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NCT Number: NCT05271019

Efficacy of Early Inspiratory Muscle Training in Lung Transplanted Patients

Lung transplantation is an effective therapeutic option in the end-stage of chronic respiratory diseases. Lung transplantation improves lung function in terms of capacity and volume. However, the transplanted patient still suffers from muscle weakness and exercise intolerance.

In recent years, respiratory physiotherapy work has intensified in critically ill patients with respiratory muscle weakness and the application of inspiratory muscle training (IMT), which has been shown in several studies to increase inspiratory muscle strength (IMT), improve ventilation and reduce the sensation of shortness of breath. Despite this emerging evidence, inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is not standard practice in most ICUs around the world, nor is it included in a protocolised manner among the components of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Given the limited evidence, the investigators propose to conduct this randomised controlled clinical trial in lung transplant recipients.

The study will compare two groups of transplanted patients, a control group that will follow the rehabilitation programme and standard medical care and another experimental group that will also perform inspiratory muscle training.

This study aims to analyse the effect of IMT on inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and quality of life in lung transplant patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Lung Transplant Recipients Chronic Lung Disease Muscle Weakness Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Manifestations Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pulmonary Rehabilitation Respiration Disorders Respiratory Insufficiency Respiratory Tract Diseases Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Laura Muelas Gómez

Majadahonda, Madrid, 28222, Spain

About this study

For many years, lung transplantation has become an effective therapeutic option for end-stage chronic lung diseases. With transplantation, an improvement in lung function is achieved, achieving volumes and capacities close to those predicted.

After transplantation, muscle deterioration and exercise intolerance are still present; and it will take, according to studies, between 6 months to 1 year to achieve recovery to near normal values. Even in some cases, such as patients with a longer stay in the critical care unit who present a greater deterioration, these values do not reach normal values. In lung transplant recipients, pulmonary rehabilitation including aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and respiratory physiotherapy is the most effective strategy to improve exercise capacity and muscle strength.

Some clinical trials on inspiratory muscle training have identified favourable effects on respiratory muscle fitness and strength.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of early training in lung transplant patients on respiratory muscle strength, exercise tolerance and quality of life. To this end, a randomised controlled trial will be carried out including lung transplant patients (single or double lung adults over 18 years of age) admitted to the hospital where a control group will perform the standard rehabilitation programme: respiratory, aerobic and upper and lower limb strength exercises; while the experimental group will be given inspiratory muscle training with a load of at least 30% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) in an early manner. Both groups will start the treatment in the critical care unit under conditions of clinical stability (haemodynamic, respiratory and neurologic) and will continue it in hospitalisation. Treatment is performed once a day, 5 days a week from Monday to Friday supervised by a trained physiotherapist.

Every 15 days a data collection will be performed to monitor the follow-up and the data collection will end 3 months after the lung transplantation.

The data collected will be compared from the start of treatment (pre- and post-transplant measurements) and will be compared between the groups.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Alert or able to cooperate with treatment.
  • Able to give Informed Consent and sign it.
  • Haemodynamically stable clinical situation or requiring minimal ventilatory support.

Exclusion criteria

  • Detection of complete paralysis of the diaphragm.
  • Progressive neuromuscular diseases or with spinal cord injury.
  • Lack of collaboration or cooperation, or non-alertness (Glasgow ≤8).
  • Unstable clinical situation (patients requiring high levels of ventilatory support (e.g., Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)> 10 cmH2O, Fraction Pressure of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2)> 0.60, nitric oxide, nebulised prostacyclin, high frequency oscillation).
  • Clinical situation compromising the patient's recovery (cardiac arrhythmias, acute sepsis).
  • When the medical treatment team and/or physiotherapy consider that there may be risks.
  • Severe pain or dyspnoea that interferes with or impedes the ability to breathe (e.g. rib fracture).
  • Patients with lung retransplantation.
  • Heart and lung transplant patients.
  • When the patient is on palliative treatment

Treatment and study plan

Threshold load device

Device

Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) for 3 months:

Though a threshold loading device (5 sets of 6 repetitions, 1session/day, 5 days/week). the inspiratory load will start at 30% of MIP, or up to the maximum patient-tolerable load (max 60% of MIP), no more than 3-5/10 on the modified Borg scale.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in respiratory strength: maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measured in water centimeters (cmH2O).

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed at six times:Pre -Lung transplantation (Pre-LT), at baseline, every 15 days and 3 months after LT

    Maximum respiratory pressure will be measure using a Respiratory Pressure Meter (RPM) named Micro-RPM® . Ever since Black and Hyatt (1969) reported this technique, it is used in healthy control subjects across all ages and athletes. Pressure is recorded at the mouth during quasi-static short (few seconds) maximal breathing according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines.The maximum value will be obtained. Am J respi Crit Care Med 2002;166:531-535.

  2. Change in functional capacity: 6 minutes walk test (6MWT) measured in meters

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed Pre-LT and 3 months after LT

    6MWT is a submaximal exercise test that entails measurement of distance walked during 6 minutes. The 6MWT provides information regarding functional capacity, response to therapy and prognosis. The test will be in line with American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines Statement Guidelines for the Six Minutes Walk Test. Am J respi Crit Care Med 2002;166(1):111-117

  3. Change in Quality of life related with Health(SF-36) measured with a score from 0 to100

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed Pre-LT and 3 months after LT

    The SF-36 consists of 36 topics that explore eight dimensions of health status: physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role, and mental health.The SF-36 was previously validated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and has been used in patients before and after lung transplantation (LT). Respiration 2000;67:159-65. Chest 2000;118:408-16.

  4. Change in Respiratory mechanics parameters: respiratory work measured in Joules (J)

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed at baseline, every 15 days and 3 months after LT

    Respiratory mechanics parameters will be analyzed using a POWERbreathe electronic device: the work of breathing is the area for total external inspiratory work as integrated from mouth pressure (cmH2O) and volume (L) signals over time. Physical Therapy 2015;95(9):1264-1273

  5. Change in Inspiratory muscle endurance (Tlim) measure in seconds (s)

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed at baseline, every 15 days and 3 months after LT

    Inspiratory muscle endurance is the time the patient breathe against a submaximal inspiratory load provided by device (POWERbreathe) until task failure due to the symptom limitation. Physical Therapy 2015;95(9):1264-1273.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes in dyspnea measured with the modified borg scale 0-10

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed at baseline, every 15 days and 3 months after LT

    Dyspnea perceptions during the activities of daily living and during exert were assessed. Med Sci Sports Exert 1982; 14: 377-81.

  2. Incidence of atelectasis measured with a score from 0 to 4

    Time frame: The patients will be assessed through study completion, an average of 3 months

    Registry of Atelectasis is a complete or partial collapse of the whole lung or a part (lobe) of the lung diagnosed by the responsible physician by Chest x-ray report or physician documentation of atelectasis.The postoperative chest radiographs were scored according the following rating (2): 0, no abnormalities; 1, minor atelectasis on one side; 2,minor atelectasis on both sides; 3,major atelectasis on one side; and 4, major atelectasis on both sides. Crit Care Med 2000;28:679-83. Physiotherapy 2011;97(4):278-283

  3. Change in Pulmonary Function measured with Spirometry Test. FEV1/FVC measured in %

    Time frame: The groups will be assessed Pre-LT, at baseline and 3 months after LT

    the investigators will interpret the data obtained from forced spirometry to evaluate how our patient's pulmonary functions is developing after the surgery. FEV1/FVC: It represents the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire in the first second of forced expiration (FEV1) to the full, forced vital capacity (FVC).The result of this ratio is expressed as FEV1%. Spirometry is traditionally and widely used to measure pulmonary function and capacity. This test will be performed with a spirometer according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and measured in liters . Am J respi Crit Care Med 2002;166:521-522, Eur respi J 2005; 26: 153-161.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Puerta de Hierro University Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Early Inspiratory Muscle Training Combined With the Conventional Rehabilitation Programme in Lung Transplanted Patients

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 8, 2022
Registry last updated
Sep 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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