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Ultra-Low Tidal Volume Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS Through ECMO

Ultra-Low Tidal Volume Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS Through ECMO (ULTIMATE) Pilot Randomized Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04832789
Acronym
ULTIMATE
Enrollment
72
Registered
2021-04-06
Start date
2021-06-30
Completion date
2023-12-31
Last updated
2021-04-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

ARDS

Keywords

ECMO, Mechanical Ventilation, Ventilator-induced lung injury

Brief summary

Primary Research Question for the Full ULTIMATE Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT): What is the effect of ultra-protective ventilation facilitated by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) versus best current conventional ventilation (CV) on all-cause hospital mortality among patients with early moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)? Secondary Research Questions: Among patients with early moderate-severe ARDS, what is the effect of ultra-protective ventilation versus CV on: (1) duration of mechanical ventilation; (2) duration of ICU and hospital stay; (3) organ dysfunction; (4) barotrauma; and (5) mortality at other time-points (ICU discharge, 28-day, 60-day)? The ULTIMATE Pilot Study: Before embarking on a definitive multinational trial to address the questions listed above, the ULTIMATE Pilot Study has these 3 specific feasibility objectives: 1. To assess adherence to our explicit mechanical ventilation protocols, with particular focus on delivered tidal volumes in both groups; 2. To estimate the rate of patient recruitment and understand barriers to recruitment; and 3. To measure and understand the reasons for crossovers or rescue by ECMO in the control group. In addition, we will monitor safety issues, recording serious adverse events in both groups.

Interventions

Venovenous ECMO

Sponsors

University Health Network, Toronto
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Toronto
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≥ 18 years 2. Endotracheal mechanical ventilation for ≤ 5 days 3. Early moderate-severe ARDS (Berlin Definition) - all of the following conditions for ≤ 48 hours i. PaO2/FiO2 ≤200 with PEEP \> 5 cmH2O ii. bilateral opacities not fully explained by effusions, lobar/lung collapse, or nodules iii. respiratory failure not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload iv. within one week of a known insult of new or worsening respiratory symptoms 4. ARDS severity criterion - either 1 of: 1. PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 150 mm Hg, on PEEP ≥ 10 cm H2O and FiO2 ≥ 0.5

Exclusion criteria

1. Currently receiving any form of ECMO (e.g., venovenous, venoarterial, or hybrid configuration) 2. Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure defined as PaCO2 \> 60 mmHg in the outpatient setting 3. Home mechanical ventilation (non-invasive ventilation or via tracheotomy), not CPAP 4. Actual body weight exceeding 1 kg per centimeter of height 5. Severe hypoxemia with PaO2/FiO2 \< 80 mmHg 6. Expected mechanical ventilation duration \< 48 hours 7. Treating team is in the process of moving to a palliative mode of care 8. Moribund patient not expected to survive 24 hours despite ongoing life-sustaining therapies 9. Confirmed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage from vasculitis 10. Contraindications to limited anticoagulation (e.g., active GI bleeding, bleeding diathesis) 11. Pregnancy - due to unknown effects of PaCO2 changes on placental blood flow

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of patients adhering to the study protocolThrough study completion, an average of 2 yearsAdherence to our explicit ventilation protocols will be adequate if more than 80% of patients have fewer than 10% of monitored values as major protocol violations
Proportion of patients crossing over to VV ECMOThrough study completion, an average of 2 yearsThe number of protocol withdrawals or off-protocol treatment with VV ECMO will be acceptable if fewer than 10% of patients crossover or receive VV ECMO, when not allowed by the protocol
Number of patients recruited for the studyThrough study completion, an average of 2 yearsPatient accrual will be adequate if we recruit 72 patients from 12 sites over 1 year of enrolment

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of patients with barotraumaUp to 30 daysNew barotrauma
Ventilator-free daysUp to 30 daysDuration of alive and free of invasive mechanical ventilation
Health-related quality of lifeAt 6 months post-randomizationHealth-related quality of life (EQ-5D) via telephone
MortalityThrough study completion, an average of 2 yearsAt ICU discharge and 30-days
Length of stayThrough study completion, an average of 2 yearsICU and hospital length of stay in survivors and non-survivors
Number of patients with non-pulmonary organ dysfunctionUp to 30 daysUsing standard definitions

Countries

Canada, United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKathleen Exconde
kathleen.exconde@uhn.ca416-340-4800

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026