INTELLiVENT-Adaptive Support Ventilation (ASV) is a fully automated closed-loop mode of mechanical ventilation available on commercial ventilators. Evidence for clinical benefit of INTELLiVENT-ASV in comparison to non-automated ventilation is lacking.

The ACTiVE study is an international, multicenter, randomized controlled trial in invasively ventilated ICU patients with the objective to compare INTELLiVENT-ASV to conventional ventilation. We hypothesise that INTELLiVENT-ASV shortens the duration of ventilation. The secondary hypothesis is that INTELLiVENT-ASV improves the quality of breathing.

Objective

The primary objective of this trial is to compare INTELLiVENT-ASV with non-automated ventilation in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients with respect to ventilation duration. One secondary aim is to test whether INTELLiVENT-ASV improves quality of breathing, expressed as the proportion of breath within lung-protective margins, in a time frame of 24 hours early after start of invasive ventilation.

Study design

International, multicenter, superiority randomized clinical trial in critically ill, intubated and ventilated adult ICU patients with an anticipated duration of ventilation of at least 24 hours.

Study population

Adult patients admitted to ICUs in the Netherlands and Italy.

Sample size calculation

The sample size is based on the hypothesis that INTELLiVENT-ASV will shorten ventilation duration by 1.5 days with no changes in mortality rate. Based on previously performed studies a sample of 1,200 patients (600 in each treatment group) is needed to have beta of 80% power and a two-tailed alpha of 0.05, to detect a mean between-group difference of 1.5 VFD-28, allowing a dropout rate of 5%. By including 1,200 patients, this study will be sufficiently powered to detect differences in the secondary endpoint, which is quality of breathing.

Methods:

Within one hour of start of ventilation in the ICU, patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to INTELLiVENT-ASV or non-automated ventilation. Randomization will be stratified by center. As soon as possible after randomization, but within a maximum of 72 hours, deferred consent is obtained from the legal representative of the patient.

INTELLiVENT-ASV In patients who are randomized to INTELLiVENT-ASV, the ventilator is switched to this fully automated mode as soon possible. The sensors for end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) are connected and activated in the ventilator. Patient's gender and height are set on the ventilator and patient condition is chosen if applicable. If needed, the targets zones for ETCO2 and SpO2 are adjusted. The default alarm limits are accepted.

It is advised to enable QuickWean in all patients. The use of the automated Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT) function is left to the discretion of the clinician.

CONVENTIONAL VENTILATION Patients who are randomized to conventional ventilation will be ventilated with a mode that is not fully automated, thus standard volume controlled (VCV) or pressure controlled ventilation (PCV), and pressure support ventilation (PSV), depending on patient's activity. None of the following semi or fully automated modes of ventilation is allowed at any time: Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA), SmartCare/PS, Proportional Assist Ventilation (PAV), or the predecessor of INTELLiVENT-ASV named ASV.

In all patients who receive assist ventilation (i.e., VCV or PCV), three times a day it should be checked whether the patient can accept supported ventilation (i.e., PSV); this should also be tried when the patient shows respiratory muscle activity during assist ventilation, or in case of patient-ventilator asynchrony.

Patients can be subjected to SBTs using either a T-piece or ventilation with minimal support (pressure support level < 10 cm H2O). An SBT is deemed successful when the following criteria are met for at least 30 minutes, i.e., respiratory rate < 35/min, peripheral oxygen saturation > 90%, increase < 20% of heart rate and blood pressure, and no signs of anxiety and diaphoresis.

In both groups patients are extubated if standard extubation criteria are fulfilled, i.e., normal body temperature, patient awake and responsive/cooperative, adequate cough reflex, adequate oxygenation, hemodynamically stable, and adequate lung function.

Inclusion Criteria:

• admission to one of the participating ICUs
• intubated and receiving invasive ventilation
• anticipated duration of ventilation of at least 24 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

• age below 18 years
• patients with suspected or confirmed pregnancy
• invasive ventilation > 1 hour in the ICU
• invasive ventilation > 6 hours directly preceding the current ICU admission
• participation in another interventional trial using similar endpoints
• after recent pneumectomy or lobectomy
• morbid obesity (body mass index > 40 kg/m2)
• premorbid restrictive pulmonary disease
• unreliable pulse oximetry (secondary to carbon monoxide poisoning or sickle cell disease)
• any neurologic diagnosis that can prolong duration of mechanical ventilation, e.g., Guillain-Barré syndrome, high spinal cord lesion or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, or myasthenia gravis
• patients receiving or planned to receive veno-venous, veno-arterial or arterio-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• unavailability of INTELLiVENT-ASV (no ventilator available with this ventilation mode)
• previously randomized in this study
• no informed consent