Recruitment maneuver after suction to restore lung volume in ventilated ICU patients

Impact of a Recruitment Maneuver After Closed Endotracheal Suctioning on End-expiratory Lung Volume in Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients Assessed by Electrical Impedance Tomography

Not applicable Interventional Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Toulon La Seyne sur Mer · NCT07358039

This trial will test whether briefly raising airway pressure right after endotracheal suctioning helps reopen lungs and restore lung volume in adults on mechanical ventilation.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment32 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Toulon La Seyne sur Mer Academic / other
Locations1 site (Toulon, VAR)
Trial IDNCT07358039 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, randomized, open-label, single-center crossover trial in intubated ICU patients. Each participant undergoes two interventions in random order: closed-circuit endotracheal suctioning alone versus suctioning immediately followed by a recruitment maneuver (30 cmH₂O for 30 seconds) with unchanged PEEP, separated by a 15-minute washout. Lung aeration and end-expiratory lung volume are measured with electrical impedance tomography, and functional residual capacity, respiratory compliance, and PaO₂/FiO₂ are recorded before and 15 minutes after each intervention. The design tests short-term physiological effects of the recruitment maneuver on post-suction derecruitment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18) who are intubated and mechanically ventilated in the ICU, under neuromuscular blockade, covered by national health insurance, and with consent from a legally authorized representative are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to recruitment maneuvers (for example emphysema, undrained pneumothorax, or hemodynamic instability), those with implanted electrical devices preventing EIT, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and patients requiring prone ARDS management are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If positive, the intervention could reduce suction-related lung collapse and transient oxygenation loss in ventilated patients.

How similar studies have performed: Previous small physiological studies have shown mixed and limited results on recruitment after suctioning, and data in adult ICU populations remain sparse and conflicting.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults aged ≥18 years
* Covered by national health insurance
* Admitted to the intensive care unit
* Intubated and mechanically ventilated
* Neuromuscular blockade at inclusion
* Written informed consent obtained from a legally authorized representative or next of kin

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindication to electrical impedance tomography (e.g. pacemaker, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or implanted electrical stimulation device)
* Contraindication to recruitment maneuvers (e.g. emphysema, undrained pneumothorax, hemodynamic instability)
* Refractory intracranial hypertension
* Acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring prone positioning
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Patients deprived of liberty or under legal protection
* Any condition judged by the investigator to interfere with study evaluation

Where this trial is running

Toulon, VAR

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 Mechanical VentilationEndotracheal suctionAlveolar recruitmentElectrical impedance tomographyEnd-expiratory lung volumeIntensive careMechanical ventilation
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.