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NCT Number: NCT05612256

Electrical Impedance Tomography for Identification of Optimal Positive End-expiratory Pressure in Newborn Infants

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) enables assessment of regional lung ventilation at the bedside. EIT has been safely used in newborn infants to image intrathoracic lung volume patterns as early as from the first minute of life. This prospective single-centre observational study is to identify optimal PEEP in infants on respiratory support by measurements of EIT, FOT and SOPI.

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Key information

Age range

0 day–28 day

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Department of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Basel UKBB

Basel, 4031, Switzerland

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Benjamin Stöcklin, Dr. med.

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Roland Gerull, Dr. med.

CONTACT

Roland Gerull, Dr. med.

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Roland Neumann, Dr. med.

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Sven Schulzke, Prof. Dr. med.

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

Evidence-based guidelines on the optimal level of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in newborn infants on respiratory support do not exist. Furthermore, there is a lack of simple bed-side parameters to guide clinicians towards the optimal PEEP level. Nevertheless, PEEP requires individual adjustment to minimize ventilator induced lung injury (VILI), shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and reduce respiratory long-term morbidity.

Potential techniques to assess optimal PEEP level in infants on respiratory support include electrical impedance tomography (EIT), the forced oscillation technique (FOT) and the saturation oxygenation pressure index (SOPI). EIT is a promising non-invasive technique that provides information on regional changes in lung aeration and ventilation inhomogeneity. FOT is used in mechanically ventilated or spontaneously breathing infants and provides information on reactance (Xrs) and resistance (Rrs) of the respiratory system. SOPI is a score calculated from the PEEP level, the amount of administered oxygen (FiO2) and the infant's peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2). SOPI provides information on the ventilation to perfusion ratio dependent on the PEEP level. EIT, FOT and SOPI seem promising tools for identification of optimal PEEP in newborn infants on respiratory support. In particular, a combination of information on regional ventilation (by EIT), global lung mechanics (by FOT) and ventilation to perfusion ratio (by SOPI) will improve the understanding of optimal PEEP and may reduce long-term respiratory sequelae.

This prospective single-centre observational study is to identify optimal PEEP in infants on respiratory support by measurements of EIT, FOT and SOPI. Measurements are performed once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and are repeated in weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated. An additional measurement is planned after extubation.

Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 22+0 to 41+6 weeks' gestational age
  • Requiring mechanical ventilation
  • Written informed parental consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Major congenital malformations including lung and cardiac malformations
  • Infants on high frequency oscillatory ventilation
  • Lack of written informed parental consent

Treatment and study plan

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

Diagnostic Test

EIT is the measurement of impedance changes of the lung against the flow of alternating electrical currents applied to the thorax. The signal of the electrodes is transmitted to a monitor, which enables real-time assessment of lung aeration and changes in lung volume. EIT is able to reconstruct impedance changes with a high temporal resolution and allows calculation of tidal volumes, relative stretch of lung tissue and areas of poor ventilation. Areas with impedance changes of < 10 % of the maximum impedance changes are called 'Silent Spaces'.

Forced oscillation technique (FOT)

Diagnostic Test

FOT enables non-invasive assessment of lung mechanics using sound waves to inform about the respiratory impedance of the respiratory system (Zrs). Reactance of the respiratory system (Xrs) as part of Zrs is a surrogate measure of compliance of the respiratory system. Xrs was previously used to identify optimal PEEP level, i.e., the PEEP at highest compliance equivalent, in newborn infants using a setup requiring research-specific hardware and software. The FOT module integrated in the commercially available neonatal ventilator is routinely used. FOT measurements are performed twice at each PEEP level to assess the reproducibility of the measurements.

Saturation oxygenation pressure index (SOPI)

Diagnostic Test

SOPI is assessed non-invasively and calculated from standard monitoring parameters such as PEEP, fraction of inspired oxygen pressure (FiO2) and peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2) (PEEP x FiO2 x 100) / SpO2). SOPI is used to provide information on ventilation to perfusion ratio dependent on PEEP level.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in composite score consisting of proportionally weighted raw values of Silent Spaces, Xrs and SOPI (mechanical ventilation)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    A composite score consisting of proportionally weighted raw values of Silent Spaces, respiratory reactance (Xrs) and SOPI (mechanical ventilation)

  2. Change in composite score consisting of proportionally weighted raw values of Silent Spaces and SOPI (non-invasive respiratory support)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    A composite score consisting of proportionally weighted raw values of Silent Spaces and SOPI (non-invasive respiratory support)

  3. Change in Silent Spaces (areas of atelectasis as well as overdistension)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Silent Spaces measured by EIT (calculated from electrical impedance)

  4. Change in respiratory reactance (Xrs) (measure of compliance of the respiratory system)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Respiratory reactance reflects inertance and compliance of the lungs and can be viewed as rebound resistance

  5. Change in Saturation oxygenation pressure index (SOPI)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Calculated from standard monitoring parameters such as PEEP, fraction of inspired oxygen pressure (FiO2) and peripheral oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SpO2) (PEEP x FiO2 x 100) / SpO2)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Delta impedance (ΔZ)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Delta impedance (ΔZ) is an additional EIT parameter

  2. Change in centre of ventilation (CoV)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Centre of ventilation (CoV) is an additional EIT parameter

  3. Change in tidal volume (VT,EIT)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Tidal volume (VT,EIT) is an additional EIT parameter

  4. Change in driving pressure of the respiratory system (Peak plateau pressure - PEEP)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

  5. Change in resistance (Rrs) of the respiratory system

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Resistance (Rrs) is an additional FOT parameter

  6. Change in peak inspiratory pressure

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Peak inspiratory pressure is a mechanical ventilation parameters

  7. Change in tidal volume per kg body weight (VT/kg)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Tidal volume per kg body weight (VT/kg) is a mechanical ventilation parameters

  8. Change in dynamic compliance

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Dynamic compliance is a mechanical ventilation parameters

  9. Change in respiratory rate

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

    Respiratory rate is a mechanical ventilation parameters

  10. Change in transcutaneous CO2 pressure (tcpCO2)

    Time frame: Once daily during the first three days on respiratory support and weekly intervals if the infant remains mechanically ventilated (approx. 1 month)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Roland Gerull, Dr. med.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+41 61 70 42 307

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Children's Hospital Basel

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Nov 10, 2022
Registry last updated
May 8, 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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