Assessing lung recruitment in ARDS patients using electrical impedance tomography
Official title: RecruitmEnt Assessed by eleCtRical Impedance Tomography: Feasibility, Correlation With Clinical oUtcomes and pIloT Data on Personalised PEEP Selection.
Run by Unity Health Toronto · NCT04460859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if a new method using electrical signals can help doctors see how well the lungs of patients with ARDS can be opened up for better breathing while they are on a ventilator.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 171 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Unity Health Toronto Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (São Paulo and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 9, 2020 |
| Main results expected | December 2026 |
| Study ends | June 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 20, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT04460859 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are intubated patients diagnosed with moderate to severe ARDS, characterized by a PaO2/FiO2 ratio of 200 mmHg or less.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are under 18 years old, have hemodynamic instability, or have contraindications to EIT monitoring will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The RECRUIT study is a multinational observational study that aims to evaluate the feasibility of using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to measure lung recruitment potential in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) who are mechanically ventilated. This single-day study involves specific lung recruitment maneuvers to gather data on how well patients' lungs can be recruited for better oxygenation. By analyzing the responses to these maneuvers, the study seeks to develop personalized methods for optimizing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) settings in real-time. The ultimate goal is to minimize risks associated with inadequate mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved personalized ventilation strategies that enhance oxygenation and potentially increase survival rates in ARDS patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of EIT in this context is relatively novel, previous studies have shown promise in using similar techniques for assessing lung function and recruitment.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Intubated moderate and severe ARDS according to the Berlin definition (PaO2/FiO2 ratio \<= 200 mmHg) * Under continuous sedation with or without paralysis Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 years * Bronchopleural fistula * Pure COPD exacerbation * Contraindication to EIT monitoring (e.g. burns, pacemaker, thoracic wounds limiting electrode belt placement) * Hemodynamic instability (Systolic BP \< 75 mmHg or MAP \< 60 mmHg despite vasopressors and/or heart rate \< 55 bpm) * Attending physician deems the transient application of high airway pressures to be unsafe
Where it's running
-
Faculdade de Medicina da University São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting -
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Barcelona, Spain Recruiting -
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
Milan, Italy Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Laurent Brochard, MD — Unity Health Toronto
- Study coordinator: Laurent Brochard, MD
- Email: Laurent.Brochard@unityhealth.to
- Phone: 416-864-5686
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Understanding immune patterns and ECMO strategies to help adults with severe ARDS
This study tests how different immune and clinical patterns in adults with moderate-to-severe ARDS respond to ECMO and lung-protective care, aiming to improve outcomes.
-
Optimal corticosteroid dosing for ARDS: short vs. prolonged therapy
This trial tests different corticosteroid doses and treatment lengths to see which helps adults with ARDS who are on ventilators.
-
Lateral positioning to optimize breathing in adults after abdominal surgery with ARDS
This study tests whether lying on the left or right side helps improve lung function in adults who developed ARDS after abdominal surgery, using a bedside imaging test to watch ventilation and blood flow while changing positions.
-
Dexamethasone for sepsis-related ARDS in adults on ventilatory support
This trial tests whether dexamethasone can help adults with sepsis-associated ARDS on ventilators recover better compared to placebo.
-
NIRS for EDResp: Which first helps hypoxemic adults best?
This trial tests whether non-invasive ventilation with a mask (NIPPV) or high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) is more helpful for adults in the emergency department with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
-
Sodium bicarbonate with bedside electrical impedance tomography to map lung blood flow in ventilated adults
This project will try whether a small sodium bicarbonate injection combined with bedside electrical impedance tomography can map lung blood flow in adults on mechanical ventilation, compared with hypertonic saline.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.