End-of-life Care in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Impact of a Comprehensive Palliative Care Protocol in the Intensive Care Setting

The ARREVE-3 trial will evaluate whether a structured palliative care protocol can improve end-of-life management for mechanically ventilated ICU patients in whom a decision to withdraw life-sustaining therapies has been made. This cluster-randomized controlled trial compares protocol-based care with usual practice across participating centers. The intervention includes comprehensive guidance on symptom management, sedation, nursing care, withdrawal procedures, and family support, supported by standardized staff training. The primary endpoint is adherence to recommended end-of-life practices, while secondary outcomes assess patient comfort, communication with relatives, and the impact on families and healthcare professionals

NCT Number	NCT07368010
Lead Sponsor	Nantes University Hospital Collaborators: University of Burgundy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Louis APHP, University Hospital, Tours
Conditions	Palliative Care, Withdrawal of Life Support, Intensive Care Medicine, Sedation, Dying Process
Enrollment	720 participants
Start Date	2026-01-10
Primary Completion	2028-01-10 (estimated)
Study Completion	2029-01-10 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-26