Hemodynamic Monitoring and Fluid Responsiveness in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA ECMO) - "HemodynamECMOnitoring-VA Study"

September 23, 2025 updated by: Thomas Staudinger, Medical University of Vienna

Validation of Techniques for Hemodynamic Monitoring and Prediction of Fluid Responsiveness in Patients Undergoing Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation - A Prospective Diagnostic Accuracy Study ("HemodynamECMOnitoring-VA Study")

In extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), blood is drawn out of the body via tubes, oxygenated in an artificial lung; and then pumped back into the blood vessels. This allows the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the organs (brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, etc.) to be maintained. Continuous monitoring of cardiac function and circulatory status (blood pressure, blood flow to organs) is very important in intensive care medicine in order to control the administration of circulation-supporting medication and infusions. Various devices are routinely used for this task. However, in the specific situation of ECMO treatment, the measurements of these devices could be affected due to the artificial circulation; outside the body. The purpose of this study is therefore to test the accuracy of different methods of circulation monitoring during ECMO treatment.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Hemodynamic monitoring and tests for fluid responsiveness are cornerstones of intensive care medicine. Generally, hemodynamic measurements can be obtained, for instance, with the following methods: pulmonary artery catheter, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), esophageal doppler, transpulmonary thermodilution, pulse contour analysis and bioreactance, amongst others. Maneuvers for assessing volume responsiveness include passive leg raising (PLR), respiratory pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), inferior vena cava ultrasound (IVC), and end-inspiratory or end-expiratory occlusion tests. While these commonly used methods of hemodynamic assessment have been validated in various clinical scenarios, data are lacking in the setting of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO). VA ECMO is commonly used for circulatory support in patients with severe hemodynamic failure or cardiac arrest. Blood is most commonly drained from a femoral vein, pumped through an oxygenator, where it is oxygenated and decarboxylated, and thereafter reinfused into the patient via an arterial, most commonly femoral, return cannula. Theoretically, the artificial circulation with its blood drainage and return flows may interfere with common hemodynamic monitoring techniques and lead to erroneous measurements. The aim of this study therefore is to validate select techniques of hemodynamic monitoring and assessment of fluid responsiveness in patients on VA ECMO. In the context of this study, the performance of different hemodynamic monitoring tools and techniques for predicting fluid responsiveness will be compared.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patient receiving VA ECMO support
  • Age 18 - 75 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy
  • Conditions not allowing for passive leg raising maneuvers, e.g. "open abdomen", known or suspected elevation of intracranial pressure, recent leg or spinal trauma or orthopedic conditions not permitting leg raising
  • Known ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 3 months prior to study enrollment.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Entire Study Population
The entire study population will undergo serial hemodynamic assessments throughout the course of ECMO therapy. Hemodynamic variables are obtained using transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, and optionally - depending on device availability - transpulmonary thermodilution, bioreactance and esophageal doppler. Maneuvers for assessing volume responsiveness include passive leg raising (PLR), respiratory pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), inferior vena cava ultrasound (IVC), and end-inspiratory or end-expiratory occlusion tests.
Device: Transthoracic Echocardiography
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is used for intermittent non-invasive stroke volume (SV) measurements. It is calculated by multiplication of left ventricular out flow tract (LVOT) and LVOT velocity time integral (VTI), obtained in a parasternal long axis view and apical five chamber view, respectively.
Device: Uncalibrated Pulse Contour Analysis
Pulse Contour Analysis allows an automated and continuous measurement of stroke volume (SV). Its underlying principle is that the integral of the systolic arterial pressure curve directly correlates with stroke volume.
Device: Transpulmonary Thermodilution/Calibrated Pulse Contour Analysis
Transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) involves the administration of a cold saline bolus into a central venous catheter. A special thermistor catheter placed in the femoral or brachial artery detects the successive changes in blood temperature. The resulting heat dissipation curve is analyzed to estimate stroke volume, cardiac output and other hemodynamic variables such as intrathoracic thermal volume (ITTV), pulmonary thermal volume (PTV), global end-diastolic volume (GEDV), intrathoracic blood volume (ITBV) and extravascular lung water (EVLW). Intermittent TPTD-derived cardiac output measurements (typically performed 1-3x/d) are used to calibrate pulse contour analysis.
Device: Esophageal Doppler
In esophageal Doppler, a thin ultrasound probe, coated with aqueous ultrasound gel, is orally or nasally inserted into the esophagus and orientated towards the aorta. By emission and detection of continuous wave Doppler signals, real time spectral waveforms of red blood cell velocity in the aorta are obtained, from which cardiac indices can be derived.
Device: Bioreactance
Bioreactance is a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring technique, in which four double electrode sensors are placed on the skin of the chest. A high frequency sine wave is transmitted across the thorax. Pulsatile flow in the aorta causes phase shifts and amplitude changes of this signal, which are measured across the different electrodes and used to compute cardiac output.
Diagnostic test: Passive Leg Raising
Passive Leg Raising (PLR) is a maneuver that mimics a fluid challenge by shifting about 300 ml of venous blood from the lower body to the heart. Thereby, it can help to predict fluid responsiveness without actual fluid infusion. To start with, the patient is placed in a semi-recumbent position. Then, the bed is adjusted so that the patient's torso is moved to a horizontal position and the lower limbs are raised to an angle of 45°. Hemodynamic effects occur and can be measured within one minute.
Diagnostic test: Vena Cava Ultrasound
Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Ultrasound has become a popular technique for assessing volume status. IVC diameter is measured in a subcostal long-axis IVC view 1-2 cm from the junction with the right atrium. The magnitude of distensibility during mechanical ventilation cycles or collapsibility during spontaneous breathing has been proposed to correlate with fluid responsiveness
Diagnostic test: End-expiratory /-inspiratory occlusion test
In preload-dependent patients, mechanical ventilation induces periodic changes in cardiac output. Standardized maneuvers of end-expiratory or end-inspiratory interruption over 15 seconds may increase or decrease stroke volume, respectively, which is a valid predictor of fluid responsiveness
Drug: Fluid bolus
To verify fluid responsiveness, 500 ml of balanced crystalloids will be infused over a time of 15-20 min (25-33.33 ml/min) after completion of passive leg raising and restoration of baseline patient positioning

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Agreement of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for predicting fluid responsiveness using the passive leg-raising test between different cardiac output measurement techniques (echocardiography, pulse contour analysis, thermodilution).
Time Frame: Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal. Separate analysis for controlled and assisted mechanical ventilation.
Cardiac Output (L/min) will be measured using transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, and thermodilution before, during, and after a passive leg-raising test, as well as after administration of a fluid bolus of 500 ml balanced crystalloids over 15-20 min. A cardiac output increase of > 15% will be the cut-off for defining fluid responsiveness. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves will be generated for each cardiac output measurement technique and compared using the Hanley-McNeil method. The agreement between the ROC curves (Hanley-McNeil test statistic) will serve as the primary outcome.
Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal. Separate analysis for controlled and assisted mechanical ventilation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diagnostic performance (receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve) of an inspiratory and expiratory occlusion test in conjunction with pulse contour analysis for the prediction of fluid responsiveness during ECMO.
Time Frame: Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to several weeks) and within a few days after ECMO removal. Separate analysis for controlled and assisted mechanical ventilation.
Cardiac Output (L/min) will be measured using calibrated and uncalibrated pulse contour analysis before, during, and after an end-inspiratory and end-expiratory occlusion test (15 s), as well as after administration of a fluid bolus of 500 ml balanced crystalloids over 15-20 min. A cardiac output increase of > 15% after fluid infusion will be the cut-off for defining fluid responsiveness. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves will be generated to assess the performance of the end-inspiratory and end-expiratory occlusion tests and the best threshold for predicting fluid responsiveness during ECMO.
Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to several weeks) and within a few days after ECMO removal. Separate analysis for controlled and assisted mechanical ventilation.
Changes of cardiac output (L/min) over the course of ECMO therapy
Time Frame: Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Cardiac output (L/min) will be measured at different time points (at least at the beginning of ECMO therapy and after ECMO removal) throughout ECMO therapy using transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, and thermodilution.
Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Changes of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE, mm) over the course of ECMO therapy
Time Frame: Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE, mm) will be measured at different time points (at least at the beginning of ECMO therapy and after ECMO removal) throughout ECMO therapy using transthoracic echocardiography.
Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Changes of tissue doppler imaging tricuspid annular velocity (cm/s) over the course of ECMO therapy
Time Frame: Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Tissue doppler imaging tricuspid annular velocity (cm/s) will be measured at different time points (at least at the beginning of ECMO therapy and after ECMO removal) throughout ECMO therapy using transthoracic echocardiography.
Repeated measurements throughout ECMO therapy (duration ranging from a few days to up to 24 weeks) and within up to 7 days after ECMO removal.
Changes in cardiac output (L/min, measured by transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, thermodilution) at different ECMO blood flow rates
Time Frame: During the first (up to 7) days of VA ECMO therapy.
During the first days of VA ECMO therapy, cardiac output (L/min) will be measured repeatedly at different ECMO blood flow rates (baseline blood flow, blood flow reduced by 1 l/min, return to baseline blood flow, blood flow increased by 1 l/min) using transthoracic echocardiography, uncalibrated pulse contour analysis, and thermodilution.
During the first (up to 7) days of VA ECMO therapy.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Medical University of Vienna

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 3, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 3, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 10, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 29, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1613/2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All individual participant data that underlie results in a publication may be provided to qualified researchers with academic interest in hemodynamic monitoring. Data or samples shared will be coded, with no PHI included.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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