the following occurs (hypoperfusion criteria):

  • Lactate concentration ≥ 4 mmol/l (arterial or venous blood gas/blood sample)
  • Hypotension (systolic BP < 90 mmHg)
  • Mottling beyond edge of kneecap (i.e., Mottling score >2)53
  • Severe oliguria, i.e., diuresis < 0.1 ml/kg/h, during the first 4 hours of admission

All patients will be ensured min. 1 L of oral/intravenous fluids in 24 hours and electrolytes can be corrected.

CONTROL INTERVENTION:

In the usual care group there will be no upper limit for the use of IV fluids.

OUTCOMES:

The primary outcome is 24-hour intravenous crystalloid fluid administration. Key secondary outcomes are: Feasibility measures: Number of patients with major protocol violations, Number of patients screened vs included, Time from admission to inclusion, Number of patients lost to follow up in terms of 24-hour fluids, Accumulated serious adverse reactions and events (SAEs + Suspected Unexpected Serious Adverse Reaction (SUSARs)) within 48 hours in-hospital, Total fluids (oral and intravenous) at 24 hours,

TRIAL-SIZE:

124 patients will be randomized to restrictive fluid administration or usual care within 24 hours of randomization

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
124

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Denmark
    • Central Denmark Region
      • Aarhus, Central Denmark Region, Denmark, 8200
        • Department of Emergency Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital
      • Randers, Central Denmark Region, Denmark, 8930
        • Department of Emergency Medicine, Regional Hospital Randers
      • Viborg, Central Denmark Region, Denmark, 8800
        • Department of Emergency Medicine, Regional Hospital Viborg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria: All of the below must be fulfilled:

  1. Unplanned emergency department admission
  2. Age ≥ 18 years

  3. Sepsis defined as

    1. suspected infection by the treating clinician AND
    2. blood cultures drawn AND
    3. IV antibiotics administered or planned AND
    4. An infection related increase of SOFA*-score ≥ 2 from baseline

  4. Expected hospital stay > 24 hours as deemed by treating clinician

    • Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score

Further more the patient must fulfill criteria for enrollment in an acute study according to Danish law

Exclusion Criteria: We will exclude patients fulfilling any of following exclusion criteria:

  1. ≥ 500 ml of fluids given prior to randomization
  2. Invasively ventilated or vasopressors initiated at the time of screening
  3. Known or suspected severe bleeding judged by the treating clinician
  4. Known or suspected pregnancy (women aged <45 years will have a pregnancy test performed before enrollment)
  5. Prior enrollment in the trial
  6. Patients, who the clinician expect not to survive the next 24-hours

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Restrictive fluid administration

No IV fluids unless one of the extenuating circumstances occur;

  1. In case of severe hypoperfusion or severe circulatory impairment defined by either: 1) Lactate≥4 mmol/L, 2) Hypotension (systolic BP < 90 mmHg), 3) Mottling beyond the kneecap (mottling score >2) OR 4) Urinary output<0.1 mL/kg bodyweight/h (only in the first 4hrs after randomization) then a bolus of 250 ml of IV crystalloid solution may be given followed by re-evaluation
  2. In case of overt fluid losses (e.g. vomiting, large aspirates,) IV fluid may be given to correct for the loss, but not above the volume lost.

  3. In case the oral/enteral route for water or electrolyte solutions is contraindicated or has failed, IV fluids may be given to:

    Correct dehydration or electrolyte deficiencies Ensure a total fluid input of 1 L in 24hrs

  4. IV fluids may be given as carrier for medication, but with lowest possible volume
Drug: Isotonic crystalloids

Types of fluids in both intervention groups:

  • Fluids used for electrolyte disturbances: Fluids should be chosen to substitute the specific deficiency
  • Fluids given to substitute overt loss: Isotonic crystalloids are to be used. If large amounts of ascites are tapped, then human albumin may be used.
  • Blood products are only to be used on specific indications including severe bleeding, severe anaemia and prophylactic in case of severe coagulopathy.
Active Comparator: Usual care (standard care)

There will be no upper limit for the use of either IV or oral/enteral fluids

  1. IV fluids should be given in the case of hypoperfusion or circulatory impairment and should be continued as long as hemodynamic variables improve including static or dynamic variable(s) as chosen by the clinicians. These criteria are based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guideline.
  2. IV fluids should be given as maintenance if the ICU has a protocol recommending maintenance fluid
  3. IV fluids should be given to substitute expected or observed loss, dehydration or electrolyte derangements
Drug: Isotonic crystalloids

Types of fluids in both intervention groups:

  • Fluids used for electrolyte disturbances: Fluids should be chosen to substitute the specific deficiency
  • Fluids given to substitute overt loss: Isotonic crystalloids are to be used. If large amounts of ascites are tapped, then human albumin may be used.
  • Blood products are only to be used on specific indications including severe bleeding, severe anaemia and prophylactic in case of severe coagulopathy.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
24-hour crystalloid iv. fluids
Time Frame: 24 hours from randomization
total amount of all administered intravenous, crystalloid fluids within 24 hours of randomization
24 hours from randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Protocol violations
Time Frame: 24 hours from randomization
Feasibility measure: Number of patients with major protocol violations
24 hours from randomization
Screened-vs.-randomized-ratio
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Feasibility measure: Number of patients screened vs included
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Time to inclusion
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Feasibility measure: Time from admission to inclusion/randomization (hours)
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Lost-to-follow-up-rate
Time Frame: 24 hours from randomization
Feasibility measure: Number of patients lost to follow up in terms of 24-hour fluids
24 hours from randomization
Accumulated serious adverse reactions (SARs + SUSARs)
Time Frame: 7 days from randomization
Feasibility measure: Accumulated serious adverse reactions and events (SAEs + SARs+ SUSARs) within 7 days in-hospital
7 days from randomization
Total 24-hour fluids
Time Frame: 24 hours from randomization
Total fluids (oral and intravenous) at 24 hours
24 hours from randomization
Mortality
Time Frame: Total of 90-days
In-hospital, 30- and 90-days mortality
Total of 90-days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Marie Kristine Jessen, MD

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Aarhus University Hospital
University of Aarhus
Viborg Regional Hospital
Randers Regional Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marie K Jessen, MD, Research Center for Emergency Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 3, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 19, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 19, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 11, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 30, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 13, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 24, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • RECEM0001
  • 2021-000224-35 (EudraCT Number)
  • 1-10-72-163-21 (Other Identifier: The Committee on Health Research Ethics, Central Denmark Region)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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