Evaluation of Patients With Critical Illness

Study Summary

This study provides training opportunities for critical care specialists in evaluating and treating critically ill patients. Patients enrolled in the study receive standard tests and treatments. The study objectives are to: * Provide additional training for staff of the NIH Clinical Center intensive care unit, including physicians, nurses, fellows, and other trainees so that they develop and maintain essential skills, * Gather information about the natural history and outcomes of critical illness, accompanying conditions, and complications, * Develop hypotheses about the medical problems involved in the illnesses and their treatment, and * Identify critically ill patients who may be eligible for specific NIH research protocols. Critically ill patients 18 years of age and older who may benefit by transferring to the NIH Clinical Center for treatment may be eligible for this study. Patients will be transferred to the Clinical Center from another hospital only when the referring and accepting physicians in both institutions agree that the potential benefit of coming to the NIH outweighs the risk of transferring the patient. Participants are evaluated and treated at the Clinical Center. Patients provide a medical history and have a physical examination. They may also have various medical tests and procedures needed to evaluate their condition. These procedures may include blood work, placement of an intravenous (IV) line, x-rays and other imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other procedures. Patients who are diagnosed with a specific condition may be offered treatment or may be referred to another study that is more appropriate for that particular problem.