Treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) relies on invasive mechanical ventilation with supposedly protective settings (low tidal volume ventilation). Mortality of ARDS remains high in observational studies (40 to 50%). Approximately 30% of ARDS patients exhibit tidal hyperinflation despite low tidal volume ventilation, suggesting that personalization of tidal volume is required to improve ARDS prognostic. To date, reliable bedside tools to adjust tidal volume are lacking. Excessive tidal volume can be detected using computed tomography by quantification of tidal hyperinflation, but this technique is reserved to research studies and requires patient transport to imaging facility.
Mechanical ventilation generates cardio-pulmonary interaction, whose magnitude is influenced by tidal volume and respiratory system characteristics. Pulse pressure variation is a bedside tool with potential to quantify cardio-pulmonary interactions. Increasing tidal volume will decrease right ventricular preload and increase right ventricular afterload, hence maximizing cardio-pulmonary interactions.
The investigators hypothesize that pulse pressure variation might help to detect excessive tidal volume during a tidal volume challenge (i.e. stepwise increase in tidal volume)
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age greater then 18 years old
. ARDS according to the BERLIN definition with PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 150 mm Hg
. invasive mechanical ventilation in volume controlled mode with tidal volume set to 6 ml/kg predicted body weight
. use of sedation and neuromuscular-blocking agents
. arterial catheter allowing computation of pulse contour cardiac output calibrated with thermodilution
. central venous catheter implanted in the superior vena cava territory
. esophageal balloon
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Tidal hyperinflation
Timeframe: 5 minutes - This endpoint will be assessed 5 minutes after ventilatory adjustment