Careful ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome: the protocol of the CAVIARDS international multicentre randomised basket trial.
Rémi Coudroy, Irene Telias, Annemijn Jonkman...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41730551/Actively Recruiting
Led by Unity Health Toronto · Updated on 2026-01-16
740
Participants Needed
33
Research Sites
13 weeks
Total Duration
Researchers are evaluating the best way to set mechanical ventilators for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS, including those with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS. This multicenter randomized controlled trial uses an adaptive design to compare ventilation strategies based on respiratory mechanics, aiming to reduce mortality 60 days after treatment begins. ARDS causes severe lung inflammation that makes ventilation challenging and can lead to ventilator-induced lung injury VILI. The trial includes two groups one receiving standard ventilation care following existing guidelines, and the other receiving individualized ventilation settings based on bedside measurements of lung recruitability and breathing effort. The experimental group undergoes specific maneuvers to assess airway closure and recruitability to set ventilator parameters such as tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure PEEP. Both groups receive volume control ventilation, with adjustments made as patients begin spontaneous breathing. Participants will be closely monitored during their ICU stay, with assessments including duration of ventilation, ICU and hospital stay length, organ dysfunction, barotrauma, and mortality at several time points up to 60 days. The main outcome measured is all-cause mortality at 60 days. Data collection, analysis, and patient management follow a shared protocol across both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patient groups, with safety and effectiveness monitored throughout the study period.
CONDITIONS
Careful Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19)
L
Laurent Brochard, MD
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Unity Health Toronto
Lead Sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | Individualized mechanics‑based ventilation | Standard ventilation (PEEP/FiO₂ table) | Low tidal volume lung‑protective ventilation |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the option is | Ventilation settings are tailored at the bedside by assessing individual mechanics, including recruitability and airway opening pressure to set PEEP accordingly. | Ventilator PEEP and FiO₂ are adjusted using standard tables, with tidal volume approximately 6 mL/kg predicted body weight and plateau pressure kept below 30 cmH₂O. | Using low tidal volume (4–8 mL/kg ideal body weight) and limiting plateau pressure below 30 cmH₂O is the established core lung‑protective strategy in ARDS. |
| Role in the trial | Experimental approach being studied to individualize PEEP based on measurement of lung mechanics. | Control arm representing standard protocolized ventilation using PEEP‑FiO₂ tables. | Represents the accepted lung‑protective ventilation practice outside the trial context. |
| Primary use | To test whether personalized PEEP targeting based on respiratory mechanics improves outcomes compared with standard ventilator setting strategies. | Established approach for adjusting ventilator settings based on oxygenation tables and protecting lung using low tidal volumes. | Foundation of lung‑protective ventilation in ARDS, aimed at minimizing ventilator‑induced lung injury. |
| How it is delivered | PEEP is titrated using bedside respiratory mechanics maneuvers such as a decremental PEEP trial and airway opening pressure assessment, with volume control at 6 mL/kg PBW. | Ventilation with volume‑targeted mode at VT 6 mL/kg PBW, PEEP and FiO₂ following PEEP‑FiO₂ table, plateau pressure ≤30 cmH₂O. | Deliver via low tidal volume (4–8 mL/kg ideal body weight), and monitor plateau pressure aiming to keep it below 30 cmH₂O. |
| Evidence status | Efficacy is currently unknown; the strategy is under evaluation in this randomized trial. | Used in trials and practice, but lacks robust comparative evidence that personalized mechanics‑based methods are superior. | Strong evidence supports reduced mortality with low tidal volume, lung‑protective ventilation in ARDS. |
| Important risks | Risks of overdistension, hemodynamic compromise, or incorrect recruitability assessment cannot be excluded; safety remains to be determined. | Using PEEP according to FiO₂ tables may still risk ventilator‑induced lung injury if plateau pressures exceed safe thresholds. | Lung‑protective ventilation is known to reduce risk of ventilator‑induced lung injury and barotrauma when applied correctly. |
| Important limitations | Unproven benefit; requires specialized respiratory mechanics measurements at bedside, may not be widely available. | PEEP/FiO₂ tables are not tailored to individual lung recruitability and may not optimize ventilation for all patients. | May not address individual lung mechanics or recruitability; fixed low tidal volumes may not be optimal for every patient. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
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Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Up to 60 days or until discontinuation of mechanical ventilation
Participants receive mechanical ventilation using either a standard ventilation strategy or an individualized approach based on respiratory mechanics. Ventilator settings and breathing support are adjusted according to the assigned strategy throughout the treatment period.
Daily assessments while on mechanical ventilation
Duration - Up to 60 days after treatment
Participants are monitored for outcomes including organ function, barotrauma, and survival status after treatment ends.
Periodic visits up to 60 days post-treatment
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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Rémi Coudroy, Irene Telias, Annemijn Jonkman...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41730551/Darío S Villalba, Amelia Matesa, Sabrina Boni...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39964860/Unity Health Toronto
Lead Sponsor
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Collaborating Sponsor