Pilot Study of a Computerized Decision Support Tool for Managing Ventilators in Children with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a computerized Clinical Decision Support CDS tool designed to help manage ventilator settings for infants and children with Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome PARDS. The study aims to implement this web-based tool across multiple Pediatric Intensive Care Units PICUs to standardize care according to the best available pediatric evidence and improve outcomes by reducing time on mechanical ventilation. The tool is already in use at a single center and will now be tested in up to 180 children at various sites. The study involves managing patients using the ventilator protocol through all phases of mechanical ventilation, including acute, stable, and weaning phases, with tests for spontaneous breathing and readiness for extubation. The CDS tool will integrate electronic data capture where possible, adapting to each hospitals technology capabilities to provide timely, standardized recommendations. Patients will remain on the protocol while invasively ventilated, up to a maximum of 28 days or until care is limited or death occurs. Participants will be monitored for how feasible it is to implement the CDS tool and how well healthcare providers follow its recommendations. Data will be collected automatically or manually from bedside monitors and electronic records. The main outcomes measured include the ability to implement the tool across sites and adherence to the protocol, all tracked during the ventilation period capped at 28 days. The study also assesses potential barriers to use and acceptance of the tool in routine clinical practice.

Clinical Decision Support Tool in PARDS Pilot Study