Bedside EIT-guided respiratory physiotherapy for adults on long-term ventilators
Electrical Impedance Tomography-Guided Respiratory Physiotherapy for Liberation From Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will test whether using bedside electrical impedance tomography to guide respiratory physiotherapy helps adults who have been on a ventilator for 21 days or more get more days off the ventilator within the first 28 days.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Capital Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Beijing, Beijing Municipality) |
| Trial ID | NCT07372794 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This multicenter randomized controlled trial will randomize adults who have received invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 21 consecutive days to either respiratory physiotherapy guided by real-time electrical impedance tomography (EIT) or to standardized conventional respiratory physiotherapy, with both groups receiving standard ICU care. Respiratory physiotherapy includes airway clearance, chest physiotherapy, breathing pattern optimization, and therapeutic positioning delivered with comparable frequency and duration between groups. In the EIT-guided arm, clinicians will use predefined ventilation distribution indicators on real-time EIT images to individualize physiotherapy maneuvers during each session. The primary outcome is ventilator-free days at day 28, with secondary outcomes including successful liberation from invasive ventilation and diaphragm ultrasound measures.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older who have been on invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 21 consecutive days, are clinically stable for physiotherapy, and are expected to remain ventilated for at least 48 hours after enrollment are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to EIT, severe hemodynamic instability or refractory hypoxemia, unstable fractures or other limits to mobilization/positioning, pregnancy, or an expected death within 48 hours are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase days off the ventilator and shorten the duration of invasive ventilation for patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation.
How similar studies have performed: Small physiologic studies and pilot trials suggest EIT can help tailor ventilation and improve regional lung ventilation, but large randomized trials in prolonged mechanical ventilation are limited and the approach remains promising but not yet proven.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years. * Invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 21 consecutive days. * Clinically stable and eligible for respiratory physiotherapy as determined by the treating team. * Expected to remain on invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours after enrollment. * Written informed consent obtained from the patient or legally authorized representative. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to electrical impedance tomography . * Hemodynamic instability requiring high-dose vasoactive support. * Severe hypoxemia refractory to optimization. * Unstable fractures or other contraindications to mobilization or positioning. * Pregnancy. * Expected death within 48 hours.
Where this trial is running
Beijing, Beijing Municipality
- Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University — Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Yi Li
- Email: liyi_bjkfyy@126.com
- Phone: 86 13810913780
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.