The purpose of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to investigate if mechanically ventilated patients who are treated with a Light Scheduling Algorithm with high circadian effective irradiances are better able to preserve and induce physiological melatonin rhythms compared to patients who are treated with an application of lower irradiances. The investigators will further evaluate the impact on delirium prevalence, stress level and general outcome parameters.
Circadian disruption affects the majority of ICU patients and has far-reaching effects on organ functioning. At the level of the central nervous system, circadian misalignment facilitates executive cognitive dysfunction and the development of brain disorders such as ICU delirium. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus serves as the master pacemaker that sets the timing of circadian rhythms by regulating neuronal activity. Its function is determined by environmental factors, especially visible light with a high content of blue light components. Light as a photoperiodic signal has a great impact on the regulation of the epiphyseal melatonin secretion and the entrainment of the day-night rhythm. As a result using light therapy to maintain or entrain circadian rhythm seems to be a promising approach to prevent delirium in critically ill patients. The specific light effect on the rhythmicity of the melatonin levels is to be examined in a randomized controlled study design, which includes the application of three different Light Scheduling Algorithms. In this context a highly specialized light ceiling was installed in two patient treatment rooms. A Light Scheduling Algorithm (LSA) consists of specified values for illuminance \[lux\] and correlated color temperature (CCT, \[kelvin\]) for different time points and durations within a 24-hour period. These values are calculated by assessment of photometric light measures with regard to visual light effects as well as non-image-forming functions at the patients bedside. Patients will be randomly allocated in to 3 treatment groups: (1) LSA-1 (high circadian effective irradiances + blue Light Intervention), (2) LSA-2 (high circadian effective irradiances without blue light intervention) and (3) LSA-3 (standard irradiances, Control Group). All LSAs will be applied to the patient using VitalSky Advanced. For the purpose of validation of efficacy of specific light interventions, blood samples for measurement of melatonin concentration will be collected. The temporal study sequence is defined by treatment days and measurement series periods (SMAP-1 to SMAP-4, Serum Melatonin Assessment Period). SMAP-1 starts on the first morning at 06:00 a.m. after study inclusion. SMAP-1 through SMAP-4 each define 24-hour periods in which the blood melatonin concentration is determined every 4 hours (6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm, 2 am, 6 am). The SMAP-1 is intended to determine the patient's individual melatonin baseline. SMAP-2 to SMAP-4 start only when the patient has reached a stable level of wakefulness (RASS ≥-3 ). It can be assumed that the light intervention will only have an effect on melatonin balance from this level of wakefulness. A total of 4 SMAPs are planned per study patient. Main Hypothesis: Ventilated ICU patients receiving increased irradiance lighting may differ in the rhythmicity of serum melatonin concentrations and more frequently exhibit physiologic circadian melatonin secretions compared with patients receiving conventional irradiance lighting. Secondary Hypotheses: 1. Ventilated intensive care patients receiving illumination with increased irradiance and phases of Blue-Enriched White light (BEW) differ in the rhythmicity of serum melatonin concentrations compared with patients receiving illumination with increased irradiance but without BEW. 2. Ventilated intensive care patients receiving illumination with increased irradiance and phases with BEW differ in the rhythmicity of serum melatonin concentrations compared with patients receiving illumination with conventional irradiance. 3. Ventilated intensive care patients receiving illumination with increased irradiance without phases with BEW differ in the rhythmicity of serum melatonin concentrations compared with patients receiving illumination with conventional irradiance. 4. Ventilated intensive care patients receiving increased irradiance lighting and periods of BEW have a lower incidence of delirium than patients receiving conventional irradiance lighting. 5. Ventilated intensive care patients receiving increased irradiance lighting and periods of BEW have lower delirium severity than patients receiving conventional irradiance lighting.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Dynamic Light Therapy
Dynamic Light Therapy
Dynamic Light Therapy
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Change in serum melatonin concentration
Prevalence of physiological circadian rhythmicity measured by serum melatonin concentrations
Time frame: Plasma melatonin levels will be assessed for a maximum of five 24-hour periods. Blood samples will be collected every 4 hours within each series of measurements. (6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm, 2am, 6am).
Prevalence of intensive care unit delirium
Delirium will be measured with the Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU), Binary scale (Positive/Negative)
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Delirium Severity
Delirium Severity will be measured with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). The higher the score the worse - higher score = higher delirium severity(ICDSC)
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Depth of Sedation
Level of sedation will be measured with the Richmond Agitation-Sedation-Scale (RASS), -5 to +4, negative scores translates to a higher degree of sedation.
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Severity of Pain
Severity of pain will be measured with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), or the Visualized Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-V) or the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) or the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) or the Behavioral Pain Scale for Non- Intubated (BPS-NI). A higher score corresponds to a higher severity of pain.Score values from 0 to 10. A higher score means worse outcome
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
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Patient comfort
Distress thermometer
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Duration of mechanical and non-mechanical ventilation
Hours
Time frame: Participants will be followed up until ICU discharge
ICU length of stay
Days
Time frame: Participants will be followed up until ICU discharge
Hospital length of stay
days
Time frame: Participants will be followed up until hospital discharge
Sepsis
Does patient fulfil sepsis criteria (Yes/No)
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Septic Shock
Does patient fulfil criteria for septic shock (Yes/No)
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA-Score)
Predicts ICU mortality based on lab results and clinical data.
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II)
Estimates mortality in ICU patients, comparable to APACHE II.
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28)
The Simplified Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System TISS-28 consists of 28 items. It is intended to accurately measure the level of care required for a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission
Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation 2 Score (APACHE II)
The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) is a severity score and mortality estimation tool developed from a large sample of ICU patients in the United States.
Time frame: Participants will be followed up to 6 days after intensive care unit admission