General public

Purpose: This study is evaluating whether giving a neuromuscular blocker (skeletal muscle relaxant) to a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome will improve survival. Half of the patients will receive a neuromuscular blocker for two days and in the other half the use of neuromuscular blockers will be discouraged .

Trial Summary:

• Study Design: This is a multi-center, prospective, 2-arm, unblinded, randomized clinical trial of two management strategies of neuromuscular blockade (also called skeletal muscle relaxant and muscle relaxant).
• Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of early neuromuscular blockade in reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with moderate-severe ARDS in comparison to a control group with no routine early neuromuscular blockade.
• Sample Size: This trial will enroll approximately 1400 subjects from PETAL network hospital ICUs.