Using different cushions in the prone position for patients with ARDS

Prone Position With Different Types of Cushions in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Effects on Mechanics, Oxygenation, and Electrical Impedance Tomography Imaging

Not applicable Interventional Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre · NCT06184490

This study is testing how different types of cushions can improve breathing and reduce complications for patients with severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome when they are placed on their stomach.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment12 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorHospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre Academic / other
Locations1 site (Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul)
Trial IDNCT06184490 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of different types of cushions during the prone position maneuver in patients with moderate to severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). The prone position is a therapeutic strategy that improves oxygenation and reduces mortality in ARDS patients, but it can lead to complications such as pressure injuries. By utilizing electrical impedance tomography, the study aims to determine how the arrangement of thoraco-abdominal and modified lateral cushions affects lung recruitment and ventilatory mechanics. The findings could help optimize the prone position technique to enhance patient outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 or older with moderate to severe ARDS who require prone positioning.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to the prone position or those with severe ARDS caused by COVID-19 may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved ventilation strategies and reduced complications for ARDS patients undergoing prone positioning.

How similar studies have performed: While the prone position is a well-established therapy, this specific approach using different cushion types is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients aged 18 years or more, with
* moderate or severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and
* indication of prone position

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contra-indication to the prone position: intracranial pressure \> 30 mmHg or cerebral perfusion pressure \< 60 mmHg; massive haemoptysis needing urgent surgical or radiological treatment; tracheal or thoracic surgery in the last 15 days; facial trauma or surgery in the last 15 days; deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism treated in the last 2 days; unstable bone dislocations of rachis, femur, rib cage, pelvis; mean systolic arterial pressure less than 70 mmHg despite vasopressive therapy and pregnancy
* Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused b coronavirus disease 2019 (despite meeting the Berlin criteria for ARDS, their ventilatory mechanics are characterized by nearly normal compliance, something rarely seen in patients with ARDS from other etiologies)
* contraindications for the use of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) such as presence of a cardiac implantable electronic device
* Pulmonary transplantation
* Prone position before enrollment

Where this trial is running

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul

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 Prone PositionAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
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.