Surface Electrical Myography, Oxygen Consumption, Effort, and Weaning in the Mechanically Ventilated Patient in the Intensive Care Unit

Launched by LEIDEN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · Jul 31, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is looking at patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who are on mechanical ventilators—machines that help them breathe. The researchers want to understand how much effort these patients use when trying to breathe on their own during a test called a Spontaneous Breathing Trial (SBT). They will measure things like the activity of the diaphragm (the main muscle used for breathing), how much oxygen the body uses, and pressure inside the esophagus (a tube behind the windpipe). The goal is to see if these measures can help predict whether a patient will have trouble coming off the ventilator, which is called weaning failure.

People eligible to join this study are adults 18 years or older who are already using an esophageal catheter (a small tube placed in the esophagus as part of their usual care) and are about to have an SBT according to their hospital’s routine. Patients with very severe heart failure, advanced lung disease, those who are pregnant, or those on certain advanced life support machines are not eligible. If you participate, you will be monitored during your breathing trial with some non-invasive measurements, but the study will not change your treatment. This research aims to improve understanding of breathing effort in ICU patients to help doctors better support patients when they come off ventilators.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 18 years of age or older
• • Esophageal catheter in situ (standard of care)
• • Eligible for an SBT in the near future according to the LUMC SBT protocol currently valid
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe cardiac failure NYHA class IV without mechanical support (LVAD or Impella)
• • COPD Gold IV
• • Pregnancy
• • Patients with ECMO