Early Verticalization of the Patient With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Assessment of Feasibility and Safety. (STAND_ARDS1)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is defined according to the Berlin definition (1) as diffuse lung damage occurring in patients with a predisposing risk factor.

Positioning in the prone position (PP) has been shown to decrease mortality in patients with moderate to severe ARDS.

However, this technique is not without deleterious effects such as ventilator-associated pneumonia, endotracheal tube obstruction, development of pressure ulcers, and increased workload for the caregivers.

There are other positioning techniques such as the "upright" position, which simulates a relative verticality, which allows to increase the effects of the prone position and even in some patients to improve oxygenation without the PP in the acute phase of ARDS.

However, given the revolution caused by the use of PP in ARDS patients, verticalization have not been studied in more details.

Today, there is a bed on the market that allows patients to be truly upright without having to transfer them to a tilt table.

The investigators believe that raising ARDS patients in the acute phase is safe and feasible in routine practice. In this research protocol comparing PP and verticalization in a crossover trial design in acute ARDS patients, the investigators want to show that this technique can be safe and feasible, with the same effects on oxygenation as PP.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Prone Position
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Verticalization and Prone position

Detailed Description

Cross-over study, according to 4 preset sequences of 4 periods and randomly assigned. All patients will thus have the classic positioning technique (PP), as well as the technique under study (verticalization). For simplicity, the investigators will use the term "verticalization" even if the final positioning that is targeted is only a "pseudo-verticalization" to a 55° angle. The cross-over scheme with 4 sequences of 4 periods allows to get rid of the first order carry-over effect.

Progressive verticalization protocol in 7 steps from the strict supine position to a 55° inclination of the raising bed, according to the clinical responses of the patient with ARDS, as follows:

- Verticalization in the bed

The verticalization maneuver will take place in 7 steps of 15 minutes maximum each:

S1. The first one corresponds to the flat position (strict dorsal decubitus) S2. The second is the positioning of the patient at 25° of inclination. S3. The third is the 45° positioning S4. The fourth at 55°, which corresponds to the greatest inclination imposed to the patient.

S5. The fifth corresponds to the 45° return S6. The sixth is the return to 25° S7. Finally, the investigators reposition the patient flat back.

Examinations:

• Arterial Gazometry At the beginning, at the end and one hour after each positioning technique.
• Chest ultrasound
• Others All adverse events will be recorded in a clear and detailed manner.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Elodie POUGOUE TOUKO; Phone Number: +33238744086; Email: elodie.pougoue@chro-orleans.fr
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Aurélie DESPUJOLS; Phone Number: +33238744071; Email: aurelie.despujols@chr-orleans.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Orléans, France
    • Recruiting
    • CHR d'Orléans
    • Contact: Aurélie DESPUJOLS
    • Principal Investigator: May Anh NAY, PH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Major patient > 18 years of age
• ARDS patients with PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 150 at any time within 24 hours prior to the screening visit
• Hemodynamically stable patient with mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 65 mmHg maintained without vasopressor or with norepinephrine at a dosage of less than 0.5 µg/kg/min.
• Patient having already undergone at least 1 but less than 5 PP sessions
• Patient under continuous intravenous sedation (IVSE) or not responding to simple order.
• Written consent of support person or family.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women (positive pregnancy test during screening)
• Breastfeeding women
• Protected Majors
• Body weight greater than 198 kg (bed load limit)
• Patient with one or two lower limbs amputated at the trans tibial or upper level
• Contraindication to standing (orthopedic fracture, neurological instability with the presence of an intracranial pressure sensor or an external ventricular shunt....)
• Deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs with curative anticoagulation for less than 48 hours
• Hemodynamic instability (MAP < 65 mm Hg) despite the use of norepinephrine at a dosage equal or greater than 0.5 µg/kg/min.
• Person under guardianship or trusteeship
• Non-beneficiary patient of a health insurance plan
• Moribund patient

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Sequence 1: PP->PP->V->V; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.	Procedure: Verticalization and Prone position; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.
Other: Sequence 2: PP->V->V->PP; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.	Procedure: Verticalization and Prone position; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.
Other: Sequence 3: V->PP->PP->V; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.	Procedure: Verticalization and Prone position; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.
Other: Saquence 4: V->V->PP->PP; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.	Procedure: Verticalization and Prone position; The randomly selected study sequence (Arm1, Arm2, Arm3 or Arm4) will begin after the supine roll-over at the end of the first PP session (out-of-study sequence). This allows all patients to initially have the positioning technique that has been proven beneficial in ARDS. The chronology of the treatment periods in each of the 4 arms allocated by randomization will be as follows: Each PP must be started within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or after the end of the verticalization that just preceded it. Each verticalization must be performed within 4 to 8 hours after the end of the previous PP or the previous verticalization. Each PP period will last between 12 and 20 hours.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of patients who were able to reach 55° of verticalization without serious adverse events (with a complete listing of all adverse events).	To demonstrate the feasibility and safety in routine practice of the verticalization technique for patients with moderate to severe ARDS in the acute phase.	Month 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
PaO2/FiO2 ratio at one hour from the end of the maneuver	To show that verticalization of ARDS patients has the same effects on oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2 ratio) as PP. In this crossover trial, each sequence of four treatment periods, beginning at time of randomization, will last a maximum of 75,5 hours for each patient. The last assessment will occur at a maximum of 76,5 hours from randomisation.	Hour 76
Quasi-static compliance in (ml/cmH2O) before, at the end and one hour after each positioning technique	To evaluate the impact of the positioning maneuver on quasi-static thoracopulmonary compliance. In this crossover trial, each sequence of four treatment periods, beginning at time of randomization, will last a maximum of 75,5 hours for each patient. The last assessment will occur at a maximum of 76,5 hours from randomisation.	Hour 76
Lung Reaeration Score at 1 hour from the end of the maneuver	To compare the re-ventilation of the pulmonary territories at one hour of the session (PP or verticalization) evaluated by thoracic ultrasound. In this crossover trial, each sequence of four treatment periods, beginning at time of randomization, will last a maximum of 75,5 hours for each patient. The last assessment will occur at a maximum of 76,5 hours from randomisation.	Hour 76

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mai-ANh NAY, Dr, CHR Orléans

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Umbrello M, Formenti P, Bolgiaghi L, Chiumello D. Current Concepts of ARDS: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Dec 29;18(1):64. doi: 10.3390/ijms18010064.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 14, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 14, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 11, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 22, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Intensive Care Unit; Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Prone position; Verticalization
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena; Posture; Prone Position
• Other Study ID Numbers: CHRO-2018-12

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No