Effect of APRV vs. LTV on Right Heart Function in ARDS Patients: a Single-center Randomized Controlled Study

Effect of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation vs. Low Tidal Volume Ventilation on Right Heart Function in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients: a Single-center Randomized Controlled Study

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is often complicated by Right Ventricular Dysfunction (RVD), and the incidence can be as high as 64%. The mechanism includes pulmonary vascular dysfunction and right heart systolic dysfunction. Pulmonary vascular dysfunction includes acute vascular inflammation, pulmonary vascular edema, thrombosis and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Alveolar collapse and over distension can also lead to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, Preventing the development of acute cor pulmonale in patients with acute respiratory distress. ARDS patients with RVD have a worse prognosis and a significantly increased risk of death, which is an independent risk factor for death in ARDS patients. Therefore, implementing a right heart-protective mechanical ventilation strategy may reduce the incidence of RVD.

APRV is an inverse mechanical ventilation mode with transient pressure release under continuous positive airway pressure, which can effectively improve oxygenation and reduce ventilator-associated lung injury. However, its effect on right ventricular function is still controversial. Low tidal volume (LTV) is a mechanical ventilation strategy widely used in ARDS patients. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with LTV, APRV improved oxygenation more significantly, reduced the time of mechanical ventilation, and even had a tendency to improve the mortality of ARDS patients However, randomized controlled studies have shown that compared with LTV, APRV improves oxygenation more significantly and also increases the mean airway pressure. Therefore, some scholars speculate that APRV may increase the intrathoracic pressure, pulmonary circulatory resistance, and the risk of right heart dysfunction but this speculation is not supported by clinical research evidence. In addition, APRV may improve right ventricular function by correcting hypoxia and hypercapnia, promoting lung recruitment and reducing pulmonary circulation resistance. Therefore, it is very important to clarify this effect for whether APRV can be safely used and popularized in clinic.we aim to conduct a single-center randomized controlled study to further compare the effects of APRV and LTV on right ventricular function in patients with ARDS, pulmonary circulatory resistance (PVR) right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Mechanical Ventilation; Right Heart Failure
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Airway pressure release ventilation; Procedure: low tidal volume

Detailed Description

Acute Respiratory DistressSyndrome (ARDS) is often complicated by Right Ventricular Dysfunction (RVD), and the incidence can be as high as 64%. The mechanism includes pulmonary vascular dysfunction and right heart systolic dysfunction. Pulmonary vascular dysfunction includes acute vascular inflammation, pulmonary vascular edema, thrombosis and pulmonary vascular remodeling. Alveolar collapse and alveolar overdistension can also lead to increased pulmonary vascular resistance, Preventing the development of acute cor pulmonale in patients with acute respiratory distress. ARDS patients with RVD have a worse prognosis and a significantly increased risk of death, which is an independent risk factor for death in ARDS patients [2-4]. Therefore, implementing a right heart-protective mechanical ventilation strategy may reduce the incidence of RVD.

Mechanical ventilation is the main treatment for moderate to severe ARDS. Mechanical ventilation promotes lung recruitment and reduces mechanical compression of pulmonary vessels between alveoli and alveolar walls. In addition, mechanical ventilation corrected hypoxemia and hypercapnia, thereby reducing reactive pulmonary vasoconstriction. All of the above can reduce pulmonary circulation resistance and right ventricular afterload, thereby improving right ventricular function in patients with ARDS. However, if hyperventilation occurs, it will increase the mechanical compression of pulmonary vessels on the alveolar wall, increase the intrathoracic pressure, and increase the afterload of the right heart, which will adversely affect the function of the right heart. There are a variety of ventilation strategies for patients with ARDS in clinical practice, but which mechanical ventilation has the protective function of right heart or has little effect on right heart function, so far there is a lack of relevant research reports.

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is an inverse mechanical ventilation mode with transient pressure release under continuous positive airway pressure, which can effectively improve oxygenation and reduce ventilator-associated lung injury. However, its effect on right ventricular function is still controversial, so its clinical application is not popular, and it is only used as one of the salvage treatments for ARDS patients. Low tidal volume (LTV) is a mechanical ventilation strategy widely used in ARDS patients, but it does not further reduce mortality in patients with moderate to severe ARDS. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with LTV, APRV improved oxygenation more significantly, reduced the time of mechanical ventilation, and even had a tendency to improve the mortality of ARDS patients [7]. However, randomized controlled studies have shown that compared with LTV, APRV improves oxygenation more significantly and also increases the mean airway pressure [8]. Therefore, some scholars speculate that APRV may increase the intrathoracic pressure, pulmonary circulatory resistance, and the risk of right heart dysfunction , but this speculation is not supported by clinical research evidence. In addition, the results of animal experiments suggest that APRV improves oxygenation, promotes lung recruitment, and improves the heterogeneity of lung lesions in ARDS, without causing lung hyperventilation, suggesting that APRV may not increase pulmonary circulatory resistance. In addition, APRV may improve right ventricular function by correcting hypoxia and hypercapnia, promoting lung recruitment and reducing pulmonary circulation resistance. Therefore, the impact of APRV on right ventricular function is still unclear, and it is very important to clarify this effect for whether APRV can be safely used and popularized in clinic. Therefore, our research group conducted a prospective observational study, "The effect of APRV on right ventricular function evaluated by Transthoracic Echocardiography, [2022] Lun Lun Zi (0075)". The study results suggested that APRV improved lung perfusion in ARDS patients while effectively improving oxygenation and promoting lung recruitment. The incidence of RVD was not increased, and there was no hemodynamic deterioration in ARDS patients. APRV is safe and effective for patients with ARDS. However, the results of a single-arm prospective observational study with a small sample size cannot provide strong evidence for clinical practice. In the previous studies, all the right ventricular function was assessed by transthoracic echocardiography. Due to the limitation of the sound window of transthoracic echocardiography, the right ventricular function of some ARDS patients could not be evaluated. Therefore, this study intends to use transesophageal echocardiography or transthoracic echocardiography to fully evaluate the right ventricular function of all enrolled patients as much as possible, and to conduct a single-center randomized controlled study to further compare the effects of APRV and LTV on right ventricular function in patients with ARDS, pulmonary circulatory resistance (PVR), right ventricular-pulmonary artery coupling (RV-PA coupling), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).Whether there are different effects on hemodynamics and mortality. It is hoped that the results of this study will provide more evidence support for the clinical application of APRV and benefit more ARDS patients.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Hubei
    • Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430000
      • Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Patients who meet the 2012 Berlin ARDS diagnostic criteria and perform invasive mechanical ventilation 2, PEEP≥5cmH2O, oxygenation index ≤200mmHg 3. Tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were performed for less than 48h at the time of inclusion 4. Age ≥18 years and ≤80 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1.abdominal pressure≥20mmHg 2.BMI≥35kg/m2; 3. pregnant and lactating women 4.expected duration of invasive mechanical ventilation < 72 hours 5. neuromuscular diseases known to require prolonged mechanical ventilation 6.severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe asthma, Interstitial lung disease 7.intracranial hypertension, 8.pulmonary bullae or pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, or mediastinal emphysema, 9.extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or prone position ventilation on admission to the ICU 10. uncorrected shock of various types and refractory shock 11.pulmonary embolism 12.severe cardiac dysfunction (New York Heart Association class III or IV). Acute coronary syndrome or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia), right heart enlargement due to chronic cardiopulmonary diseases, cardiogenic shock or after major cardiac surgery 13.poor cardiac sound window, unable to obtain cardiac ultrasound images 14.no informed consent was signed

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: APRV group; In APRV group, ventilator parameters were set according to the study protocol, P high: Tidal volume (VT) was set at 6ml/kg of ideal body weight, and plateau pressure (Pplat) was measured. Initial Phigh was set at Pplat, usually 20-32 cmH2O. The APRV end-expiratory flow rate was set at 75% of the peak expiratory flow rate.	Procedure: Airway pressure release ventilation; ventilator parameters were set according to the study protocol, P high: Tidal volume (VT) was set at 6ml/kg of ideal body weight, and plateau pressure (Pplat) was measured. Initial Phigh was set at Pplat, usually 20-32 cmH2O. The APRV end-expiratory flow rate was set at 75% of the peak expiratory flow rate.
Placebo Comparator: LTV group; The ARDSnet method was used for LTV group mechanical ventilation, and the tidal volume was set according to 4-8ml/kg, so that the Pplat was <30cmH2O	Procedure: low tidal volume; The ARDSnet method was used for LTV mechanical ventilation, and the tidal volume was set according to 4-8ml/kg, so that the Pplat was <30cmH2O

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 24h	Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 24h.Abnormal findings on any of the following ultrasound measures can be considered as right ventricular dysfunction, including: tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) <17 mm, tricuspid annular plane systolic velocity (S') <9.5 cm/s, right ventricular fractional area change (FAC) <35%, ratio of right ventricular end-diastolic area to left ventricular end-diastolic area (RVEDA/LVEDA) >0.6, or right ventricular to left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ratio (RV/LV ratio) >1.	at the time of 24 hours after inclusion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
28-day mortality	28-day mortality after study entry	Day 28 after study entry
Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 48h	Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 24h.Abnormal findings on any of the following ultrasound measures can be considered as right ventricular dysfunction, including: right ventricular end-diastolic diameter/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD/LVEDD)>1.0, right ventricular fractional area change(FAC)<35%,tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)<17mm,Systolic S'velocity of tricuspid annulus <9.5 cm/s by TDI	at the time of 48 hours after inclusion
Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 72h	Incidence of right heart dysfunction in ARDS patients with APRV or LTV mechanical ventilation for 24h.Abnormal findings on any of the following ultrasound measures can be considered as right ventricular dysfunction, including: right ventricular end-diastolic diameter/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD/LVEDD)>1.0, right ventricular fractional area change(FAC)<35%,tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)<17mm,Systolic S'velocity of tricuspid annulus <9.5 cm/s by TDI	at the time of 72 hours after inclusion
Values of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at 24th hour	Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE) was measured by echocardiography in the apical four-chamber view, using M mode measurements, with the sampling line aligned to the tricuspid annulus.	at the time of 24 hours after inclusion
Values of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at 48th hour	Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE) was measured by echocardiography in the apical four-chamber view, using M mode measurements, with the sampling line aligned to the tricuspid annulus.	at the time of 48 hours after inclusion
Values of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at 72th hour	Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE) was measured by echocardiography in the apical four-chamber view, using M mode measurements, with the sampling line aligned to the tricuspid annulus.	at the time of 72 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular end-diastolic diameter/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD/LVEDD) at 24th hour	The maximum transverse diameter of the right/left ventricular inflow tract near the basal 1/3 was measured in the apical four-chamber view	at the time of 24 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular end-diastolic diameter/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD/LVEDD) at 48th hour	The maximum transverse diameter of the right/left ventricular inflow tract near the basal 1/3 was measured in the apical four-chamber view	at the time of 48 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular end-diastolic diameter/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(RVEDD/LVEDD) at 72th hour	The maximum transverse diameter of the right/left ventricular inflow tract near the basal 1/3 was measured in the apical four-chamber view	at the time of 72 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC) at 24th hour	RVFAC = (end-diastolic area - end-systolic area)/end-diastolic area ×100%.The right ventricle is shown in the apical four-chamber cardiac view.	at the time of 24 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC) at 48th hour	RVFAC = (end-diastolic area - end-systolic area)/end-diastolic area ×100%.The right ventricle is shown in the apical four-chamber cardiac view.	at the time of 48 hours after inclusion
Values of right ventricular fractional area change(RVFAC) at 72th hour	RVFAC = (end-diastolic area - end-systolic area)/end-diastolic area ×100%.The right ventricle is shown in the apical four-chamber cardiac view.	at the time of 72 hours after inclusion
Values of Systolic S'velocity of tricuspid annulus by at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	Tissue Doppler sampling volume is placed in the middle of the right ventricular tricuspid annulus or basal segment of the right ventricular free wall to measure systolic velocity S'.	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Values of hemodynamic measures at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	hemodynamic measures including: heart rate, mean arterial pressure,central venous pressure,Dose of vasoactive agents accumulated over 24 hours,cumulative fluid balance over 24 hours.	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Values of respiratory mechanics parameters at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	Respiratory mechanics parameters including Peak pressure, Plateau pressure,Driving pressure,Respiratory system compliance and Airway resistance are measured by using routine procedures	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
in hospital mortality	in hospital mortality after study entry	Maximum 90-day in-hospital mortality
28 days of ventilator free days	28 days of ventilator free days after study entry	Day 28 after study entry
Values of arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen are measured at 24th, 48th and 72th hour after inclusion	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Values of arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide are measured at 24th, 48th and 72th hour after inclusion	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
ventilation ratio at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	VR=[minute ventilation ×PaCO2]/[predicted body weight ×100×37.5]	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Incidence prone position ventilation during hospitalization	Incidence of prone position ventilation during hospitalization after study entry	Day 28 after study entry
ventilator settings at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	ventilator settings including minute ventilation, Fraction of inspired oxygen, tidal volume, positive end-expiratory pressure, respiratory rate, mean airway pressure	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Velocity-time integral of left ventricular outflow tract at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	Velocity-time integral(Vti) of left ventricular outflow tract are measured at the apical five-chamber heart view. The sampling volume was placed in the left ventricular outflow tract, below the aortic valve, in pulsed Doppler mode with a window width of 2-4mm. The velocity time integral (VTI) image of aortic blood flow can be obtained by placing the sampling volume below the aortic valve orifice , adjusting the probe so that the direction of blood flow is as parallel as possible to the sampling line, and selecting the pulsed Doppler mode (PW)	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Stroke volume at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	Stroke volume(SV)=15.VTI×π(D/2)*(D/2), D=Left ventricular outflow tract diameter(LVOT diameter)	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
cardiac output at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	cardiac output(CO)=SV*HR	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Velocity-time integral of right ventricular outflow tract at 24th, 48th and 72th hour	Velocity-time integral(Vti) of right ventricular outflow tract are measured at the view of the right ventricular outflow tract. The sampling volume was placed in the right ventricular outflow tract, below the aortic valve, in pulsed Doppler mode with a window width of 2-4mm. The velocity time integral (VTI) image of aortic blood flow can be obtained by placing the sampling volume below the aortic valve orifice , adjusting the probe so that the direction of blood flow is as parallel as possible to the sampling line, and selecting the pulsed Doppler mode (PW)	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Tricuspid annular diameter	Tricuspid annular diameters are measured at the apical four-chamber heart view	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
The velocity of tricuspid regurgitation	The velocity of tricuspid regurgitation are measured at the apical four-chamber heart view.The CW Doppler sampling line was placed at the tricuspid valve orifice.	at the time of 24 hours (h), 48h and 72h after inclusion
Length of hospital stay	hospital stay after hospital entry	Maximum 90-day hospital stay
Length of ICU stay	hospital stay after ICU entry	Maximum 90-day ICU stay
Incidence of tracheotomy	Incidence of tracheotomy during hospitalization after study entry	Day 28 after study entry

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: XiaoJing Zou,MD
• Investigators: Study Director: Xiaojing zou, MD, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Zhou Y, Jin X, Lv Y, Wang P, Yang Y, Liang G, Wang B, Kang Y. Early application of airway pressure release ventilation may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 2017 Nov;43(11):1648-1659. doi: 10.1007/s00134-017-4912-z. Epub 2017 Sep 22.
• Mekontso Dessap A, Boissier F, Charron C, Begot E, Repesse X, Legras A, Brun-Buisson C, Vignon P, Vieillard-Baron A. Acute cor pulmonale during protective ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: prevalence, predictors, and clinical impact. Intensive Care Med. 2016 May;42(5):862-870. doi: 10.1007/s00134-015-4141-2. Epub 2015 Dec 9.
• Zhang H, Huang W, Zhang Q, Chen X, Wang X, Liu D; Critical Care Ultrasound Study Group. Prevalence and prognostic value of various types of right ventricular dysfunction in mechanically ventilated septic patients. Ann Intensive Care. 2021 Jul 13;11(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s13613-021-00902-9.
• Boissier F, Katsahian S, Razazi K, Thille AW, Roche-Campo F, Leon R, Vivier E, Brochard L, Vieillard-Baron A, Brun-Buisson C, Mekontso Dessap A. Prevalence and prognosis of cor pulmonale during protective ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Intensive Care Med. 2013 Oct;39(10):1725-33. doi: 10.1007/s00134-013-2941-9. Epub 2013 May 15.
• Dong D, Zong Y, Li Z, Wang Y, Jing C. Mortality of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome subjected to lung protective ventilation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart Lung. 2021 Sep-Oct;50(5):730-735. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2021.04.011. Epub 2021 Jun 9.
• Sipmann FS, Santos A, Tusman G. Heart-lung interactions in acute respiratory distress syndrome: pathophysiology, detection and management strategies. Ann Transl Med. 2018 Jan;6(2):27. doi: 10.21037/atm.2017.12.07.
• Cheng J, Ma A, Dong M, Zhou Y, Wang B, Xue Y, Wang P, Yang J, Kang Y. Does airway pressure release ventilation offer new hope for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome? J Intensive Med. 2022 Mar 28;2(4):241-248. doi: 10.1016/j.jointm.2022.02.003. eCollection 2022 Oct.
• Sun X, Liu Y, Li N, You D, Zhao Y. The safety and efficacy of airway pressure release ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 Jan;99(1):e18586. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000018586.
• Andrews P, Shiber J, Madden M, Nieman GF, Camporota L, Habashi NM. Myths and Misconceptions of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation: Getting Past the Noise and on to the Signal. Front Physiol. 2022 Jul 25;13:928562. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.928562. eCollection 2022.
• Robinson B, Ebeid M. A simple echocardiographic method to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance. Am J Cardiol. 2014 Jan 15;113(2):412. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 7. No abstract available.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 3, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): June 28, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 14, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Heart Failure; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Therapeutics; Airway Management; Respiratory Therapy; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Respiration, Artificial; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
• Other Study ID Numbers: ALRVD2022

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