Open lung extubation strategy for patients after abdominal surgery

Open Lung Protective Extubation Following General Anesthesia: the OLEXT-3 Trial

Not applicable Interventional Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · NCT06296173

This study is testing if a new way to take patients off breathing machines after abdominal surgery can reduce lung problems compared to the usual method.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment270 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) Academic / other
Locations4 sites (Ottawa, Ontario and 3 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06296173 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing two extubation strategies: 'open lung' and 'conventional' in patients undergoing elective intra-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. It will involve 216 adult patients at moderate or high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications, who will be randomly assigned to one of the two strategies. The study will measure adherence to the extubation protocol and the rates of postoperative pulmonary complications in both groups. The findings will help inform future definitive trials on the effectiveness of these strategies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and over scheduled for elective intra-abdominal surgery with a moderate to high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications.

Not a fit: Patients who are expected to have difficult intubation or require postoperative mechanical ventilation may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved respiratory outcomes and reduced complications for patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies on 'open lung' ventilation have shown mixed results, indicating that this approach is still being explored and may offer novel insights.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients (18 years of age or over)
* Elective intra-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.
* Moderate or high risk of postoperative pulmonary complication according to the ARISCAT score (score of 26 or more)
* Planned postoperative hospitalization

Exclusion Criteria:

* Expected or known difficult intubation according to the treating anesthesiologist
* Postoperative mechanical ventilation (planned or unplanned)
* General anesthesia performed outside the main operating room

Where this trial is running

Ottawa, Ontario and 3 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Intra-abdominal SurgeryAnesthesiaLung InjuryVentilator-Induced Lung InjuryAtelectasis
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.