PEEP 5 mbar versus ZEEP ventilation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Peri-Arrest Ventilation With Positive End-Expiratory-Pressure vs. Zero End-Expiratory-Pressure in Out-of-Hospital-Cardiac-Arrest

Not applicable Interventional Muehlenkreiskliniken, MKK · NCT06836830

This study will test whether using PEEP at 5 mbar instead of zero PEEP during mechanical ventilation helps adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest regain spontaneous circulation.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment600 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMuehlenkreiskliniken, MKK Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06836830 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, multicenter, cluster-randomized trial run through regional emergency medical services in three German districts. Adult patients with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who receive mechanical ventilation via an airway device are enrolled and treated according to the cluster's assigned strategy: PEEP 5 mbar or ZEEP 0 mbar. The primary outcome is the rate of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC); secondary outcomes include re-arrest, prehospital death, hospital admission status, peripheral oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2 at hospital arrival. Clusters (districts) are randomized to one ventilation strategy to allow pragmatic comparison during routine prehospital resuscitation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who are receiving mechanical ventilation through an airway device are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients under 18, those with traumatic cardiac arrest, people without cardiac arrest, or cases where resuscitation is withheld (for example due to a DNR order) are excluded and would not be candidates for benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, using 5 mbar PEEP could increase the chance of return of spontaneous circulation and improve early oxygenation during prehospital resuscitation.

How similar studies have performed: Smaller physiological studies and in-hospital observations have shown that PEEP can change oxygenation and hemodynamics during CPR, but large randomized trials in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are limited and the approach is not yet proven.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults \>= 18 years
* non-traumatic OHCA
* mechanical ventilation via airway device

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients \< 18 years,
* traumatic cause of OHCA,
* no cardiac arrest, withholding of resuscitation (e.g. Do-Not-Resuscitate orders)

Where this trial is running

Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia and 2 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 Ventilation TherapyPEEP, OccultCPRCardiac ArrestPositive End-Expiratory PressureZero End-Expiratory PressureVentilationRandomized Controlled Trial
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.