The Pragmatic Critical Care Research Group (PCCRG) is a network of emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and critical care clinicians and researchers at more than 25 hospitals across the United States that embeds pragmatic trials within clinical care to improve outcomes for acutely ill patients.

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Intubation

RSI Trial

Ketamine or Etomidate for Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Apr 2026
PubMed ID: 41369227

PREOXI

Noninvasive Ventilation for Preoxygenation during Emergency
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Jun 2024
PubMed ID: 38869091

DEVICE

Video versus Direct Laryngoscopy for Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Jul 2023
PubMed ID: 37326325

BOUGIE Trial

Bougie or Stylet In Patients Undergoing Intubation Emergently (BOUGIE)
Publication: JAMA results paper Apr 2021
PubMed ID: 34879143

PREPARE Trial

Effect of a fluid bolus on cardiovascular collapse among critically ill adults undergoing tracheal intubation (PrePARE): a randomised controlled trial.
Publication: Lancet Respiratory Medicine Sep 2019
PubMed ID: 31585796

PREPAREII Trial

Effect of Fluid Bolus Administration on Cardiovascular Collapse Among Critically Ill Patients Undergoing Tracheal Intubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Publication: JAMA Jun 2019
PubMed ID: 35707974

ETTS

The effect of adhesive tape versus endotracheal tube fastener in critically ill adults: the endotracheal tube securement (ETTS) randomized controlled trial.”
Publication: Critical Care May 2019
PubMed ID: 31064406

PreVent Trial

Bag-Mask Ventilation during Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Jan 2019
PubMed ID: 30779528

CHECK-Up Trial: Up

A Multicenter, Randomized Trial of Ramped Position vs Sniffing Position During Endotracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: CHEST Sep 2017
PubMed ID: 28487139

CHECK-Up Trial: Checklist

A Multicenter Randomized Trial of a Checklist for Endotracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: Chest Aug 2017
PubMed ID: 28917549

FELLOW Trial: VL/DL

Randomized Trial of Video Laryngoscopy for Endotracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: Critical Care Medicine Oct 2016
PubMed ID: 27355526

FELLOW Trial: AO

Randomized Trial of Apneic Oxygenation during Endotracheal Intubation of the Critically Ill.
Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Oct 2016
PubMed ID: 26426458

Fluid Management

SMART Trial

Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults.
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Feb 2018
PubMed ID: 29485925

SALT-ED Trial

Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Noncritically Ill Adults.
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Jan 2018
PubMed ID: 29485926

SALT Trial

Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in the Intensive Care Unit. The SALT Randomized Trial.
Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Apr 2017
PubMed ID: 27749094

BASE

Normosol-R vs Lactated Ringers in the Critically Ill: A Randomized Trial
Publication: CHEST Jul 2025
PubMed ID: 39971001

BALANCE Trial

Conservative Fluid Management After Sepsis Resuscitation: A Pilot Randomized Trial.
Publication: Journal of Intensive Care Medicine Nov 2020
PubMed ID: 30630380

Mechanical Ventilation

PILOT Trial

Oxygen-Saturation Targets for Critically Ill Adults Receiving Mechanical Ventilation
Publication: New England Journal of Medicine Sep 2022
PubMed ID: 36278971

Mode

Effect of Ventilator Mode on Ventilator-Free Days in Critically Ill Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Publication: CHEST Apr 2025
PubMed ID: 40189043

Proper

Protocolized Postextubation Respiratory Support to Prevent Reintubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Publication: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicin Jul 2021
PubMed ID: 33794131

Antibiotics

ACORN Trial

Cefepime vs Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Adults Hospitalized With
Acute Infection: The ACORN Randomized Clinical Trial.
Publication: JAMA Sep 2023
PubMed ID: 37837651

ECMO

SAFE-ECMO

Low-Intensity vs Moderate-Intensity Anticoagulation for Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: The Strategies for Anticoagulation During Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Pilot Trial
Publication: Chest Mar 2025
PubMed ID: 40081660

ICU Recovery

ICU Survivor Clinic Trial

Randomized Clinical Trial of an ICU Recovery Pilot Program for Survivors of Critical Illness.
Publication: Critical Care Medicine Sep 2018
PubMed ID: 31385881