Impact of 3D-EIT-Guided Acapella Breathing Training on Lung Ventilation Distribution (NCT07733843) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Impact of 3D-EIT-Guided Acapella Breathing Training on Lung Ventilation Distribution
30 participantsStarted 2026-07-31
Plain-language summary
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine whether real-time visual feedback from three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography (3D-EIT) can improve the effects of Acapella breathing exercises in adults recovering from critical illness. 3D-EIT is a noninvasive bedside imaging method that provides real-time information about how ventilation is distributed within the lungs.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will perform a standardized Acapella breathing exercise while 3D-EIT data and vital signs are recorded. Participants in the control group will receive routine verbal and demonstration-based breathing instructions without viewing the EIT images. Participants in the intervention group will receive the same instructions and will also view their own real-time 3D-EIT ventilation images. They will use this visual feedback to adjust their breathing with the goal of increasing ventilation in the dorsal regions of the lungs and/or achieving a more even distribution of ventilation.
The main question is whether 3D-EIT-guided visual feedback results in a greater improvement in end-expiratory lung impedance (EELI) after breathing exercise compared with routine instruction alone. The study will also examine changes in regional ventilation distribution, ventilation inhomogeneity, vital signs, breathing discomfort, comfort and tolerance, achievement of the breathing-training target, and adverse events.
Approximately 30 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the two study groups.
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 ≥18 years.
* Adult patients in the stable recovery phase following critical illness, breathing spontaneously, alert, and able to follow instructions (suggested Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale \[RASS\] score of -1 to +1).
* Hemodynamically stable, with no vasopressor support or only a low and stable dose of vasopressors.
* Receiving stable low-flow oxygen therapy or equivalent non-escalating respiratory support, without an anticipated need for escalation in the short term.
* Clinically considered suitable for standardized Acapella breathing exercises.
* Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Significant hemodynamic instability or clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia.
* Untreated pneumothorax or active hemoptysis.
* Severe chest wall skin injury or allergy to electrode materials that prevents application of the electrical impedance tomography electrodes.
* Significant delirium or inability to understand or follow study instructions.
* Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the participant unsuitable for participation in the study.
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
Change From Baseline in End-Expiratory Lung Impedance (ΔEELI)
Timeframe: From baseline before the intervention to 10 minutes after completion of the single Acapella training session